Marcopolo

Marcopolo or Marco Polo 1 and 2 were two satellites designed, launched and tested by Hughes Space and Communications (now part of Boeing Satellite Systems) for British Satellite Broadcasting, and were used for Britain's Direct Broadcast Service. [ [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/bsb/bsb.html BSB History by Boeing] ] Marcopolo 1 launched on August 27, 1989 on the 187th launch of a Delta rocket, and Marcopolo 2 on August 17, 1990, by a Delta II rocket. [cite web | url = http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bls/missions/index.html | title = Boeing Launch Services Mission Record | publisher = Boeing] Marcopolo I had a Hughes designation as HS376. [ [http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/arch/findaids/pdf/Desind_Finding_Aid.pdf] NASM's Herbert Stephen Desind Collection,p.36]

Although the satellites worked perfectly, BSB [ [http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_bsb_1.html BSB1] ] was a commercial failure and the satellites were sold off and renamed.

Marcopolo 1 was sold off in December 1993 to Nordic Satellite AB of Sweden and operated until 2000 as Sirius 1 at 5°E. It was then moved to 13°W, and renamed Sirius W, although it is not currently transmitting any services.

Marcopolo 2 was sold in July 1992 to Telenor of Norway and renamed Thor 1. It was located at 0.8°W until it was switched off in January 2002. In November 2002, it was moved to 7.4°W and reactivated with digital test signals broadcasting towards Scandinavia. Marcopolo 2 was sent up to the junk orbit in early January 2003.

pecifications [ [http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/prog_bsb_car.html BSB Specs] ]

*Prime contractor: Hughes
*Platform: HS-376
*Mass at launch: 1250 kg
*Mass in orbit: 660 kg
*Payload mass: 100 kg: transponders: 90 kg, antennas: 10 kg
*Diameter: 2.16 m
*Height: 2.7 m (7.2 m deployed)
*Stabilization: Spin stabilized
*DC power: BOL: 1024 W
*Design lifetime: 10 years
*Beacon: 12.494 or 12.495 GHz

References