NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 1993-039A
Galaxy 4 was a US geostationary communications spacecraft launched by an Ariane 42P rocket from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana. It carried 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders.
After nearly five years of successful operation, the primary and backup on-board computers ceased to function at 22:18 UT on 19 May 1998. Since these computers regulated the attitude control system, their failure resulted in a spinning motion. The satellite, due to its key position, was responsible for over 90% of pager traffic in the United States and caused widespread disruption not only for pagers, but for television and cable services as well as for numerous private networks which depended on it (e.g., fast-pay pumps at gas stations).
Launch Date: 1993-06-25
Launch Vehicle: Ariane 42P
Launch Site: Kourou, French Guiana
Mass: 2988 kg
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office