Syracuse 3A [Alcatel]
Official name SYRACUSE 3A
Alternative name Syracuse 3A
Cospar ID 2005-041B
Norad ID 28885
Launch date 2005-10-13
Launch site FRGUI
Launch vehicle Ariane-5GS
Country/Organization France
Type application Military communication
Operator DGA
RCS size LARGE
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 1436.12
Inclination (deg) 3.66
Perigee (km) 35774
Apogee (km) 35800
Eccentricity 0.000363260401821891
Mean motion (revs. per day) 1.00270172408991
Semi-Major axis (km) 42165.135
Raan (deg) 80.6752
Arg of perigee (deg) 336.1477
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 3725
Height (m) 3.9
Width (m) 2.3
Depth (m) 2.3
Span (m^2) 30
Contractors Alcatel Alenia Space (formerly Alcatel Space)
Equipment SHF and EHF transponders
Propulsion S400
Configuration Spacebus-4000B3
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

The Syracuse-3 (Systeme de Radio Communications Utilisant un Satellite) series spacecraft are the third-generation military communications satellites for the Délégation Générale pour l'Armement (France's Ministry of Defense's procurement agency).

Syracuse 3 consists of a Spacebus-4000B3 platform, hardened to resist nuclear attack in compliance with NATO specifications.

A powerful communications payload, operating in two frequency bands is fitted on the spacecraft:

  • SHF (super high frequency): 4 spotbeams, 1 global beam,1 metropolitan France beam; nine 40 MHz channels.
  • EHF (extremely high frequency): 2 spotbeams, 1 global beam; six 40 MHz channels.

In 2007 a third spacecraft was to be ordered, but this was cancelled in favour of including the Syracuse-3C payload in the italian SICRAL 2 satellite.   

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
SYRACUSE 3A 2005-041B 2005-10-13 FRGUI Ariane-5GS with Galaxy 15
SYRACUSE 3B 2006-033B 2006-08-11 FRGUI Ariane-5ECA with JCSat 10