Morelos Satellite System

The Morelos satellites were a series of two Mexican communications satellites. They operated between 1985 and 1998 and provided telephony, data, and television services over the territory of the Mexican Republic and adjacent areas.

They were replaced by the Solidaridad Satellite System (Solidaridad I, launched 17 November 1993, and Solidaridad 2, launched 17 October 1994) and, following privatisation, by the Satmex Satellite System.

Morelos I

Morelos I was Mexico's first communications satellite. It was built and put into orbit under a contract from the Secretariat of Communications and Transport (SCT), the federal ministry responsible for the nation's communications systems. Morelos I, a Hughes Aircraft Corporation HS-376, was launched by the U.S. space shuttle Discovery (mission STS-51-G) on 17 June 1985 and entered geostationary orbit at 113° W on 17 December 1985.

Morelos II

Morelos II was launched in November 1985 and remained in service until July 1998. Built by the Hughes Aircraft Corporation for the SCT, it was launched by the space shuttle Atlantis on 27 November 1985; the mission, STS-61-B, included Guerrero-born astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela as a payload specialist in its crew. Morelos II held a geostationary orbit at 116.8° W.

Morelos Satellite System (Photo credit: NASA)

Deployment of Morelos I   Deployment of Morelos II

See also

• Satmex

References

• Morelos (Boeing)
• Morelos II (Satmex)