MARECS-A (13010)

COSPAR: 1981-122A | Alt Name: Marecs 1

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

December 20, 1981

Launch Site

FRGUI

Launch Pad

ELA1

Launch Vehicle

Ariane 1

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

13010

International Designator

1981-122A

Epoch

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 22:51:40 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

11.61°

Right Ascension

329.29°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

266.60°

Period

1515.17 min

Mean Motion

0.95 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot

3D Visualization

Basic Satellite Info

Name

MARECS-A

Alternative Name

Marecs 1

Type

Payload

Status

Non-operational

Owner

ESA

Country

European Space Agency

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs

1 13010U 81122A   26184.95254773 -.00000095  00000-0  00000-0 0  9997

2 13010  11.6056 329.2909 0117499 266.5981 106.5720  0.95038934111520

Source: Celestrak

Summary

The MARECS-A satellite, also known as Marecs 1, was launched on December 20, 1981, from ELA1 at FRGUI using an Ariane 1 launch vehicle. It is a communication satellite owned by ESA with the OBJECT_ID of 1981-122A and operates in an ECS-Bus configuration. The satellite has dimensions of 2.5 meters in length, 2 meters in diameter, and spans 13.8 meters when its components are extended. Its dry mass is 464 kilograms with a launch mass of 549 kilograms. MARECS-A was manufactured by BAES and features two deployable solar arrays for power generation along with batteries. The satellite's equipment includes 1 (+1) L-band and 1 (+1) C-band, and it has an expected lifetime of 7 years. Its shape is described as a box with two panels (Box + 2 Pan).

Physical Characteristics

Length

2.5

Diameter

Span

13.8

Dry Mass

464

Launch Mass

549

Shape

Box + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

1.6507

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Marecs A

Purpose

Communication

Mission

Communication

Manufacturer

BAES

Life Expectancy

7 years

Bus

OTS

Configuration

ECS-Bus

Motor

TE-M-700-5

Equipment

1 (+1) L-band, 1 (+1) C-band

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map

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Latitude

Longitude

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Azimuth Elevation Time (Local)

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