# SBS 6

> decommissioned geostationary communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14559262](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14559262)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBS_6_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/sbs-6

## Summary
SBS 6 is a decommissioned geostationary communications satellite manufactured by the Hughes Aircraft Company for the United States. Launched in 1990, it served as a telecommunications platform for over 18 years before being moved to a graveyard orbit in 2009. It is currently classified as a derelict satellite, remaining in space as a nonfunctional artificial object.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Geostationary communications satellite and derelict satellite.
- **Launch Date:** October 12, 1990, at 22:58:18 UTC.
- **Operator:** Intelsat.
- **Manufacturer:** Hughes Aircraft Company, utilizing the HS-393 spacecraft bus.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 44L (flight V39) launched from the ELA-2 site.
- **Mass:** 2,478 kg (launch weight).
- **Service Life:** 18.5 years of actual service, significantly exceeding its 10-year design life.
- **Decommissioning:** Retired in April 2009 and moved to a graveyard orbit.
- **Power and Propulsion:** Powered by solar cell panels and equipped with two R-4D engines.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1990-091A and Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 20872.

## FAQs
### Q: Who operated SBS 6?
A: The satellite was operated by Intelsat. It was originally manufactured by the Hughes Aircraft Company as a communications platform for the United States.

### Q: When was SBS 6 launched and when did it retire?
A: SBS 6 was launched on October 12, 1990, and entered service on November 17, 1990. It was decommissioned in April 2009 after 18.5 years of operation.

### Q: What is the current status of SBS 6?
A: SBS 6 is currently a derelict satellite. Following its decommissioning in 2009, it was moved from its active geostationary position into a graveyard orbit.

### Q: What technology was used to build SBS 6?
A: The satellite was built on the HS-393 spacecraft bus. It featured solar cell panels for power and two R-4D engines for propulsion.

## Why It Matters
SBS 6 represents a significant example of late 20th-century satellite engineering and longevity. While it was originally designed with a 10-year service life, it remained operational for 18.5 years, nearly doubling its expected utility for its operator, Intelsat. This extended service highlights the durability of the HS-393 spacecraft bus and the reliability of the Hughes Aircraft Company’s manufacturing.

As a geostationary satellite, SBS 6 was part of the essential infrastructure for global telecommunications during the 1990s and early 2000s. Its successful launch via the Ariane 44L rocket also contributed to the operational history of the Ariane 4 series. Its final transition to a graveyard orbit in 2009 reflects standard international space protocols intended to keep active geostationary slots clear of retired hardware, marking its final transition from an active tool to a derelict object in space.

## Notable For
- **Extended Longevity:** Achieved an actual service life of 18.5 years, far exceeding its 10-year design life.
- **Spacecraft Bus:** Utilized the specialized HS-393 bus, a hallmark of Hughes Aircraft Company geostationary designs.
- **Graveyard Orbit Transition:** Successfully decommissioned and moved to a graveyard orbit in April 2009 to prevent orbital interference.
- **Launch Platform:** Part of the flight history of the Ariane 44L rocket (V39) and the ELA-2 launch site.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
SBS 6 was a communications satellite with a launch weight of 2,478 kilograms. It was constructed by the Hughes Aircraft Company based on the HS-393 spacecraft bus. For power generation, the satellite was equipped with solar cell panels, and it utilized two R-4D engines for propulsion and station-keeping.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was launched on October 12, 1990, at 22:58:18 UTC from the ELA-2 launch site. The mission utilized an Ariane 44L rocket (flight V39). The deployment process involved the H10 space tug (L411b). Following its launch, SBS 6 officially entered service on November 17, 1990.

### Operational History and Retirement
Owned and operated by Intelsat, SBS 6 was positioned in geostationary orbit to provide telecommunications services. Although its design life was specified as 10 years, the satellite remained functional for 18.5 years. 

In April 2009, the spacecraft reached the end of its functional life and underwent decommissioning. During this process, it was moved from its geostationary orbit into a graveyard orbit. It is now categorized as a derelict satellite, a class of artificial satellites that have been abandoned or decommissioned but remain in orbit.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sbs-6.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1990-091A)
4. [Source](http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sbs-6.htm)