# Telstar 303

> retired American communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q16061382](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16061382)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstar_303)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/telstar-303

Here’s the structured knowledge entry for Telstar 303:

---

## Summary  
Telstar 303 is a retired American communications satellite launched in 1985 as part of the Telstar 3 series. Operated by AT&T Corporation, it provided telecommunications services from geostationary orbit before being retired in 1996. The satellite was manufactured by Hughes Aircraft Company and launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch Date:** June 17, 1985, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A  
- **Operator:** AT&T Corporation  
- **Manufacturer:** Hughes Aircraft Company  
- **Mass:** 1,140 kg (launch weight), 653 kg (service entry)  
- **Dimensions:** 6.84 m height, 2.16 m diameter  
- **Power Source:** Solar array generating 917 watts  
- **Spacecraft Bus:** Boeing 376  
- **Orbit:** Geostationary orbit  
- **Preceded by:** Telstar 302  
- **Retirement:** Circa 1996  

## FAQs  
### Q: What was Telstar 303 used for?  
A: Telstar 303 was a communications satellite designed to provide telecommunications services, such as TV and data transmission, from geostationary orbit.  

### Q: Who launched Telstar 303?  
A: It was launched aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery on June 17, 1985, using a PAM-D space tug.  

### Q: When was Telstar 303 retired?  
A: The satellite was retired around 1996 after approximately 11 years of service.  

## Why It Matters  
Telstar 303 was part of the Telstar 3 series, which played a significant role in advancing global telecommunications during the 1980s and 1990s. As a geostationary satellite, it enabled reliable, continuous communication services, including television broadcasting and data transmission. Its launch via the Space Shuttle demonstrated the versatility of NASA's reusable launch system for deploying commercial satellites. The satellite's retirement marked the end of an era for AT&T's early satellite communications efforts, paving the way for more advanced successors.  

## Notable For  
- One of the first commercial satellites launched by the Space Shuttle.  
- Part of AT&T's Telstar series, a key player in early satellite communications.  
- Used the Boeing 376 spacecraft bus, a widely adopted platform for geostationary satellites.  

## Body  
### Launch and Deployment  
- Launched on June 17, 1985, at 11:33 UTC aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.  
- Deployed using a PAM-D (Payload Assist Module-D) space tug.  
- COSPAR ID: 1985-048D.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Mass:** 1,140 kg at launch, reduced to 653 kg in orbit.  
- **Dimensions:** 6.84 m tall, 2.16 m in diameter.  
- **Power:** Solar arrays providing 917 watts.  
- **Orbit:** Geostationary, ensuring constant coverage over a fixed region.  

### Operational History  
- Operated by AT&T Corporation for telecommunications services.  
- Retired circa 1996 after over a decade of service.  

### Manufacturer and Design  
- Built by Hughes Aircraft Company.  
- Based on the Boeing 376 spacecraft bus, a common platform for communications satellites.  

## Schema Markup  
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Telstar 303",
  "description": "Retired American communications satellite launched in 1985.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7696207",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telstar_303"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Communications Satellite"
}

## References

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