AMOS-3, also known as AMOS-60, is an Israeli communications satellite operated by Spacecom Satellite Communications.
| Names | Affordable Modular Optimized Satellite-3 AMOS-60 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | Spacecom Satellite Communications |
| COSPAR ID | 2008-022A |
| SATCAT no. | 32794 |
| Website | https://www.amos-spacecom.com/ |
| Mission duration | 18 years (planned) 16 years, 7 months and 21 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | AMOS-3 |
| Spacecraft type | AMOS |
| Bus | AMOS Bus |
| Manufacturer | Israel Aerospace Industries (bus) Thales Alenia Space (payload) |
| Launch mass | 1,263 kg (2,784 lb) |
| Dry mass | 837 kg (1,845 lb) |
| Power | 1700 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 April 2008, 05:00:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Zenit-3SLB (# 1) |
| Launch site | Baikonur, Site 45/1 |
| Contractor | Yuzhmash |
| Entered service | June 2008 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 4° West |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 14 transponders: 12 Ku-band 2 Ka-band |
| Coverage area | Eastern United States, Europe, Africa, Israel, Middle East |
History
editSpacecom Satellite Communications has signed an agreement in September 2005 with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to buy its third satellite, AMOS-3, from the Israeli defense contractor.
Satellite description
editThe satellite is powered by twin solar panels, and is based on the Israeli AMOS Bus. It replaced AMOS-1 in geosynchronous orbit at 4° West. AMOS-3 carries fourteen Ku-band / Ka-band transponders, and is expected to have an on-orbit lifetime of 18 years.
Launch
editIt was launched atop the maiden flight of the Zenit-3SLB launch vehicle, the first launch contracted by the Land Launch organisation. The launch was originally scheduled to occur in 2007, and later March 2008, however this was delayed until 24 April 2008. The launch attempt on 24 April 2008 was scrubbed for "technical reasons".[1] This was later determined to be a problem with the erector/transporter system, which had failed to retract and move away from the launch vehicle. AMOS-3 lifted-off from Site 45/1 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 05:00:00 UTC on 28 April 2008.[2]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Tracking Station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
- ^ "Haaretz.com; Video shows how AMOS-3 communications satellite was sent into orbit". Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
External links
edit- International Media Switzerland Archived 25 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official provider's site