Anik (satellite)

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The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. In Inuit Anik means "little brother".

Contents

[edit] The Satellites

Name Satellite type Launched Retired Launch vehicle
Anik A1 Hughes Aircraft HS333 November 9, 1972 July 15, 1982 Delta 1914 Rocket
Anik A2 Hughes Aircraft HS333 April 20, 1973 October 6, 1982 Delta rocket
Anik A3 Hughes Aircraft HS333 May 7, 1975 November 21, 1984 Delta rocket
Anik B1 RCA Astro Satcom December 15, 1978[1] December 1, 1986 Delta rocket
Anik C1 Hughes Aircraft HS376 April 12, 1985 May 5, 2003 Space Shuttle Discovery
Anik C2 Hughes Aircraft HS376 June 18, 1983 January 7, 1998 Space Shuttle Challenger
Anik C3 Hughes Aircraft HS376 November 11, 1982 June 18, 1997 Space Shuttle Columbia
Anik D1 Hughes Aircraft HS376 August 26, 1982 December 16, 1991 Delta rocket
Anik D2 Hughes Aircraft HS376 November 8, 1984 January 31, 1995 Space Shuttle Discovery
Anik E1 GE Astro 5000 September 26, 1991 January 18, 2005 Ariane 4 Rocket
Anik E2 GE Astro 5000 April 4, 1991 November 23, 2005 Ariane 4 Rocket
Anik F1 HS 702 November 21, 2000 Still in use Ariane 44L Rocket
Anik F2 Boeing 702 July 18, 2004 Still in use Ariane 5G Rocket
Anik F1R ASTRIUM E3000 September 9, 2005 Still in use Proton Breeze M
Anik F3 ASTRIUM E3000 Under Construction N/A Proton Breeze M

[edit] Anik A

The Anik A satellites were the world's first national domestic satellites. They gave the CBC the ability to reach the Canadian North for the first time. Each of the satellites was equipped with 12 C-band transponders, and thus had the capacity for 12 colour television channels.

There is a detailed description of the Anik A satellites on the Boeing Satellite Systems website here.

[edit] Anik B

The Anik B satellite had 12 C-band transponders like the Anik As, with an additional 6 Ku band transponders.

It was launched on December 15, 1978 and was the successor to the Anik A series and Hermes (aka Communications Technology Satellite, or CTS) experimental satellite.

Most of the transponders were devoted to CBC Television -- East and West feed, CBC Parliamentary Television Network, CITV-TV Edmonton, CHCH Hamilton, and TVOntario.

CNCP Telecommunications[2] also used Anik B as a relay for its services. The Globe and Mail used Anik B to transmit copy to printing plants across Canada.[3]

[edit] Anik C

The Anik C satellite series was three times more powerful than the Anik A series. They each had 16 Ku band transponders.

There is a detailed description of the Anik C satellites on the Boeing Satellite Systems website here.

Anik C-3 was used to distribute Canada's first pay television networks -- First Choice, Superchannel, C-Channel, AIM Pay-tv since February, 1983.

Anik C-3 transponder lineup (1983): 02 - Atlantic Satellite Network; 03 - Assiniboia Downs Racing Network; 06 - Super Ecran Tv Payante; 10 - Radio-Quebec; 14 - La Sette 2; 15 - Knowledge Network; 16 - La Sette 1; 17 - Access Alberta; 18 - TFO; 19 - Premier Choix/TVEC Tv Payante; 20 - TVOntario; 23 - Superchannel; 24 - TVOntario-Legislature; 25 - CHSC Canadian Home Shopping Club (West feed); 27 - Knowledge Network; 28 - TQS Television Quatre Saisons; 30 - First Choice; 32 - CHSC Canadian Home Shopping Club (East feed).

[edit] Anik D

Anik D1 & D2 series C-Band satellites were launched in 1982 and 1984. They were based on the Hughes 376 design. Anik D1 carried the CANCOM package - a group of television signals for use by cable companies.

[edit] Anik E

Anik E1 & E2 were launched in the early 1990s to replace Anik D1 & D2. Unlike the cylinder-shaped satellites of the D-series, these were regular type satellites, but newer generation.

On Thursday, January 20, 1994 Anik E1 and E2 suffered problems due to solar activity. E1 failed first at 12:50 (EST), knocking out satellite-delivered television signals in Canada. After a few hours, Telesat managed to restore normal functions on E1 at 20:15 EST. At 21:00 EST, E2 failed, as the gyroscope that helps keep the satellite positioned correctly had caused the signals not to point towards Earth. The exact problem lay with the circuitry having to do with the stabilizing momentum wheel.[4] E2 was not restored to service for five months; users had to relocate services to E1 and reposition satellite dishes; for some users, such as Northwestel in northern Canada, it meant days of flying technicians from one community to another to reposition the dishes.

Telesat ultimately restored E1 by constructing special earth stations at each end of the country to monitor the satellite's position, and using its control jets to finely position the satellite, but this shortened the satellite's lifetime as the fuel was intended for much less frequent adjustments along its geostationary orbit.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Canadian satellite set in orbit position", Globe and Mail, December 20, 1978, pp. 2.
  2. ^ Clifford, Edward. "Rockets may lift Telesat's Aniks", Globe and Mail, May 31, 1980, pp. B16.
  3. ^ Immen, Wallace. "Platform to give Anik a boost after ride on space shuttle", Globe and Mail, September 10, 1982, pp. E8.
  4. ^ (March 1994) "Anik E ... Phone Home". Broadcaster: 12.
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