# Spaceway F2

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q7572746](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7572746)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spaceway-2)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/spaceway-f2

## Summary
Spaceway F2 is a communications satellite operated by DirecTV, launched in 2005 to provide telecommunications services from geostationary orbit. It was deployed via an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the ELA-3 launch site, serving as part of a broader network of artificial satellites designed for global connectivity.

## Key Facts
- **Classification**: Communications satellite (artificial satellite for telecommunications).
- **Operator**: DirecTV.
- **Launch Date**: November 16, 2005.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5 ECA (European launch vehicle).
- **Launch Site**: ELA-3 (Guiana Space Centre).
- **Orbit**: Geostationary orbit.
- **COSPAR ID**: 2005-046A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 28903.
- **Freebase ID**: /m/08qtn4.
- **Wikipedia Presence**: Available in English (en), German (de), and Portuguese (pt) under the title "Spaceway-2."
- **Sitelink Count**: 3 (Wikidata).
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch on November 16, 2005, from ELA-3.

## FAQs
**What is Spaceway F2?**
Spaceway F2 is a communications satellite operated by DirecTV, launched in 2005 to facilitate telecommunications from geostationary orbit.

**Who operates Spaceway F2?**
DirecTV is the operator of Spaceway F2, managing its telecommunications functions.

**When and how was Spaceway F2 launched?**
Spaceway F2 was launched on November 16, 2005, using an Ariane 5 ECA rocket from the ELA-3 launch site in French Guiana.

**What is the purpose of Spaceway F2?**
As a communications satellite, Spaceway F2 is designed to relay signals for telecommunications, including television broadcasting and data transmission.

**What orbit does Spaceway F2 occupy?**
Spaceway F2 operates in a geostationary orbit, allowing it to remain fixed relative to a point on Earth’s surface for consistent coverage.

## Why It Matters
Spaceway F2 plays a critical role in modern telecommunications infrastructure, enabling reliable satellite-based services such as television broadcasting and data transmission. As part of DirecTV’s network, it contributes to global connectivity, particularly in regions where terrestrial infrastructure is limited. Its deployment via the Ariane 5 ECA rocket highlights international collaboration in space technology, reinforcing the importance of geostationary satellites in maintaining continuous communication links.

## Notable For
- Being a key asset in DirecTV’s satellite fleet for telecommunications.
- Launched using the Ariane 5 ECA, a high-capacity European launch vehicle.
- Operates in geostationary orbit, ensuring stable coverage for its service area.
- Part of a broader class of communications satellites with 66 related sitelinks, indicating its significance in the field.

## Body
### Overview
Spaceway F2 is a communications satellite classified under the broader category of artificial satellites designed for telecommunications. It is one of many such satellites, with 66 related sitelinks indicating its integration into a well-established technological ecosystem.

### Launch and Deployment
- **Launch Date**: November 16, 2005.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 5 ECA, a European heavy-lift launch vehicle known for its reliability in deploying satellites to geostationary transfer orbits.
- **Launch Site**: ELA-3 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 3), located at the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana.
- **Significant Event**: The rocket launch on November 16, 2005, marked the successful deployment of Spaceway F2 into its intended orbit.

### Technical Specifications
- **COSPAR ID**: 2005-046A, a unique identifier assigned by the Committee on Space Research for tracking satellites.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN)**: 28903, used by the U.S. Space Command to catalog objects in Earth’s orbit.
- **Freebase ID**: /m/08qtn4, a machine-generated identifier from the Freebase knowledge base.
- **Orbit Type**: Geostationary orbit, allowing the satellite to maintain a fixed position relative to Earth’s surface, which is essential for continuous telecommunications services.

### Operational Role
- **Operator**: DirecTV, a major provider of satellite television services in the United States.
- **Function**: As a communications satellite, Spaceway F2 relays signals for television broadcasting, internet services, and other data transmissions.
- **Coverage**: Its geostationary position enables it to serve a specific region with consistent signal strength, supporting DirecTV’s service offerings.

### Related Entities
- **Ariane 5 ECA**: The launch vehicle used for Spaceway F2’s deployment, known for its role in launching heavy payloads to geostationary orbits.
- **ELA-3**: The launch site in French Guiana, a key facility for European space missions.
- **DirecTV**: The operator of Spaceway F2, leveraging the satellite for its telecommunications infrastructure.

### Documentation and References
- **Wikidata Description**: "communications satellite."
- **Wikipedia Titles**: Available in English ("Spaceway-2"), German, and Portuguese, providing multilingual documentation of the satellite’s specifications and history.
- **Sitelink Count**: 3, indicating the satellite’s presence in multiple language editions of Wikipedia.

### Significance in Telecommunications
Spaceway F2 is part of a larger network of communications satellites that form the backbone of modern global connectivity. Its role in DirecTV’s operations underscores the importance of satellite technology in delivering television and data services to remote or underserved areas. The use of the Ariane 5 ECA for its launch also highlights the international collaboration involved in space missions, particularly in the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report