# MSAT 1
**Wikidata**: [Q14914836](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14914836)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/msat-1

## Summary
MSAT 1 is a communications satellite launched on April 20, 1996. It was deployed into orbit using an Ariane 42P rocket from the ELA-2 launch site. The satellite is assigned the COSPAR ID 1996-022A and the Satellite Catalog Number 23846.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** MSAT 1 is an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications.
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on April 20, 1996.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to space using an Ariane 42P rocket, a variant of the Ariane 4 series.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from ELA-2 (Ensemble de Lancement 2).
- **COSPAR ID:** The international designation for this object is 1996-022A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** The satellite is tracked under the number 23846.
- **Significant Event:** A rocket launch event occurred on April 20, 1996, at the ELA-2 complex.
- **Digital Identifiers:** The entity is listed in the Google Knowledge Graph as `/g/12nvpm98n` and in the Wolfram Language as `Entity["Satellite", "23846"]`.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of satellite is MSAT 1?
A: MSAT 1 is classified as a communications satellite, which is an artificial satellite designed specifically to relay and amplify radio telecommunication signals.

### Q: When and how was MSAT 1 launched?
A: MSAT 1 was launched on April 20, 1996, aboard an Ariane 42P rocket from the ELA-2 launch complex.

### Q: What are the tracking identifiers for MSAT 1?
A: The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1996-022A and the Satellite Catalog Number 23846.

## Why It Matters
MSAT 1 serves as a specific case study in the global deployment of telecommunications infrastructure during the mid-1990s. As an instance of a communications satellite, it represents the era's technological push to expand connectivity via space-based assets. The entry highlights the logistical complexity of placing such assets in orbit, evidenced by its launch via the Ariane 42P, a specialized configuration of the Ariane 4 rocket family.

The documentation of MSAT 1, including its specific launch site (ELA-2) and precise chronological markers (1996-04-20), provides essential data for aerospace historians and satellite trackers. The existence of unique identifiers like the SCN 23846 and COSPAR ID 1996-022A ensures that the object can be distinctly tracked and differentiated from other debris or satellites in the increasingly crowded Earth orbit. Furthermore, the integration of this entity into major knowledge systems like the Google Knowledge Graph and Wolfram Language underscores its recognized status in global space catalogs.

## Notable For
- **Telecommunications Function:** Designed specifically to facilitate communication signals.
- **Ariane 4 Legacy:** Utilized the Ariane 42P rocket, a specific solid-booster configuration of the prolific Ariane 4 family.
- **ELA-2 Origin:** Launched from the ELA-2 pad, a historic site for European spaceflight.
- **Data Integration:** Recognized by major data systems including Google Knowledge Graph and Wolfram Language.

## Body

### Technical Classification
MSAT 1 is formally classified as an instance of a **communications satellite**. This class defines artificial satellites stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications. The entity is distinct from other space objects via its unique identifiers.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite's journey to orbit is defined by the following mission parameters:
- **Point in Time:** The mission commenced on April 20, 1996.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The payload was carried by an **Ariane 42P**. This vehicle belongs to the Ariane 4 series, which were expendable launch systems used frequently in the 1990s.
- **Location:** The launch took place at **ELA-2** (Ensemble de Lancement 2), a launch pad typically associated with the Guiana Space Centre.

### Identifiers and Records
For tracking and cataloging purposes, MSAT 1 is associated with the following records:
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 23846
- **COSPAR International Designator:** 1996-022A
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** `Entity["Satellite", "23846"]`
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/12nvpm98n`

Wikipedia entries for this entity exist, with sitelink data indicating a presence in the Portuguese language (`pt`). The significant event of its deployment is recorded as a "rocket launch" occurring at ELA-2 on the specified date in 1996.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report