May 19 1983
From The Space Library
NASA launched INTELSAT 5-F at 6:26 p.m. EDT from ESMC on an Atlas Centaur into a transfer orbit. This was the 1.00th launch for LeRC. The 4,400-pound Ford Aerospace-built communications satellite carried 12,000 voice and two color television channels and was the first to have a maritime communications link for ship-to-shore communications. (NASA Release 83-77; LeRC Release 83-25; NASA Dly Acty Rpt, May 20/83; D/SD, May 17/83, 95)
NASA declared the May 19 launch of INTELSAT 5-F successful, as the Atlas Centaur had put the satellite into the desired transfer orbit. After an apogee kick motor fired May 22 put it in near-geosynchronous orbit for initial positioning and preliminary tests, the INTELSAT would be moved on station over the Atlantic Ocean. (NASA MOR M-491-203-86-06 [postlaunch] June 13/83)
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