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TerreStar-1
Mission type	Communication
Operator	TerreStar Corporation
COSPAR ID	2009-035A
SATCAT no.	35496
Mission duration	15 years
Spacecraft properties
Bus	LS-1300S
Manufacturer	Space Systems Loral
Launch mass	6,910 kilograms (15,230 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	1 July 2009, 17:52 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 5ECA
Launch site	Kourou ELA-3
Contractor	Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric
Regime	Geostationary
Longitude	111° West
Perigee altitude	35,778 kilometers (22,231 mi)
Apogee altitude	35,806 kilometers (22,249 mi)
Inclination	4.00 degrees
Period	23.93 hours
Epoch	21 January 2014, 09:03:45 UTC
Transponders
Band	E/F-band
Coverage area	Canada; United States

TerreStar-1 is an American communications satellite which was operated by TerreStar Corporation. It was constructed by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300S bus, and carries E/F band (IEEE S band) transponders which will be used to provide mobile communications to North America. The signals are transmitted by an 18-metre (59 ft) reflector on the satellite.^[2] It had a launch mass of 6,910 kilograms (15,230 lb),^[3] making it the second most massive single satellite launched into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and the second largest commercial communications satellite ever built. Its record as the most massive communication satellite was surpassed by Telstar 19V launched on Falcon 9 on July 21, 2018, with a mass of 7,076 kilograms (15,600 lb).^[4]

TerreStar was launched at 17:52 GMT on July 1, 2009,^[5] during a two-hour launch window that opened at 16:13.^[6] The launch occurred towards the end of the window due to bad weather in the first hour, followed by two aborted countdowns for launch attempts scheduled at 17:12 and 17:34. The launch was conducted by Arianespace, and used an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, flying from ELA-3 at the Guiana Space Centre. After launch, the satellite separated from the carrier rocket into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. It will subsequently raise itself into geostationary orbit by means of its onboard propulsion system. It will be positioned at 111° West longitude, and is expected to operate for 15 years.^[3] A second satellite, TerreStar-2 (now EchoStar XXI), was launched on 2017, positioned at 10E, and owned by Echostar.^[3]

Following TerreStar's filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a movement had been formed by the NGO A Human Right to purchase TerreStar-1 and to use it to provide free basic Internet access to developing countries. The team was looking for US$150,000 in donations to put the first phase of their plan into action.^[7] However, after successfully bidding $1.375 billion for the acquisition of the TerreStar-1 satellite in a bankruptcy-court auction^[8] Dish Network on August 22, 2011 asked the Federal Communications Commission to let the company use the wireless spectrum of TerreStar to offer its own wireless broadband service.^[9]

Despite its successful launch and groundbreaking achievements, TerreStar Corporation faced challenges and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In response, a movement led by the NGO A Human Right emerged, seeking to acquire TerreStar-1 and use it to provide free basic Internet access to developing countries. Their ambitious plan aimed to bridge the digital divide and connect underserved communities worldwide.^{[citation needed]}

However, Dish Network outbid others in the bankruptcy-court auction, acquiring TerreStar-1 for $1.375 billion. With this acquisition, Dish Network sought to utilize the satellite's wireless spectrum to offer its own wireless broadband service.^{[citation needed]}