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Skynet 5A

active
CommunicationsGEOCOSPAR 2007-007BLaunched 3/11/2007
Admin Edit
Mission & Launch
Launch Mission
Skynet 5A/Insat 4B
Launch Vehicle
Ariane 5ECA
Launch Date
3/11/2007
Orbit & Mass
Orbit Class
GEO
Altitude
35,785.5 km
Inclination
0.08 deg
Dry Mass
2,170 kg
Total Mass
4,635 kg
Payload Classification
Mission Type
Communications
Payload Category
COM
Payload Class
D
Organizations
Operator
Paradigm Secure Comms, Astrium Services
Manufacturer
Airbus
Constellation
Name
Skynet military communications
Active Satellites
6
Registry
COSPAR ID
2007-007B
UN Registration
ST/SG/SER.E/519
Track
Mentions
9
All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.
0.0-5.0
Actions

The maneuver to inspect Skynet 5A took place between September 4 and September 12 at an altitude of 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers) in geostationary orbit.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Sep 23, 2025Space.com news post of interest: The U.S. military just moved a satellite to inspect a UK spacecraft 22,000 miles above Earth

U.S. Space Command maneuvered its spacecraft to examine the Skynet 5A satellite and confirm it was operating in orbit as intended.

GeneralCapabilityPlanValue 3.0Sep 23, 2025Space.com news post of interest: The U.S. military just moved a satellite to inspect a UK spacecraft 22,000 miles above Earth

The United States repositioned one of its spacecraft to inspect the Skynet 5A military communications satellite operated by the United Kingdom.

GeneralValue 3.0Sep 23, 2025Space.com news post of interest: The U.S. military just moved a satellite to inspect a UK spacecraft 22,000 miles above Earth

Both the U.S. spacecraft and the Skynet 5A satellite were traveling at 6,835 mph (11,000 km/h) during the operation.

CapabilityGeneralValue 3.0Sep 23, 2025Space.com news post of interest: The U.S. military just moved a satellite to inspect a UK spacecraft 22,000 miles above Earth

Airbus launched Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D satellites between 2007 and 2012.

PlanValue 4.0Oct 13, 2021The UK MOD’s Skynet 6A MILSATCOM Satellite Production Is Initiated By Airbus

The Skynet 5 program used legacy Skynet 4 satellites and a fully refurbished ground network before launching Skynet 5A–5D.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jan 21, 2021Airbus Meets Milestone, One Step Closer to Building Next Gen Military Satellite

Airbus built the four Skynet 5 satellites, which were launched as Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D between 2007 and 2012, and all remain operating in orbit.

CapabilityPlanValue 4.0Jan 21, 2021Airbus Meets Milestone, One Step Closer to Building Next Gen Military Satellite

The Skynet program phase that led to Skynet 5 commenced by using legacy Skynet 4 satellites and augmenting them with a fully refurbished ground network before launching Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D.

PlanCapabilityValue 4.0Jan 18, 2021Airbus’ Skynet 6A Passes Preliminary Design Review

Airbus launched the Skynet 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D satellites between 2007 and 2012.

PlanValue 4.0Jan 18, 2021Airbus’ Skynet 6A Passes Preliminary Design Review