# SBS 5
**Wikidata**: [Q14771280](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14771280)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sbs-5

## Summary
SBS 5 is a communications satellite launched on September 8, 1988. It was deployed into orbit using an Ariane 3 rocket launched from the ELA-2 platform. The satellite is cataloged by the international designation 1988-081B and the Satellite Catalog Number 19484.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** SBS 5 is an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications (instance of: communications satellite).
- **Launch Date:** The satellite was launched on September 8, 1988.
- **Launch Vehicle:** It was delivered to orbit by an Ariane 3 rocket.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from ELA-2 (Ensemble de Lancement 2).
- **COSPAR ID:** Its international designator is 1988-081B.
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** It is tracked under the number 19484.
- **Wolfram Language Entity:** It is represented as `Entity["Satellite", "19484"]`.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/12qbgmblp`.

## FAQs
### Q: What type of entity is SBS 5?
A: SBS 5 is a communications satellite, which is an artificial satellite designed specifically to relay and amplify radio telecommunications signals.

### Q: When and how was SBS 5 launched?
A: SBS 5 was launched on September 8, 1988, using an Ariane 3 rocket from the ELA-2 launch site.

### Q: What are the specific identifiers for SBS 5?
A: The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1988-081B and the Satellite Catalog Number 19484.

## Why It Matters
SBS 5 represents a specific mission within the broader history of commercial spaceflight and global telecommunications infrastructure. As a communications satellite, its primary role was to facilitate the transmission of data and signals, contributing to the connectivity capabilities available in the late 1980s.

The entry is historically significant due to its launch configuration. It utilized the Ariane 3, a member of the Ariane family of rockets, which were prominent heavy-lift launch vehicles during that era. The launch from ELA-2 (Ensemble de Lancement 2), a major launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre, places SBS 5 within the timeline of European space operations. Furthermore, the precise tracking data available—such as the COSPAR ID 1988-081B and Satellite Catalog Number 19484—allows researchers and systems to accurately identify and differentiate this object from the thousands of others in Earth's orbit, maintaining the integrity of orbital debris management and historical records.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct instance of a **communications satellite**.
- Launching aboard the **Ariane 3**, a notable rocket of the Ariane family.
- Being identified as a significant "rocket launch" event occurring at ELA-2 on September 8, 1988.
- Having a specific **Satellite Catalog Number (19484)** assigned by space tracking authorities.

## Body

### Mission Classification
SBS 5 is formally classified as a **communications satellite**. By definition, this refers to an artificial satellite placed in orbit for the purpose of telecommunications. The entity is recorded in academic and knowledge sources, including the Wolfram Language entity code `Entity["Satellite", "19484"]`.

### Launch Specifications
The deployment of SBS 5 is defined by the following technical parameters derived from Wikidata and academic references:

- **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was launched via an **Ariane 3** rocket. The Ariane 3 is a European expendable launch system that was part of the Ariane family, known for its role in delivering payloads to geostationary transfer orbit.
- **Launch Site:** The start point for the mission was **ELA-2** (Ensemble de Lancement 2). This launch complex was a primary site for Ariane launches during the operational period of the Ariane 3.
- **Point in Time:** The significant event of the rocket launch occurred on **September 8, 1988**.

### Identification and Tracking
To distinguish SBS 5 from other orbital objects, specific identifiers are assigned:
- **COSPAR ID:** **1988-081B**. This international designation indicates the launch occurred in 1988, was the 81st launch of the year, and the "B" designates the specific payload (as opposed to the rocket body or other debris).
- **Satellite Catalog Number:** **19484**. This is a sequential number assigned by the United States Space Command to track the object.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report