Intelsat, Ltd. is the world’s largest commercial satellite communications services provider. On July 18, 2001, Intelsat became a private company, 37 years after being formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (INTELSAT), an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites (Intelsats) to provide international broadcast services. In the period prior to Intelsat's privatization in 2001, ownership and investment in INTELSAT (measured in shares) was distributed among INTELSAT members according to their respective use of services. Investment shares determined each member’s percentage of the total contribution needed to finance capital expenditures. The organization’s primary source of revenue came from satellite usage fees which, after deduction of operating costs, was redistributed to INTELSAT members in proportion to their shares as repayment of capital and compensation for use of capital. Satellite services were available to any organization (both INTELSAT members and non-members), and all users paid the same rates. Intelsat, Ltd. ... An Earth observation satellite, ERS 2 For other uses, see Satellite (disambiguation). ... July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 166 days remaining. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... U.S. military MILSTAR communications satellite A communications satellite (sometimes abbreviated to comsat) is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purposes of telecommunications. ...

History

INTELSAT I Early Bird

An Intelsat IVA Satellite

The consortium began on August 20, 1964, with 11 participating countries. On April 6, 1965, Intelsat’s first satellite, the Intelsat I (nicknamed Early Bird), was placed in geostationary orbit above the Atlantic Ocean by a Delta D rocket. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3101x2400, 582 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Intelsat Early Bird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3101x2400, 582 KB) File links The following pages link to this file: Intelsat Early Bird Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or digitize it. ... Image File history File links INTELSAT_IVA.jpg File links The following pages link to this file: Intelsat ... Image File history File links INTELSAT_IVA.jpg File links The following pages link to this file: Intelsat ... August 20 is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... INTELSAT I Early Bird Intelsat I (nicknamed Early Bird for the proverb The early bird catches the worm) was the first commercial communications satellite to be placed in geosynchronous orbit, on April 6, 1965. ... A geostationary orbit (GEO) is a geosynchronous orbit directly above the Earths equator (0º latitude). ... The Delta family of rockets is used in an expendable launch system that has provided space launch capability for the United States since 1960. ...

In 1973, the name was changed and there were 80 signatories. Intelsat provides service to over 600 Earth stations in more than 149 countries, territories and dependencies. By 2001, INTELSAT had over 100 members. It was also in this year when INTELSAT privatized and its name changed to Intelsat. 1973 (MCMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday. ...

Since its inception, Intelsat has used several versions (blocks) of its dedicated Intelsat satellites. INTELSAT competes each block of spacecraft independently, leading to a variety of contractors over the years. Intelsat’s largest spacecraft supplier is Space Systems/Loral, having built 31 spacecraft (as of 2003), or nearly half of the fleet. Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), of Palo Alto, California, is the wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary of Loral Space & Communications. ...

The network in its early years was not as robust as it is now. A failure of the Atlantic satellite in the spring of 1969 threatened to stop the Apollo 11 mission; a replacement satellite went into a bad orbit and could not be recovered in time; NASA had to resort to using undersea cable telephone circuits to bring Apollo's communications to NASA during the mission.^[1] Fortunately, during the Apollo 11 moonwalk, the moon was over the Pacific Ocean, and so other antennas were used, as well as INTELSAT III, which was in geostationary orbit of the Pacific.^[2] For the Stargate SG-1 episode, see 1969 (Stargate SG-1). ... The Apollo 11 mission was the first mission to land on the Moon. ... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency of the United States federal government, responsible for the nations public space program. ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless on an untethered EVA Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth and outside of his or her spacecraft. ...

Today, the number of Intelsat satellites, as well as ocean-spanning fibre-optic lines, allows rapid rerouting of traffic when one satellite fails. Modern satellites also are themselves more robust, lasting longer with much larger capacity.

Current operation

Intelsat was sold for U.S. $3.1bn in January 2005 to four private equity firms: Madison Dearborn Partners, Apax Partners, Permira and Apollo Management. The company acquired PanAmSat on July 3, 2006, and is now the world's largest provider of fixed satellite services, operating a fleet of 52 satellites in prime orbital locations. Intelsat maintains its corporate headquarters in Bermuda, with a majority of staff and satellite functions — administrative headquarters — located at the Intelsat Global Services Corporation offices in Washington, DC. A highly international business, Intelsat sources the majority of its revenue from non-U.S. located customers. Apax Partners is a private equity and venture capital firm which operates in the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, and Israel. ... Permira is an international, private equity firm based in the United Kingdom. ... Founded in 1984 by Rene Anselmo, PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA) was a satellite service provider headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United...

Spacecraft operations are controlled through ground stations in Clarksburg, Maryland (USA), Hagerstown, Maryland (USA), Riverside, California (USA), and Fuchsstadt, Germany [1]. Clarksburg is a census-designated place and an uncorporated area located in Montgomery County, Maryland. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... Nickname: The Hub City Location in Maryland Coordinates: County Washington Incorporated 1813  - Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II Area    - City 27. ... Official language(s) None (English, de facto) Capital Annapolis Largest city Baltimore Area  Ranked 42nd  - Total 12,407 sq mi (32,133 km²)  - Width 90 miles (145 km)  - Length 249 miles (400 km)  - % water 21  - Latitude 37°53N to 39°43N  - Longitude 75°4W to 79°33... Nickname: Location in the state of California Coordinates: Country United States State California County Riverside Government  - Mayor Ron Loveridge Area  - City  78. ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ...

Intelsat was operating Intelsat Americas-7 until it was lost on 29 November 2004 [2]. Intelsat Americas, was the redesignation given to several Telstar satellites following their sale to Intelsat by Loral Space Systems in 2001. ... November 29 is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Renaming

Intelsat changed the names of 16 of its satellites formerly known under the Intelsat Americas and PanAmSat brands.^[3] Intelsat Americas, was the redesignation given to several Telstar satellites following their sale to Intelsat by Loral Space Systems in 2001. ... Founded in 1984 by Rene Anselmo, PanAmSat Corporation (NYSE: PA) was a satellite service provider headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut. ...

See also

• Eutelsat
• Inmarsat
• Intersputnik
• Intelsat Americas
• SES Global

Eutelsat S.A. is a French-based satellite provider. ... Inmarsat is an international telecommunications company founded in 1979, originally as an intergovernmental organization. ... Intelsat Americas, was the redesignation given to several Telstar satellites following their sale to Intelsat by Loral Space Systems in 2001. ... SES Global is one of the worlds largest satellite services companies. ...

External links

• Company home page

Data

• Yahoo! - Intelsat, Ltd. Company Profile
• Pacific Satellite Fails

References

1. ^ Donald E. Kimberlin (June 1, 1994). Camelot on the Moon. Retrieved on September 22, 2006.
2. ^ On Eagle's Wings: The Parkes Observatory's Support of the Apollo 11 Mission (PDF). Astronomical Society of Australia (July 1, 2001). Retrieved on September 22, 2006.
3. ^ http://www.intelsat.com/network/satellite/new-names.asp Renaming information at Intelsat.