Morelos Satellite System

The first two operated between 1985 and 1998 and provided telephony, data, and television services over the territory of the Mexican Republic and adjacent areas.

The third is now part of the MEXSAT constellation (sister ship of the MEXSAT-1 lost during launch) but carries the Morelos name.

Morelos I, a Hughes Aircraft Corporation HS-376, was launched by the U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery (mission STS-51-G) on 17 June 1985 and entered geostationary orbit at 113° W on 17 December 1985.

Built by the Hughes Aircraft Corporation for the SCT, it was launched by the Space Shuttle Atlantis on 27 November 1985; the mission, STS-61-B, included Mexican-born astronaut Rodolfo Neri Vela as a payload specialist in its crew.

The spacecraft is designed to provide L-band services to mobile 3G+ users and armed forces via a deployable 22m Herschelian antenna dish with RF transceivers.