NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND

SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington. D. C. 20546
202-755-8370

FOR RELEASE:
UPON RECEIPT

P PROJECT: INTELSAT IV

contents
S GENERAL RELEASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
SPACECRAFT.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

S LAUNCH VEHICLE.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
LAUNCH WINDOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
INTELSAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

K FLIGHT EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
INDUSTRY TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3-

-more-

June 6, 1972
 NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION
Washington, D. C. 20546
Phone: (202) 755-8370

FOR RELEASE:
Howard G. Allaway UPON RECEIPT
(Phone: 202/755-3680)
RELEASE NO: 72-119

NASA TO LAUNCH INTELSAT IV

The fourth in a series of Intelsat IV commercial com-

munications satellites will be launched by NASA for the

Communications Satellite Corporation aboard an Atlas-

Centaur rocket from Cape Kennedy, Fla., no earlier than
June 13. The launch window is 5:53 p.m. to 7:13 p.m. EDT
through June 19.

This satellite, which will be positioned on the Equator

over the Indian Ocean, will complete the global system of

Intelsat IVs. The remaining Intelsat III satellites in

orbit will be used as backup spacecraft in case of break-

downs or an excess of demand for circuits. Additional Intel-
sat IVs are scheduled for launch in the future to take care of

the growth of international telephone, television, and data

trar.s:issions.
- more -
June 6, 1D72
 - 2 -

This spacecraft will add 12 television channels to the

48 now available between the U.S. and other nations. Com-

munications satellites are the only means by which TV can

be transmitted overseas. Intelsat IV (F-5) can carry 5,000

to 6,000 two-way telephone conversations under average con-

ditions.

The Atlas-Centaur launch vehicle will place the satel-

lite in a highly elliptical orbit ranging from approximately

563 to 36,800 kilometers (350 to 22,300 statute miles).

After checkout and orientation of the spacecraft a solid

propellant rocket motor aboard the spacecraft will be fired

to circularize the orbit at synchronous altitude (36,800

kilometers or 22,300 statute miles). At this altitude

the speed of the spacecraft in orbit matches the rotational

speed of the Earth so that it appears to hover over one

spot. By the firing of small gas jets aboard the space-

craft it can be allowed to drift in orbit and then be

positioned accurately at any desired point on the equator.

This particular Intelsat IV is intended for use over the
Indian Ocean at 61.4 degrees east longitude.

- more -
 - 3 -

The new satellite, like others in the global commer-

cial communications system, is owned by the International

Communications Consortium (Intelsat). The Communications

Satellite Corporation (Comsat), the United States member,

acts as manager on behalf of the other 83 nations in the

consortium. NASA is reimbursed for all costs of Atlas-

Centaur and launch services by Intelsat, under provisions

of the Communications Satellite Act of 1962.

The first Intelsat IV satellite was launched Jan. 25,

1971, and placed in commercial service March 26 over the

Atlantic Ocean at 24.5 degrees west longitude. The second

Intelsat IV was launched Dec. 19, 1971 and the third Jan. 22,
1972.

(END OF GENERAL RELEASE; BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOLLOWS)

 - 4 -

SPACECRAFT

The Inteisat IVs are the laraest commercial communi-

cations satellites ever launched, both in size and communi-
cation capacity. Each stands over 5.18 meters (17 feet)
high and weighs 1,412 kilograms (3,123 pounds) at launch.
After the colid-fueLe-d, on-board apogee -ctor has been
fired to thrust the spacocraft from tranzfe- to synchro-
nous orbit, the in-orbit weight is 720 kilo(rams (1,587
poundsi.
Each Intelsat IV satellite is capable of carrying a
varying number of telephone circuits simultaneously, depending
on whether the power is radiated to Earth by wide or
spotbeam antenna configuration. The average antenna configura-
tion provides telephone capacity of 5,000 to 6,000 circuits.
Each Intelsat IV satellite could carry 12 color television
channels or a combination of telephone, TV, data and other
forms of communication traffic.
In contrast, the Early Bird Satellite, (Intelsat I)
launched in 1965, had a design capacity of 240 telephone
circuits.
The drum-shaped body of the satellite is surrounded
by 45,012 solar cells to provide electrical power.

