Trajectory & orbital insertion
Ascent path is a representation — true ascent telemetry isn’t public.
Provider
Lockheed Martin
Provider type
Commercial
Orbit
Direct-GEO
Mission type
Communications
Launch site
United States of America
Date
Sun, 05 Oct 1997 21:01:01 GMT
Orbital launch #
#4179 ever
Mission
EchoStar 3 was originaly ordered as DBSC 1 by DBSC (Direct Broadcast Satellite Corporation) which merged with a subsidiary of EchoStar in late 1995. The merger was approved by the FCC in August 1996. EchoStar is only authorized to operate 11 transponders from 61.5°W but was granted in Mar 1998 a special authorization to use the full frequency space at that location.