# Superbird-A1
**Wikidata**: [Q16061325](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061325)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superbird-A1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/superbird-a1

## Summary
Superbird-A1 is a communications satellite launched on December 1, 1992. It was deployed into geostationary orbit using an Ariane 42P rocket from the ELA-2 launch site. The satellite is also known by the alias Superbird A-1 and is cataloged under the COSPAR ID 1992-084A.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of:** Communications satellite (artificial satellite designed for telecommunications).
- **Launch Date:** December 1, 1992.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 42P (a rocket in the Ariane 4 series).
- **Launch Site:** ELA-2 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 2).
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1992-084A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 22253.
- **Aliases:** Superbird A-1.
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch occurring on December 1, 1992, at ELA-2.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Superbird-A1?
A: Superbird-A1 is a communications satellite designed for telecommunications. It was launched in late 1992 and operates in geostationary orbit.

### Q: When and how was Superbird-A1 launched?
A: Superbird-A1 was launched on December 1, 1992, aboard an Ariane 42P rocket. The launch took place at the ELA-2 facility.

### Q: What are the identifiers for Superbird-A1?
A: The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1992-084A and the Satellite Catalog Number 22253. It also has a Google Knowledge Graph ID of /g/1pwgtj6tq.

## Why It Matters
Superbird-A1 serves as a representative example of geostationary communications satellites deployed in the early 1990s. As an artificial satellite explicitly designed for telecommunications, it plays a role in relaying signals across specific geographic regions from its fixed position in orbit. Its launch aboard the Ariane 42P highlights the operational use of the Ariane 4 series during that era to deliver payloads to geostationary transfer orbits. The satellite's specific cataloging (SCN 22253, COSPAR 1992-084A) provides essential data for space traffic management and historical tracking of orbital assets. By maintaining a geostationary orbit, the satellite allows for consistent communication coverage, a fundamental requirement for the telecommunications infrastructure of its time.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated communications satellite in geostationary orbit.
- Launching aboard the Ariane 42P configuration of the Ariane 4 rocket family.
- Utilizing the ELA-2 launch complex for its deployment.
- Being tracked under the specific international identifier 1992-084A.

## Body
### Launch and Deployment
Superbird-A1 was successfully launched on December 1, 1992. The mission utilized the Ariane 42P rocket, a variant of the Ariane 4 series equipped with two solid strap-on boosters. The launch originated from the ELA-2 (Ensemble de Lancement Ariane 2) pad, a primary launch site for the Ariane program at the time. This event is classified as a "rocket launch" significant event in the satellite's operational history.

### Orbital Characteristics and Function
The satellite was inserted into a geostationary orbit, which allows it to match the Earth's rotation and remain fixed over a single point on the equator. This orbit is standard for satellites designed for telecommunications, ensuring constant coverage of a specific area on the planet's surface.

### Identification and Tracking
The international space community tracks Superbird-A1 using specific identifiers to differentiate it from other orbital objects.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1992-084A (designating it as the primary payload of that launch).
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 22253.
*   **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "22253"]`.
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** `/g/1pwgtj6tq`.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report