Gemstar

Global Messaging Satellite, also called Vitasat

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General

Launch date	15 Aug 1995
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Telecommunications
Launch vehicle	Athena #1
Mass at launch	150 kg

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End of life

Out of service	15 Aug 1995
Cause	Launch failure

Cost: between $2 million and $3 million

Was designed to provide electronic mail services and global location services for trucking fleet operators. Was also to be used by VITA

Technical data

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Specifications

Prime contractor	OSC (was CTA)
Platform	GemStar
Mass at launch
Mass in orbit
Dimension
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Design lifetime

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