# Intelsat 29e > former geostationary communications satellite, which failed in 2019 **Wikidata**: [Q18465822](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18465822) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelsat_29e) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/intelsat-29e ## Summary Intelsat 29e was a high-throughput geostationary communications satellite manufactured by Boeing and operated by Intelsat. Launched in January 2016, the satellite was designed for a 15-year service life but became inoperable in April 2019 due to a fuel leak, resulting in its classification as a former entity after only 3.2 years of operation. ## Key Facts * **Operator:** Intelsat * **Manufacturer:** Boeing Satellite Development Center * **Launch Date:** January 27, 2016 (23:20:07 UTC) * **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 5 ECA (Flight VA228) * **Launch Site:** ELA-3 * **Satellite Bus:** Boeing 702 * **Launch Mass:** 6,552 kilograms * **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit * **Design Life:** 15 years * **Actual Service Life:** 3.2 years (Mission terminated April 18, 2019) * **COSPAR ID:** 2016-004A * **SCN:** 41308 ## FAQs ### Q: What caused the failure of Intelsat 29e? A: The satellite suffered a fuel leak on April 7, 2019, which led to a service outage. Following the incident, the mission was officially terminated on April 18, 2019. ### Q: What type of satellite was Intelsat 29e? A: It was a high-throughput satellite (HTS) positioned in geostationary orbit. It was built on the Boeing 702 satellite bus and was powered by two solar arrays and a LEROS-1c propulsion system. ### Q: How long was Intelsat 29e supposed to operate? A: The satellite was designed with a criterion for a 15-year service life. However, it only operated for approximately 3.2 years before the anomaly and subsequent failure occurred in 2019. ## Why It Matters Intelsat 29e serves as a significant case study in the space industry regarding the reliability of high-throughput satellites and the risks associated with complex geostationary missions. As part of the Intelsat EpicNG platform (implied by its HTS classification and operator), it represented advanced capabilities in telecommunications infrastructure. The premature loss of the satellite highlights the critical nature of propulsion systems and thermal management in space; the failure was attributed to a fuel leak, potentially linked to the LEROS-1c thruster or bus infrastructure. The event underscores the financial and operational impact of satellite failures, where a multi-million dollar asset with a 15-year design life is retired after barely three years. This failure is often analyzed alongside other Boeing 702 anomalies to understand systematic issues in satellite bus design or manufacturing. ## Notable For * Being a **High Throughput Satellite** (HTS), a class of satellite offering higher data capacity than traditional fixed-service satellites. * The **discrepancy between design and actual life**: It was built to last 15 years but failed after 3.2 years. * Its **propulsion anomaly**: The mission ended specifically due to a fuel leak. * Utilizing the **Boeing 702 bus**, a common platform for large geostationary communications satellites. * Being launched aboard the **Ariane 5 ECA**, a heavy-lift launch vehicle. ## Body ### Development and Specifications Intelsat 29e, also known by its aliases Intelsat IS-29e and IS-29e, was a United States spacecraft constructed by the Boeing Satellite Development Center. It utilized the Boeing 702 spacecraft bus and had a launch weight of 6,552 kilograms. The satellite's power system consisted of two spacecraft solar arrays. For propulsion and maneuvering, it was equipped with a LEROS-1c engine. It was assigned the COSPAR ID 2016-004A and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 41308. ### Launch and Deployment The satellite was launched on January 27, 2016, at 23:20:07 UTC from the ELA-3 launch pad. The launch was contracted to Arianespace and utilized the Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle, specifically flight VA228. The upper stage responsible for placing the satellite was the ESC-A H14.4. ### Mission and Failure Intelsat 29e was designed to operate in geostationary orbit for a service life of 15 years. However, on April 7, 2019, a significant event occurred involving a fuel leak. This anomaly resulted in the satellite becoming inoperable. On April 18, 2019, Intelsat declared the mission terminated. Consequently, the satellite is currently classified as a "former entity" and "former geostationary communications satellite." ## References 1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/intelsat-29e.htm) 2. Jonathan's Space Report 3. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/intelsat-29e.htmhttps://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/intelsat-29e.htm) 4. [Source](https://www.intelsat.com/newsroom/intelsat-29e-service-outage/) 5. [Source](http://www.intelsat.com/news/press-release/intelsat-29e-satellite-failure/)