# Eutelsat II F3

> decommissioned Eutelsat communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q16061302](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061302)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-ii-f3

## Summary
Eutelsat II F3 is a decommissioned communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. Launched in 1991, it was a geostationary satellite designed for telecommunications, weighing 1,878 kg at launch and 915 kg at service entry. It was decommissioned in 2004 and moved to a graveyard orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Classifications**: Communications satellite, geostationary satellite, derelict satellite
- **Launch date**: December 7, 1991, at 22:47 UTC from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36
- **Launch vehicle**: Atlas II (AC-102)
- **Manufacturer**: Aérospatiale
- **Spacecraft bus**: Spacebus-2000
- **Launch mass**: 1,878 kg
- **Service entry mass**: 915 kg
- **Payload mass**: 207.9 kg
- **Power source**: Spacecraft solar array (2 arrays, 3,000 W total) and one S400 battery
- **Decommissioning**: Moved to a graveyard orbit in December 2004
- **Operator**: Eutelsat
- **Satellite ID**: COSPAR ID 1991-083A, NORAD ID 21803

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite was Eutelsat II F3?
A: Eutelsat II F3 was a geostationary communications satellite designed for telecommunications. It was part of the Eutelsat fleet and operated in a geostationary orbit.

### Q: When was Eutelsat II F3 launched and by whom?
A: It was launched on December 7, 1991, at 22:47 UTC from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 aboard an Atlas II (AC-102) rocket. The manufacturer was Aérospatiale.

### Q: How much did Eutelsat II F3 weigh at launch and at service entry?
A: At launch, it weighed 1,878 kg, and at service entry, it weighed 915 kg.

### Q: What was the power source for Eutelsat II F3?
A: The satellite was powered by a spacecraft solar array (2 arrays, 3,000 W total) and one S400 battery.

### Q: When was Eutelsat II F3 decommissioned?
A: Eutelsat II F3 was decommissioned in December 2004 and moved to a graveyard orbit.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat II F3 played a crucial role in the early days of satellite communications, providing telecommunication services from a geostationary orbit. As a decommissioned satellite, it represents the lifecycle of a communications satellite, from launch and operation to decommissioning and disposal. Its decommissioning in 2004 highlights the importance of responsible satellite management, including the relocation of defunct satellites to graveyard orbits to prevent space debris. The satellite’s use of the Spacebus-2000 platform and its power systems demonstrate the technological advancements of its era. Eutelsat II F3’s legacy contributes to the broader understanding of satellite operations and the challenges of space debris mitigation.

## Notable For
- **First geostationary communications satellite**: One of the first satellites in the Eutelsat fleet, contributing to early global telecommunications.
- **Spacebus-2000 platform**: Utilized the Spacebus-2000 spacecraft bus, a significant platform for communications satellites.
- **Solar array power**: Featured a spacecraft solar array (2 arrays, 3,000 W total) and one S400 battery, showcasing power systems of the 1990s.
- **Graveyard orbit relocation**: Moved to a graveyard orbit in 2004, adhering to space debris mitigation guidelines.
- **Atlas II launch**: Launched aboard the Atlas II rocket, a key vehicle in the early 2000s for satellite deployments.

## Body
### Overview
Eutelsat II F3 was a decommissioned communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. It was launched on December 7, 1991, from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36 aboard an Atlas II (AC-102) rocket. The satellite was manufactured by Aérospatiale and utilized the Spacebus-2000 spacecraft bus.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 1,878 kg at launch, 915 kg at service entry.
- **Payload mass**: 207.9 kg.
- **Power source**: Spacecraft solar array (2 arrays, 3,000 W total) and one S400 battery.
- **Orbit**: Geostationary orbit.

### Operational History
- **Launch**: December 7, 1991, at 22:47 UTC.
- **Service entry**: January 10, 1992.
- **Decommissioning**: December 2004, moved to a graveyard orbit.

### Identification
- **COSPAR ID**: 1991-083A.
- **NORAD ID**: 21803.

### Related Entities
- **Classifications**: Communications satellite, geostationary satellite, derelict satellite.
- **Launch vehicle**: Atlas II.
- **Operator**: Eutelsat.

## 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_2f3.html)