# Telstar 302

> retired American communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q16061384](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061384)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstar_302)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/telstar-302

## Summary
Telstar 302 is a retired American communications satellite that was operated by the AT&T Corporation. Launched in 1984 as part of the Telstar 3 series, it served as a geostationary telecommunications platform until its retirement in approximately 1994.

## Key Facts
- **Classifications:** Communications satellite, geostationary satellite, and former (retired) entity.
- **Launch Date:** August 30, 1984, at 12:41:50 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Space Shuttle Discovery (Mission STS-41-D).
- **Manufacturer:** Hughes Aircraft Company, utilizing the Boeing 376 spacecraft bus.
- **Operator:** AT&T Corporation.
- **Dimensions:** 6.84 meters in height at service entry and 2.16 meters in diameter.
- **Mass:** 1,140 kg launch weight; 653 kg service entry weight.
- **Power System:** Powered by a spacecraft solar array generating 917 units of power.
- **Series Context:** Part of the Telstar 3 series; it followed Telstar 301 and was followed by Telstar 303.
- **Identification:** SCN 15237, COSPAR ID 1984-093D, and NSSDCA ID 1984-093D.

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured and operated Telstar 302?
A: The satellite was manufactured by the Hughes Aircraft Company using a Boeing 376 spacecraft bus and was operated by the AT&T Corporation.

### Q: How was Telstar 302 launched into orbit?
A: It was launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A on August 30, 1984, using the Space Shuttle Discovery. It utilized a PAM-D space tug to reach its intended orbit.

### Q: What is the current status of Telstar 302?
A: Telstar 302 is currently retired; it completed its operational service life circa 1994.

### Q: What are the physical dimensions of the satellite?
A: At the time of service entry, the satellite stood 6.84 meters tall with a diameter of 2.16 meters.

## Why It Matters
Telstar 302 was a critical component of the American telecommunications infrastructure during the 1980s and early 1990s. As part of the Telstar 3 series, it represented the modernization of AT&T's satellite fleet, providing the necessary capacity for long-distance communications across the United States. 

The satellite's deployment is historically significant due to its association with the Space Shuttle program. It was launched during mission STS-41-D, which was the maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery. This era highlighted the transition of satellite deployment from traditional expendable rockets to the reusable Space Shuttle system, utilizing specialized hardware like the PAM-D space tug for orbital placement. With a service life spanning approximately a decade, Telstar 302 contributed to the reliability of geostationary communications before the next generation of satellites succeeded the Telstar 3 series.

## Notable For
- **Maiden Flight Deployment:** Launched during STS-41-D, the first-ever flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery.
- **Alternative Designation:** Also known by the alias Telstar 3C.
- **Series Position:** The second satellite in the Telstar 3 series, positioned chronologically between Telstar 301 and Telstar 303.
- **Technical Platform:** Built on the Boeing 376 bus, a prominent spacecraft platform of its era.

## Body
### Technical Specifications
Telstar 302 was constructed by the Hughes Aircraft Company. It was based on the Boeing 376 spacecraft bus, a cylindrical satellite design.
*   **Mass:** The satellite had a launch weight of 1,140 kg, which reduced to 653 kg upon service entry.
*   **Dimensions:** It measured 2.16 meters in diameter and reached a height of 6.84 meters once in its service configuration.
*   **Power:** The craft was equipped with a spacecraft solar array capable of producing 917 units of power.

### Launch and Orbital Insertion
The satellite was launched on August 30, 1984, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
*   **Mission:** It was a payload on STS-41-D, the first mission of the Space Shuttle Discovery.
*   **Deployment:** To reach its final geostationary orbit, the satellite utilized a PAM-D (Payload Assist Module) space tug.
*   **Identifiers:** It is tracked under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 15237 and COSPAR ID 1984-093D.

### Operational History
Telstar 302 was owned and operated by the AT&T Corporation as part of their domestic communications network.
*   **Service Life:** The satellite entered service in 1984 and remained operational for approximately ten years.
*   **Retirement:** It reached its service retirement circa 1994.
*   **Lineage:** Within the Telstar 3 series, Telstar 302 followed the 301 model and preceded the 303 model.

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Telstar 302",
  "description": "A retired American geostationary communications satellite operated by AT&T and launched in 1984.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10379244"
  ],
  "additionalType": "http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q149918"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/telstar-3.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report