# Eutelsat II F1

> decommissioned Eutelsat communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q9256448](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9256448)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EUTELSAT_II_F-1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-ii-f1

## Summary
Eutelsat II F1 is a decommissioned geostationary communications satellite originally operated by Eutelsat. Launched in 1990, it provided telecommunications services for 13 years before being moved to a graveyard orbit in 2003. It currently remains in space as a derelict satellite.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** August 30, 1990, at 22:46:00 UTC
- **Operator:** Eutelsat
- **Manufacturer:** Aérospatiale
- **Spacecraft Bus:** Spacebus-2000
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 44LP (Flight V38)
- **Launch Weight:** 1,878 kg
- **Service Entry Mass:** 915 kg
- **Decommissioning Date:** October 2003
- **Current Status:** Derelict satellite in graveyard orbit
- **Identifiers:** SCN 20777; COSPAR ID 1990-079B

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Eutelsat II F1?
A: Eutelsat II F1 was a communications satellite designed for telecommunications. It operated in a geostationary orbit to provide stable signal coverage from its service entry in September 1990 until its decommissioning.

### Q: Who built and launched the satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Aérospatiale using the Spacebus-2000 bus. It was launched by an Ariane 44LP rocket from the ELA-2 launch site.

### Q: What is the current status of Eutelsat II F1?
A: The satellite is currently a derelict object. After completing its mission in October 2003, it was moved into a graveyard orbit to prevent it from interfering with active geostationary satellites.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat II F1 represents a specific generation of European telecommunications infrastructure. Built on the Spacebus-2000 platform, it demonstrated the capabilities of Aérospatiale’s satellite bus technology during the early 1990s. Its operational lifespan from 1990 to 2003 covers a period of significant growth in satellite communications. 

The satellite's transition from an active geostationary asset to a derelict object in a graveyard orbit is a standard but critical part of space environment management. By relocating to a graveyard orbit, Eutelsat II F1 avoids occupying valuable orbital slots used by modern telecommunications hardware. It remains a tracked object (SCN 20777), contributing to the catalog of artificial satellites that have concluded their functional lives but remain in orbit.

## Notable For
- **Spacebus-2000 Bus:** Utilized a specialized spacecraft bus designed by Aérospatiale for medium-class geostationary missions.
- **Power Systems:** Equipped with two spacecraft solar arrays providing 3,000 units of power and an S400 propulsion component.
- **Ariane 44LP Launch:** Successfully deployed via the Ariane 44LP variant of the Ariane 4 rocket series (Flight V38).
- **Graveyard Orbit Relocation:** One of the many geostationary satellites to successfully perform end-of-life maneuvers to clear the geostationary belt.

## Body

### Launch and Deployment
Eutelsat II F1 was launched on August 30, 1990, from the ELA-2 launch site. The mission utilized an Ariane 44LP rocket, specifically flight V38. During the launch phase, the satellite was associated with the H10 space tug (L410b). It was successfully placed into a geostationary orbit to begin its operational life.

### Technical Specifications
The satellite featured a launch weight of 1,878 kg, which reduced to a service entry mass of 915 kg once it reached its orbital position. Its payload mass was recorded at 207.9 kg. 
- **Power:** The craft was powered by two solar arrays.
- **Propulsion:** It utilized an S400 engine system.
- **Bus:** The architecture was based on the Spacebus-2000 platform.

### Operational History
Following its launch, Eutelsat II F1 entered formal service on September 24, 1990. It was operated by Eutelsat, a major provider of satellite telecommunications. The satellite maintained its position in geostationary orbit for over a decade, facilitating various telecommunication needs.

### Decommissioning and Current State
In October 2003, Eutelsat II F1 reached the end of its functional lifespan. It underwent spacecraft decommissioning, a process that involved moving the unit into a graveyard orbit. As of its decommissioning, it is classified as a derelict satellite—an artificial object that is abandoned and nonfunctional but remains in orbit. It is tracked under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 20777 and NSSDCA ID 1990-079B.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eutelsat-2.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/prog_eutelsat_2_car_pop.html)
4. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_eutelsat_2f1.html)