# Eutelsat II F5

> Eutelsat communications satellite, lost during a launch failure

**Wikidata**: [Q16547835](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16547835)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-ii-f5

## Summary
Eutelsat II F5 was a France-origin communications satellite (Spacebus-2000) operated by Eutelsat that was lost during a launch failure on 1994-01-24. It was launched aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket from ELA-2 and did not reach its planned geostationary mission.

## Key Facts
- Launch date and time: 1994-01-24 at 21:37:00 (UTC).  
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP (flight qualifier V63).  
- Launch site: ELA-2.  
- Outcome: Lost during a launch failure on 1994-01-24.  
- Operator: Eutelsat.  
- Manufacturer: Aérospatiale.  
- Spacecraft bus: Spacebus-2000.  
- Launch mass (launch weight): 1,878 kilograms.  
- Payload mass: 207.9 kilograms.  
- Power/propulsion entries reported: spacecraft solar array (2, listed amount 3000) and S400 (1).  
- Space tug listed: H10+ (L435b).  
- Classification: communications satellite; geostationary satellite; listed as a former entity.  
- Also manifested on the same launch: Türksat 1A (per launch event qualifiers).

## FAQs
### Q: What happened to Eutelsat II F5?
A: Eutelsat II F5 was lost during a rocket launch failure on 1994-01-24. The satellite did not reach its planned operational orbit.

### Q: When and how was Eutelsat II F5 launched?
A: It was launched on 1994-01-24 at 21:37:00 UTC from launch complex ELA-2 aboard an Ariane 44LP (flight V63).

### Q: Who built and who operated Eutelsat II F5?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Aérospatiale and operated by Eutelsat.

### Q: What type of satellite was Eutelsat II F5 and what bus did it use?
A: It was a communications satellite intended for geostationary operation and was based on the Spacebus-2000 spacecraft bus.

### Q: What were the satellite mass and payload specifications?
A: The launch (wet) mass was 1,878 kg and the listed payload mass was 207.9 kg.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat II F5 is notable as an example of the operational and financial risks inherent in launching large communications satellites. As a Spacebus-2000 satellite manufactured by Aérospatiale and intended for geostationary telecommunications service under Eutelsat operation, its loss on launch reduced planned capacity and illustrates the dependency of satellite operators on successful launch vehicle performance. Launch failures affect fleet planning, service scheduling, insurance, and industrial partners (manufacturer and launch provider). The mission also highlights the common practice of launching multiple satellites on a single vehicle; the same launch event involved Türksat 1A. Understanding specific loss cases like Eutelsat II F5 helps stakeholders measure program risk, evaluate launch vehicle reliability, and plan redundancy for critical communications infrastructure.

## Notable For
- Lost during launch: specifically recorded as being lost in a launch failure on 1994-01-24.  
- Spacebus-2000 platform: built on the Spacebus-2000 spacecraft bus by Aérospatiale.  
- Dual-manifest launch context: the launch event involved Türksat 1A in addition to Eutelsat II F5.  
- Specific technical listings: launch mass of 1,878 kg and payload mass of 207.9 kg are documented.  
- Launch vehicle and site: launched on an Ariane 44LP from ELA-2 (flight V63).

## Body

### Overview
- Name variants: Eutelsat II F5; also listed as Eutelsat II F-5, Eutelsat-2 F5, Eutelsat-2 F-5, Eutelsat 2F5.  
- Described as an Eutelsat communications satellite intended for geostationary telecommunications service.  
- Country of origin: France.  
- Classified as a former entity after loss.

### Design and specifications
- Spacecraft bus: Spacebus-2000.  
- Manufacturer: Aérospatiale.  
- Launch mass (criterion: launch weight): 1,878 kg.  
- Payload mass: 207.9 kg.  
- Power/propulsion entries recorded: spacecraft solar array (quantity 2; listed amount 3000) and S400 (quantity 1). The source lists these power/propulsion entries without further unit detail.  
- Space tug listed on record: H10+ (qualifier L435b).

### Launch
- Launch date and time: 1994-01-24 at 21:37:00.  
- Launch site: ELA-2.  
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 44LP (flight V63).  
- The launch event included Türksat 1A as referenced in the launch qualifiers.

### Outcome / Significant event
- The satellite was lost in a launch failure on the same date as liftoff (1994-01-24).  
- Following the failure, Eutelsat II F5 is recorded as a former entity and did not enter service.

### Operator, mission intent, and context
- Operator: Eutelsat.  
- Intended role: communications satellite for geostationary telecommunications service (per classification).  
- The loss contributed to the record of launch risks faced by operators deploying geostationary communications assets.

### Identifiers and references
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/1pwgtchs1.  
- Language/wikipedia note: page listed in Portuguese (pt) was indicated in the source metadata.

## 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)