Through a series of purchases and mergers, General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) ended up with a consolidated constellation of geosynchronous communications satellites originally launched by itself and two other entities. Gstar was GTE�s original planned fleet. The Spacenet satellites were built by Southern Pacific Communications (SPC), which was bought by GTE before the first Spacenet ever launched. The ASC satellites were initiated by American Satellite Corp. (Amersat). This company was bought by Continental Telecommunications Inc. (Contel) before the first one was launched, and became Contel ASC. In March 1991, General Telephone and Electronics (GTE) in turn merged with Contel and acquired its satellites. Major Events: .

• 23 May 1984 Spacenet F1 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 705 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 1. More details

  Stationed at 120 deg W. C, Ku band communications satellite.

• 10 November 1984 Spacenet F2 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 705 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. More details

  Stationed at 68 deg W. C, Ku band communications satellite.

• 08 May 1985 GStar 1 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 705 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. More details

  Stationed at 103 deg W. Ku band communications satellite.

• 27 August 1985 ASC-1 Spacecraft: ASC. Mass: 1,271 kg. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. More details

  Released by STS 51I 8/27/85; stationed at 81 deg E. C, Ku band communications satellite.

• 12 September 1985 Spacenet F3 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 600 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. More details

• 28 March 1986 GStar 2 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,140 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. More details

  Ku band communications satellite. Stationed at 70 degrees W.

• 11 March 1988 Spacenet F3R Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,212 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. More details

  US domestic communications; 87 deg W. C, Ku band communications satellite.

• 08 September 1988 GStar 3 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,270 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 2/3. More details

  AKM malfunctioned, but orbit achieved using on-board propulsion system. Ku band communications satellite.

• 20 November 1990 GStar 4 Spacecraft: AS 3000. Mass: 1,295 kg. Launch Site: Kourou . Launch Vehicle: Ariane 42P. More details

  Stationed at 125 deg W. Ku band communications satellite.

• 13 April 1991 ASC-2 / Spacenet F4 Spacecraft: ASC. Mass: 1,350 kg. Launch Site: Cape Canaveral . Launch Vehicle: Delta 7925. More details

  Commercial business communications; stationed at 101 deg W. C, Ku band communications satellite.