# TDF 1

> French communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q16061240](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061240)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TDF_1)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tdf-1

## Summary
TDF 1 is a French communications satellite launched on October 28, 1988, to provide telecommunications services, including television broadcasting. Operated by TDF Group and manufactured by Aérospatiale, it was part of the TDF 1 & 2 satellite system and played a key role in France's telecommunications infrastructure.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: October 28, 1988, at 02:17:00 UTC.
- **Operator**: TDF Group.
- **Manufacturer**: Aérospatiale.
- **Mass**: 2,136 kilograms (launch weight).
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 2 (flight V26) from ELA-1 launch site.
- **COSPAR ID**: 1988-098A.
- **Design Life**: 8 years.
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Spacebus-300.
- **Followed By**: TDF 2.

## FAQs
### Q: When was TDF 1 launched?
A: TDF 1 was launched on October 28, 1988, at 02:17:00 UTC aboard an Ariane 2 rocket from the ELA-1 launch site.

### Q: Who operated TDF 1?
A: TDF 1 was operated by TDF Group, a French telecommunications company.

### Q: What was the purpose of TDF 1?
A: TDF 1 was designed to provide telecommunications services, including direct-to-home television broadcasting, from geostationary orbit.

## Why It Matters
TDF 1 was a critical component of France's telecommunications network in the late 1980s, enabling widespread television broadcasting and communication services. As the first satellite in the TDF series, it demonstrated the viability of the Spacebus-300 platform and contributed to the expansion of satellite-based telecommunications in Europe. Its 8-year design life underscored advancements in satellite durability, and its use of solar arrays and S400 propulsion highlighted emerging technologies in spacecraft design. TDF 1 paved the way for subsequent satellites like TDF 2, reinforcing France's position in global telecommunications.

## Notable For
- First satellite in the TDF series, later followed by TDF 2.
- Utilized the Spacebus-300 spacecraft bus, a reliable platform for geostationary satellites.
- Launched on the Ariane 2 rocket, a key vehicle in the European space program.
- Operated from geostationary orbit to deliver broadcasting services across France.
- Equipped with S400 propulsion and dual solar arrays for power generation.

## Body
### Launch Details
- **Date/Time**: October 28, 1988, at 02:17:00 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Ariane 2 (flight number V26).
- **Launch Site**: ELA-1 (Guiana Space Centre).

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 2,136 kg at launch.
- **Spacecraft Bus**: Spacebus-300.
- **Propulsion**: S400 engine with H10 space tug.
- **Power**: 2 solar arrays and S400 propulsion system.
- **Design Life**: 8 years.

### Mission and Operations
- **Operator**: TDF Group.
- **Orbit**: Geostationary.
- **Purpose**: Telecommunications, including TV broadcasting.
- **COSPAR/NSSDCA ID**: 1988-098A.

### Legacy
- Part of the TDF 1 & 2 system, succeeded by TDF 2.
- Demonstrated the effectiveness of the Spacebus-300 platform for commercial satellites.
- Contributed to the growth of direct-to-home broadcasting in France during the 1990s.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tdf-1.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report