The INTELSAT VI (F3) communications satellite as seen from the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-49. The satellite was launched on March 14th 199


The INTELSAT VI (F3) communications satellite as seen from the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-49. The satellite was launched on March 14th 1990 by a Titan rocket but due to a failure it was not raised to its geosyncronous orbit. The main goal of mission STS-49 (7-16 May 1992), the first of Shuttle Endeavour, was to capture the satellite and bring it into the cargo bay where a new perigee kick motor was installed. The satellite was then released and the new motor is visible here at top centre. INTELSAT VI (F3) is designed for voice, video and data communications with 48 combined transmitter and receiver systems. It has an expected operational lifetime of ten years.


Size: 2811px × 3397px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: capture, communication, communications, intelsat, satellite, shuttle, vi, view