TDF 2

TDF 2

Names	TDF-2
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Télévision de France / France Telecom
COSPAR ID	1990-063A
SATCAT no.	20705
Mission duration	8 years (planned) 9 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	TDF 2
Spacecraft type	Spacebus
Bus	Spacebus 300
Manufacturer	Eurosatellite (Aérospatiale) and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)
Launch mass	2,144 kg (4,727 lb)
Dry mass	1,300 kg (2,900 lb)
Dimensions	2.4 x 1.64 x 7.1 m Span: 19.3 m on orbit
Power	4.3 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	24 July 1990, 22:25:00 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 44L H10 (V37)
Launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Entered service	September 1990
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	May 1999
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[1]
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	19.2° West (1990-1997) 36° East (1997-1999)
Transponders
Band	5 Ku-Band[1]
Bandwidth	27 MHz
Coverage area	Europe, France
TDF constellation

TDF 2 or TDF-2 was a French communications satellite which was to have been operated by Télévision de France (France Télécom). It was intended to be used to provide television broadcast services to Europe, however it failed before entering service. It was constructed by Aérospatiale, based on the Spacebus 300 satellite bus, and carried five Ku-band transponders. At launch it had a mass of 2,144 kg (4,727 lb), and an expected operational lifespan of eight years.[2]

Launch

TDF 2 was launched by Arianespace using an Ariane 44L H10 launch vehicle flying from ELA-2 at Centre Spatial Guyanais, Kourou, French Guiana. The launch took place at 22:25:00 UTC on 24 July 1990.[3] It was a Spacebus 300 satellite bus.[2]

Mission

TDF 2 was placed into a geostationary orbit at a longitude of 19.2° West. In August 1997, at 36° East, the bird joined the Eutelsat fleet. TDF 2 is expected to remain in service at least until early 1999.[1][4]

See also

• 1990 in spaceflight

References

1. "TDF 2". TSE. 28 February 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
2. Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "TDF 1, 2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
3. McDowell, Jonathan (14 March 2021). "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
4. Wade, Mark. "TDF". Encyclopedia Astronautica. Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2021.