NSSDCA/COSPAR ID: 2011-021A
Telstar 14R, a Canadian communications satellite, was launched from Baikonur on 20 May 2011 at 19:15 UT by a Proton rocket. The satellite weighed 5.0 tonnes. Telstar 14R will circularize its orbit at an altitude of 22,300 miles in the next few days, and eventually park in its operational position 63 degrees W longitude. The satellite has five communications antennas and 46 Ku-band transponders. The communications payload is divided between five beams focusing capacity on Brazil, the Atlantic Ocean, the continental United States, the southern cone of South America and the Andean region, including Central America. Ground controllers will have the ability to switch 19 transponders to address changing market demand. The other 27 Ku-band transponders are fixed.
Telstar 14R replaces Telstar 14, which failed to fully deploy one of its solar panels after launch, limiting its operations to only a fraction of its communications payload. Telstar 14R has double the capacity of Telstar 14. However, Telstar 14R's north solar array did not fully extend after launch, potentially limiting the craft's planned mission to link North and South America. If controllers are unable to resolve the problem, the satellite is expected to only support those same services provided by Telstar 14. Telstar 14R, also called Estrela do Sul 2, meaning "southern star" in Portuguese, has a design life of 15 years.
Launch Date: 2011-05-20
Launch Vehicle: Proton
Launch Site: Tyuratam (Baikonur Cosmodrome), Kazakhstan
Questions and comments about this spacecraft can be directed to: Coordinated Request and User Support Office