- more -

__ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _\ _ _ _ _ _
 - 5 -

LAUNCH VEHICLE

Intelsat IV is the 20th operational launch for the

Atlas-Centaur. The rocket combination, standing approxi-
mately 35 meters (113 feet) high, consists of an Atlas
SLV-3C booster and Centaur second stage.
The Atlas booster develops 1,793,350 newtons (403,000
pounds) of thrust at liftoff using two 760,950-newton
(171,000-pound) thrust booster engines and one 267,000-newton
(60,000-pound) thrust sustainer engine. Its propellants
are RP-1 (a kerosene type fuel) and liquid oxygen (LOX).
The Centaur second stage, which was developed and is
flown under the direction of NASA's Lewis Research Center,
Cleveland, was the first U.S. rocket to use the high energy
liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen combination. Its two RL-10
engines develop 66,750 newtons (15,000 pounds) thrust
each. Flown in combination with an Atlas booster up to
the present time, Centaur is ii; the process of being inte-
grated with the Titan III booster to launch Viking space-
craft to Mars in 1975.

During 1971 Centaur successfully launched Mariner 9

to Mars and two Intelsat IV spacecraft. During 1972 it has
successfully launched one Intelsat IV and the Pioneer 10
spacecraft to fly by Jupiter. Launch of an Orbiting Astro-
nomical Observatory is scheduled for late this summer or
early fall.

- more-

A I

l
i. .
 - 6 -

LAUNCH WINDOW

The primary factor determining the launch window for

Intelsat spacecraft is the angle of the Sun. It is desirable
for the solar cells on the spacecraft to receive the maxi-
mum possible exposure during the transfer orbit. The Sun
angle is at its best twice a day at noon and midnight Green-
wich Mean Time or 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.-. EST. Because
of the greater convenience for launch crews and trackinc
operations, the 7:00 p.m. period is generally chosen.
The launch window for AC-29 is 5:53 p.m. - 7:13 p.m. EDT
from June 13 through June 19.

- more -
 -7-

INTELSAT TEAM

NASA Headquarters
Dr. John E. Naugle Associate Administrator for Space
Science
Vincent L. Johnson Deputy Associate Administrator for
OSS
Jerome Friebaum Program Manager
Joseph B. Mahon Director, Launch Vehicle Programs
T. B. Norris Mediv ' Launch Vehicles Program
Manager
F. R. Schmidt Atlas-Centaur Program Manager

COMSAT

Dr. Joseph V. Charyk President

Martin J. Votaw Asst. Vice President & Director
of Space Segment Implementation

Kennedy Space Center

Dr. Kurt H. Debus Director

John J. Neilon Director, Unmanned Launch Opera-
tions (ULO)
John Gossett Manager, Centaur Operations (ULO)

Lewis Research Center

Bruce T. Lundin Director
Edmund R. Jonash Director, Launch Vehicles
W. R. Dunbar Deputy Director, Launch Vehicles
Daniel J. Shramo Atlas-Centaur Project Manager
Jerry D. Stribling Intelsat Project Engineer

- more -

-^
»
 Program
Fliqht Events Time peed:Inertial Range A1ti
J .ie
Fcconds MPH ]KM/HR Statute Kilometers St-ute Ki 1om;i , -;
Miles Mil~s

BECO 151.2 6580.7 10,591 53.4 85.9 3(,10 53.6

Booster jettison 154.3 6653 10,707.5 58.0 93.4 3' .2 61.5

Insulaticn uanel
jettison 196.2 7503.8 12,J76.8 125.4 201.9 61.1 98.4
SECO/VECO 241.2 8762.5 14,102.5 211.1 339.8 83.1 133.8
Centaur separation 243.2 8757.7 14,094.8 215.4 346.8 84.1 135.4
Centaur MEIG (1) 252.7 8722.3 14,037.7 235.2 378.6 88.2 141.9
No;e fairing jettison 264.7 8847.7 14,239.6 260.4 419.2 93 149.7
Centaur MECO (1) 627.3 18,562.7 29,875 1412.8 • 2,274.3 117.5 189.2
Centaur MEIG (2) 1519.0 17,614.3 28,348.7 5484 8,828.2 370.3 596.1
Centaur .MECO (2) 1593.9 22,011.9 35,426.3 5833.4 9,390.6 416.7 670.8
Spacecraft separation 1728.9 21,638.3 34,825 6519.3 10,494.8 549.7 884.9
Reorient Centaur 1733.9
Start Blowdown 1898.9
End Blowdown 2148.9

- more -
 - 9 --

-NDUSTRY TEAM

Prime Contractors Responsibility

Hughes Aircraft Company INTELSAT IV Spacecraft
Sunnyvale, Calif.
General Dynamics/Convair Atlas-Centaur Launch
San Diego, Calif. Vehicle

- end -