Intelsat V F-6 was part of an advanced series of satellites designed to provide greater telecommunications capacity for INTELSAT's global network.
The arrays, supplemented by nickel-hydrogen batteries during eclipse, provided 1800 watts of power.
It could accommodate 15,000 two-way voice circuits and two TV channels simultaneously.
He also carried a Maritime Communications Services (MCS) package for INMARSAT.
The satellite was successfully launched into space on 19 May 1982 at 22:26:00 UTC, by means of an Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1AR vehicle from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, United States.