rca-c satcom iv press kit

8/7/2019 RCA-C Satcom IV Press Kit

1/8


2/8

NMSA NewsNational Aefonautics andSpace AdministrationWashington. D C 20546AC 202 755-8370

Dick McCormack For ReleaseHeadquarters, Washington, D.C. IMMEDIATE(Phone: 202/755-8104)James S. LacyGoddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.(Phone: 301/344-5565)

RELEASE NO: 82-3

NASA TO LAUNCH RCA-C' (SATCOM IV)

NASA will launch the RCA-C' communications spacecraft on aDelta 3910 launch vehicle from Launch Complex 17A, Eastern Spaceand Missile Center, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., noearlier than Jan. 14 at 8:50 p.m.

Once in orbit, it will be called RCA-Satcom IV whose missionwill be the distribution of video programming to CATV (cabletelevision) systems throughout the United States.

Satcom IV will join three other RCA satellites, Satcoms I,II and IIIR, in orbit since 1975, 1976 and 1981 respectively.The satellites provide coverage for all 50 states and Puerto Ricowith television, voice channels and high speed data transmission.Currently, there are more than 4,000 Earth stations with directaccess to these spacecraft.

NASA's Delta 3910 launcn vehicle consists of a 2.4-meter (8-foot) first stage powered by a Rocketdyne RS-27 liquid-fueled en-gine; nine Thiokol Castor IV strap-on solid motors; a 1.5-m (5-ft.) diameter second stage powered by a TRW TR-201 liquid fueledengine; and a 2.4-m (8-ft.) diameter fairing.

January 7, 1982

-more-


3/8

-2-

McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Corp., Huntington Beach,Calif., is the prime contractor for production and launch of theDelta launch vehicle. The company developed and made availablecommercially the Payload Assist Module (PAM-D) which takes theplace of Delta's third stage and is considered part of the pay-load. A Thiokol. Star 48 solid fuel motor is the propulsion sys-tem for PAM-D. The apogee kick motor, mounted inside the space-craft itself, is a Thiokol Star 30 motor.

RCA Americom, Princeton, N.J., is responsible for the manage-ment of the RCA Satcom Program including acquisition of the space-craft, associated tracking, telemetry, command systems and launchvehicle support. Spacecraft development and production are the re-sponsibility of RCA's Astro Electronics Division, Princeton. TheDelta Project Office at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Green-belt, Md., is responsible to NASA's Office of Space Transporta-tion Operations for overall project management of the launchvehicle. The Cargo Operations Office at NASA's John F. KennedySpace Center, Fla., is responsible to Goddard for launch opera-tions management. All launch costs incurred by NASA, includingthe vehicle hardware and launch services, are reimbursed by RCAAmericom. The Payload Assist Module is procured by RCA directlyfrom the manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas Corp.

The RCA-C' and future RCA spacecraft are designed fcr launchby the Space Shuttle or the Delta 3910/PAM--D launch vehicle. Thesatellites total transfer orbit weight, including the Star 30apogee motor, is 1,082 kilograms (2,385 pounds) as compared to907 kg (2,000 lb.) for the earlier Satcom I/II/IIIR satellites.

RCA Earth stations are located near New York City, San Fran-cisco and Los Angeles, and at Anchorage, Juneau, Nome, Bethel,Valdez and Prudhoe Bay in Alaska.

