# EchoStar IV

> retired geostationary communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q18327696](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18327696)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EchoStar_IV)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/echostar-iv

## Summary

EchoStar IV is a communications satellite [1] built for the United States [1]. It operates as part of the nation's satellite infrastructure.

## Summary
EchoStar IV is a retired geostationary communications satellite operated by EchoStar, launched in 1998 from Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a Proton-K rocket. It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin using the A2100 spacecraft bus and had a launch mass of 3,478 kilograms. The satellite is now considered a derelict object in space.

## Key Facts
- Launched on May 7, 1998, at 23:45:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23
- Operated by EchoStar as part of their fleet of communications satellites
- Manufactured by Lockheed Martin using the A2100 spacecraft bus
- Launch mass of 3,478 kilograms (launch weight)
- Powered by 2 solar arrays
- Launched aboard a Proton-K rocket (variant 393-02)
- Used a Blok DM-2M space tug for orbital insertion
- Decommissioned in July 2011 and moved to a graveyard orbit
- Country of origin: United States
- COSPAR ID: 1998-028A
- NSSDCA ID: 1998-028A

## FAQs
### Q: What was EchoStar IV's primary function?
A: EchoStar IV was a communications satellite designed to provide telecommunications services from geostationary orbit. It was part of EchoStar's fleet of satellites used for broadcasting and communications.

### Q: When and how was EchoStar IV launched?
A: EchoStar IV was launched on May 7, 1998, at 23:45:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Proton-K rocket using a Blok DM-2M space tug.

### Q: What happened to EchoStar IV after it stopped operating?
A: EchoStar IV was decommissioned in July 2011 and moved to a graveyard orbit, where it remains as a derelict satellite in space.

## Why It Matters
EchoStar IV represents a significant milestone in commercial satellite communications, demonstrating the capabilities of American satellite technology in the late 1990s. As part of EchoStar's growing fleet, it helped expand satellite-based communications and broadcasting services across North America. The satellite's successful deployment using Russian Proton-K launch vehicles also exemplified the international cooperation in space launch services during this era. Its decommissioning and relocation to a graveyard orbit reflects responsible space debris management practices that have become increasingly important as Earth's orbital environment becomes more congested. EchoStar IV's operational lifetime contributed to the development and refinement of geostationary communications satellite technology that continues to serve critical communications infrastructure today.

## Notable For
- Part of EchoStar's pioneering fleet of direct broadcast satellites
- One of the early communications satellites to use Lockheed Martin's A2100 bus
- Successfully launched using international cooperation between American operators and Russian launch services
- Operated for over 13 years before decommissioning
- Represents responsible end-of-life disposal by being moved to a graveyard orbit

## Body
### Technical Specifications
EchoStar IV was built on Lockheed Martin's A2100 satellite bus, a modular platform that became widely used for commercial communications satellites. The satellite had a launch mass of 3,478 kilograms and was equipped with two solar arrays for power generation. It operated in geostationary orbit, maintaining a fixed position relative to Earth's surface to provide consistent communications coverage.

### Launch and Early Operations
The satellite launched on May 7, 1998, at 23:45:00 UTC from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23 in Kazakhstan. The launch utilized a Proton-K rocket in the 393-02 configuration, with a Blok DM-2M upper stage providing the final orbital insertion. This launch arrangement demonstrated the growing reliance on Russian launch vehicles for commercial satellite deployments during the 1990s.

### Operational History
As part of EchoStar's communications satellite fleet, EchoStar IV provided television broadcasting and other communications services from geostationary orbit. The satellite operated successfully for over 13 years, contributing to EchoStar's expansion as a major satellite communications provider in North America.

### End of Life
EchoStar IV was decommissioned in July 2011, at which point it was moved to a graveyard orbit. This disposal method follows international guidelines for space debris mitigation, ensuring the satellite would not pose a collision risk to operational spacecraft in the geostationary belt.

### Classification and Relationships
EchoStar IV is classified as a communications satellite, geostationary satellite, and derelict satellite. It is part of the EchoStar fleet and follows EchoStar III while being followed by Ciel-1 in the operational sequence. The satellite was operated by EchoStar Corporation and manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/echostar-3.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_echostar_4.html)