# Telecom 2D

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1283626](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1283626)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/telecom-2d

## Summary
Telecom 2D is a communications satellite launched on August 8, 1996. It was deployed into orbit using an Ariane 44L rocket from the ELA-2 launch site. The satellite is identified by the COSPAR ID 1996-044B and the Satellite Catalog Number 24209.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Telecom 2D is an artificial satellite designed for telecommunications (instance of: communications satellite).
- **Launch Date:** August 8, 1996.
- **Launch Vehicle:** The satellite was launched aboard an Ariane 44L rocket.
- **Launch Site:** The launch originated from ELA-2 (Ensemble de Lancement 2).
- **COSPAR ID:** 1996-044B.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 24209.
- **Significant Event:** Rocket launch occurring on August 8, 1996, at ELA-2.
- **Aliases:** TELECOM 2D.
- **Wikipedia Presence:** Available in German (de), Polish (pl), and Portuguese (pt).

## FAQs
### Q: When was Telecom 2D launched?
A: Telecom 2D was launched on August 8, 1996.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch Telecom 2D?
A: The satellite was launched using an Ariane 44L rocket, a variant of the Ariane 4 series.

### Q: What is the primary function of Telecom 2D?
A: Telecom 2D is a communications satellite, meaning it is an artificial satellite designed to relay and amplify radio telecommunications signals.

## Why It Matters
Telecom 2D represents a specific mission within the broader context of global telecommunications expansion during the 1990s. As a communications satellite, it served a critical role in transmitting data, voice, and video signals across specific geographic regions, contributing to the infrastructure that supports modern global connectivity. The mission is also a notable data point in the history of the Ariane rocket program; its launch aboard an Ariane 44L highlights the heavy-lift capabilities utilized during that era to deploy complex orbital assets. By occupying the 1996-044B slot in space catalogs, it remains a tracked object of significance for space traffic management and historical orbital records.

## Notable For
- Being a distinct entry in the Telecom satellite series, specifically identified as Telecom 2D.
- Its deployment via the Ariane 44L, a specific heavy-lift configuration of the Ariane 4 family.
- Having a unique identifier in the Satellite Catalog (24209) and COSPAR system (1996-044B).
- Being launched from the ELA-2 complex, a historically significant launch pad.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Design
Telecom 2D is classified as a communications satellite. Its designation places it within a lineage of spacecraft designed to facilitate long-distance communication by receiving signals from Earth, amplifying them, and transmitting them back to ground stations. As an artificial satellite, it operates in orbit to provide services that would otherwise be impossible or impractical with ground-based infrastructure.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully delivered to space on August 8, 1996. This mission utilized the Ariane 44L rocket, a version of the Ariane 4 launch vehicle known for its reliability and payload capacity during the 1990s. The launch event took place at the ELA-2 launch complex, a primary launch site for the Ariane family of rockets.

### Identifiers and Cataloging
To facilitate tracking and management, Telecom 2D is assigned several standardized identifiers:
- **COSPAR ID:** 1996-044B. This international designation indicates the year of launch (1996), the sequence of the launch within that year (044), and the component of the launch (B), identifying the payload as opposed to the rocket body.
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number):** 24209. This is the sequential number assigned by the US Space Command.
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/120ldm97.

### Related Entities
The operation and deployment of Telecom 2D are directly linked to the technology of its era, specifically the **Ariane 44L** rocket. This launch vehicle is a "related" class entity essential to the satellite's history, serving as the transport mechanism that placed Telecom 2D into its operational environment.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report