AMC-3 (formerly GE-3) is a commercial broadcast communications satellite owned by SES (and formerly GE Americom, then SES Americom, then SES World Skies). Launched on 4 September 1997, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, AMC-3 is a hybrid C-band / Ku-band satellite. It provides coverage to Canada, United States, Mexico, Caribbean. Located in a geostationary orbit parallel to the Yucatán Peninsula and Great Lakes, AMC-3 provides service to commercial and government customers, with programming distribution, satellite news gathering and broadcast internet capabilities.[2][6]

AMC-3
NamesGE-3 (1997-2001)
AMC-3 (2001-present)
Eagle-1 (2017-present)
Mission typeCommunications[1]
OperatorGE Americom (1997-2001)
SES Americom (2001-2009)
SES World Skies (2009-2011)
SES (2011-present)
COSPAR ID1997-050A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.24936
Mission duration15 years (planned) [2]
27 years, 1 month, 23 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftGE-3
Spacecraft typeLockheed Martin A2100
BusLM A2100A[3]
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Launch mass2,845 kg (6,272 lb) [4]
Dry mass1,300 kg (2,900 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date4 September 1997, 12:03:00 UTC[1]
RocketAtlas IIAS[4]
Launch siteCape Canaveral, LC-36A[4]
ContractorLockheed Martin
Entered service1997
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[5]
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude72° West
Transponders
Band48 transponders:
24 C-band
24 Ku-band[2]
Coverage areaCanada, United States, Mexico, Caribbean[2]
← AMC-2
AMC-4 →

Eagle-1

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In January 2017, the AMC-3 Ku-band payload was sold to Global Eagle Entertainment (GEE), a provider of satellite-based connectivity and media to mobility markets, such as passenger aircraft. GEE purchased all the capacity on the satellite to support aeronautical customers, in particular Southwest Airlines, the company's largest customer, and rebranded the satellite as Eagle-1. The satellite remains under the control of SES S.A.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Display: GE 3 1997-050A". NASA. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "AMC-3 Data". SES World Skies. 4 June 2010. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  3. ^ "AMC-3". Satbeams. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b c Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "GE 1, 2, 3 / AMC 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  5. ^ "AMC-3 (GE-3) Satellite details". N2YO.com. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  6. ^ "Turner Expands SNG Transponder Deal With SES AMERICOM" (Press release). Business Wire via Redorbit.com. 12 April 2007. Retrieved 20 December 2009.
  7. ^ Henry, Caleb (16 January 2017). "Global Eagle's mystery satellite purchase is SES's AMC-3". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
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