Telstar 14R


Telstar 14R, also known as Estrela do Sul 2 is a commercial communications satellite in the Telstar series built by Space Systems/Loral for Telesat to provide Ku-band communications to South America and the Southern United States. It is a replacement for Telstar 14, whose north solar array failed to open after launch, limiting its mission effectiveness. Telstar 14R experienced the same problem, with its north solar array failing to open too, but is now in service despite that failure.

Launch

It was launched 20 May 2011 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard an International Launch Services Proton-M rocket. Telstar 14R is built around the Loral 1300 satellite bus, and has a launch mass of around 5000 kg. It is positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 63 degrees west.