# Tele-X

> decommissioned Swedish communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q742759](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q742759)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tele-X)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/tele-x

## Summary
Tele-X was a Swedish communications satellite designed for telecommunications relay. Launched on April 2, 1989, and operated by SES Sirius (originally Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget), it served in geostationary orbit for approximately 8.8 years. The spacecraft was decommissioned on January 16, 1998, and moved to a graveyard orbit, where it currently remains as a derelict object.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Communications Satellite / Derelict Satellite.
- **Launch Date:** April 2, 1989 (02:28:00 UTC).
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 2 (Flight V30).
- **Launch Site:** ELA-1 (Guiana Space Centre).
- **Manufacturer:** Aérospatiale and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm.
- **Operator:** SES Sirius (Stated as: Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget).
- **Mass:** 2,089 kg (Launch Weight).
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit (operational); Graveyard orbit (final).
- **Decommissioning Date:** January 16, 1998.
- **Service Life:** 8.8 years (Exceeded design life of 6.3 years).
- **Platform:** Spacebus-300.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1989-027A; SCN 19919.

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of Tele-X?
A: Tele-X was an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications. It operated as a communications relay satellite in geostationary orbit.

### Q: Who built and operated the Tele-X satellite?
A: The satellite was manufactured by a collaboration between Aérospatiale and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm. It was operated by SES Sirius, known at the time as Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget.

### Q: Is Tele-X still active?
A: No, Tele-X is a decommissioned satellite. It was retired from service on January 16, 1998, and moved to a graveyard orbit, where it remains as a derelict space object.

### Q: How long did Tele-X operate compared to its design life?
A: Tele-X had a design life of 6.3 years but ultimately served for 8.8 years before being decommissioned.

## Why It Matters
Tele-X represents a significant example of late-20th-century European space cooperation and satellite engineering. As a Swedish telecommunications satellite built by French and German manufacturers (Aérospatiale and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm) and launched via the European Ariane 2 rocket, it highlights the multinational effort required to establish orbital infrastructure during this era. Technically, it utilized the Spacebus-300 platform, a standard for geostationary communications satellites of the time.

Its operational history demonstrates the reliability of these systems; the satellite functioned for 8.8 years, significantly surpassing its 6.3-year design life by nearly 40%. Furthermore, its end-of-life procedure—moving to a "graveyard orbit"—exemplifies the responsible management of geostationary orbital slots to prevent space debris and collision risks with active satellites. Now classified as a derelict satellite, Tele-X serves as a historical marker for the expansion of Nordic telecommunications capabilities in space.

## Notable For
- **Swedish Communications Infrastructure:** Served as a key orbital asset for Sweden and the Nordic region.
- **Exceeding Design Life:** Operated for 8.8 years despite a design specification of only 6.3 years.
- **Multinational Manufacturing:** A product of Franco-German engineering (Aérospatiale and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm) for a Swedish operator.
- **Spacebus Platform:** Utilized the Spacebus-300 satellite bus.
- **Responsible Disposal:** Successfully moved to a graveyard orbit after decommissioning.

## Body
### Development and Specifications
Tele-X was constructed using the **Spacebus-300** spacecraft bus. Manufacturing was a joint effort between **Aérospatiale** (France) and **Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm** (Germany). While the country of origin for the manufacturing was France, the satellite belonged to **Sweden** and was operated by **Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget** (later referred to as SES Sirius).

The satellite had a launch mass of **2,089 kilograms**. Its power system relied on a **spacecraft solar array** comprising two panels. Propulsion capabilities included an **S400** engine system.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was launched on **April 2, 1989**, at precisely **02:28:00** UTC. The launch vehicle was an **Ariane 2** rocket, specifically flight designation **V30**. The launch took place at the **ELA-1** pad at the Guiana Space Centre. Tele-X carried the COSPAR ID **1989-027A** and the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) **19919**.

### Operational Life and Decommissioning
Tele-X was inserted into a **geostationary orbit** to perform its telecommunications mission. The satellite was designed to function for **6.3 years**, but it remained operational for **8.8 years**.

On **January 16, 1998**, Tele-X was decommissioned. Following standard procedure for geostationary satellites, it was maneuvered into a **graveyard orbit**—a super-synchronous orbit used for retired satellites to reduce the risk of collision with active assets. Consequently, the satellite is currently classified as a **derelict satellite**, abandoned in orbit.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/tele-x.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013