-more-


4/8


5/8

RCA-C' DESCRIPTIONThe RCA Domestic Communications Satellite (RCA Satcom IV) isa 24-channel spacecraft to provide commercial communications toAlaska, Hawaii and the contiguous 48 states. RCA Satcom IV willdistribute programming to the nation's cable television systems.The spacecraft will be placed into a 35,900 km (22,300 mi.)geosynchronous orbit by a Delta 3910 launch vehicle and PAM-D.With solar panels deployed, the satellite spans 11.2 m (37 ft.).The spacecraft main body measures 1.6 by 1.27 by 1.29 m (64 by 50by 51 in.).The three-axis stabilized spacecraft is equipped with thepower, attitude control, thermal control, propulsion, structureand command, ranging and telemetry necessary to support missionoperations from booster separation through 10 years in geosyn-chronous orbit.Spacecraft life, with continuous full power, is designed tobe 10 years.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER OPERATIONSRCA-C' will be launched aboard Delta 159 from Pad A ofNASA's Complex 17, Eastern Space and Missile Center, Fla.The first stage of the launch vehicle and its interstageadapter were erected on Pad A Nov. 21. The nine solid strap-onCastor IV rocket motors were attached on Nov. 23 , 24 and 25. Thesecond stage was mated with the first on Nov. 30.The satellite arrived Dec. 3 and was checked out in HangarAE. On Dec. 10 it was moved to the Delta Spin Test Facility forfueling and mating to the Payload Assist Module, which replacesthe Delta third stage. It was mated to the launch vehicle Jan. 6,and the payload fairing, which protects the spacecraft while itis in the atmosphere of Earth, is to be installed Jan. 11.

-more-


6/8

-5-

NASA/RCA-C' TEAM

NASA HeadquartersDr. Stanley I. Weiss Associate Administrator for

Space Transportation OperationsJoseph B. Mahon Director, Expendable LaunchVehicle ProgramPeter Eaton Manager, DeltaRobert E. Smylie Associate Administrator forSpace Tracking and Data Systems

Goddard Space Flight CenterA. Thomas Young DirectorJohn H. McElroy Deputy DirectorWilliam C. Keathley Director, Project ManagementDavid W. Grimes Delta Project ManagerWilliam R. Russell Deputy Delta Project Manager,TechnicalJohn D. Kraft Manager, Delta MissionAnalysis and IntegrationRichard H. Sclafford RCA Satcom-IV MissionIntegration ManagerRobert I. Seiders Mission Operations and NetworkSupport ManagerRay Mazur Mission Support

Kennedy Space Center

Richard G. Smith DirectorThomas S. Walton Director, Cargo OperationsCharles D. Gay Director, Expendable VehiclesOperationsD. C. Sheppard Chief, Automated PayloadsDivision

-more-


7/8

-6-

Kennedy Space Center (cont d.)Wayne L. McCall Chief, Delta Operations

DivisionBarry Olton Spacecraft Coordinator

RCA American Communications, Inc.Andrew Inglis PresidentJohn Christopher Vice President of Technical

OperationsPeter Plush Manager, Major Programs and

Technical Operations ServicesJoseph Schwarze Manager, Space SystemsWilliam Palme Manager, Major Programs,Launch Vehicle IntegrationJoseph Elko Manager, Spacecraft Engineering

CONTRACTORS

RCA Americom Spacecraft managementRCA Astro Electronics Division development/productionPrinceton, N.J.McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Delta Launch Vehicle and PAM-DCompany payload stageHuntington Beach, Calif.Rocketdyne Division First stage engine (RS-27)Rockwell InternationalCanoga Park, Calif.Thiokol Corp. Castor IV strap-on solid fuelHuntsville, Ala. motorsTRW TR-201 second stage engineRedondo Beach, Calif.Delco Guidance ComputerSanta Barbara, Calif.

-more-


8/8

-7-

Major SubcontractorsSPAR Aerospace Division Antenna Input and OutputSte-Anne-de-Bellevue,Quebec, CanadaCharles Stark Draper Labs Momentum Wheel AssemblyCambridge, Mass.Lockheed Space Systems Earth Sensor Assembly andDivision Horizon Sensor AssemblySunnyvale, Calif.Thiokol Corp. Apogee Kick Motor (Star 30)Elkton, Md. in spacecraft and Perigee KickMotor (Star 48) in PAM-DHughes Aircraft Co. Traveling Wave TubeElectro Dynamics Division AmplifiersTorrance, Calif.Rocket Research Reaction Engine AssemblyRedmond, Wash.Cubic Corp. Beacon Transmitter andDefense Systems Division Command ReceiverSan Diego, Calif.Parsons of California Structure and Solar PanelsStockton, Calif.Adcole Corp. Sun Sensor AssemblyWaltham, Mass.Northrop Corp. Rate Measuring AssemblyNorwood, Mass.

-end-

(Index: 9, 21, 29)

rca-c satcom iv press kit

Documents