# Eutelsat W3B

> derelict Eutelsat communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q736227](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q736227)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-w3b

## Summary
Eutelsat W3B is a derelict communications satellite launched in 2010 that became nonfunctional shortly after deployment due to a propulsion system leak. Operated by Eutelsat, it was designed for a 15-year service life in geostationary orbit but failed to enter operational service. It remains in orbit as space debris.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: October 28, 2010, at 21:51 UTC.
- **COSPAR ID**: 2010-056A.
- **Operator**: Eutelsat.
- **Manufacturer**: Thales Alenia Space (France).
- **Mass**: 5,370 kg (launch weight).
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5 ECA (flight V197) from ELA-3.
- **Failure Cause**: Propulsion system leak detected in October 2010, rendering it inoperable.
- **Design Life**: 15 years (unfulfilled due to early failure).
- **Status**: Derelict satellite in geostationary orbit.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Eutelsat W3B launched?
A: Eutelsat W3B launched on October 28, 2010, at 21:51 UTC aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the ELA-3 launch pad.

### Q: Why is Eutelsat W3B considered derelict?
A: The satellite suffered a propulsion system leak shortly after launch, preventing it from entering operational service and leaving it nonfunctional in orbit.

### Q: What was the intended purpose of Eutelsat W3B?
A: It was designed to provide telecommunications services from geostationary orbit, with a planned 15-year service life, but failed before becoming operational.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat W3B represents both the advancements and risks of satellite technology. Despite its failure, it highlights the critical role of reliable propulsion systems in space missions and the economic stakes of satellite deployments. As a derelict object in geostationary orbit, it also contributes to discussions about space debris mitigation. Its story underscores the challenges of ensuring satellite functionality in the harsh environment of space, influencing future design and testing protocols to prevent similar failures.

## Notable For
- **Rapid Failure**: Became derelict just weeks after launch due to a propulsion leak.
- **Unfulfilled Mission**: Designed for 15 years of service but never reached operational status.
- **Geostationary Debris**: Remains in a high-value orbit, complicating satellite coordination.
- **Ariane 5 Payload**: Part of the rocket’s history of launching telecommunications satellites.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
Eutelsat W3B launched on October 28, 2010, at 21:51 UTC from the ELA-3 pad at the Guiana Space Centre aboard an Ariane 5 ECA rocket (flight V197). It was built by Thales Alenia Space in France using the Spacebus-4000C3 satellite bus.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 5,370 kg at launch.
- **Power**: Equipped with two spacecraft solar arrays and an S400 battery.
- **Propulsion**: Failed due to a leak in its propulsion system, detected in October 2010.

### Mission and Failure
The satellite was intended to provide telecommunications services from geostationary orbit with a 15-year design life. However, a propulsion system leak rendered it inoperable shortly after launch, preventing it from reaching its operational orbit or fulfilling its mission.

### Current Status
Eutelsat W3B remains in geostationary orbit as a derelict satellite (COSPAR ID 2010-056A, NORAD ID 37206). Its failure led to a total loss of the spacecraft, with no recovery attempts made. The incident remains a case study in satellite reliability and risk management.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eutelsat-w3b.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report