Rainbow-1

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Rainbow-1, also known as Cablevision-1 and Echostar 12 (E*12), is a commercial communications satellite in geosynchronous Earth orbit. It was launched on 17 July 2003, by an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Its original purpose was to transmit digital television streams for the ill-fated Voom high defintion direct broadcast satellite network.

Part of the AS 2100 series of commercial satellites, Rainbow-1 was constructed by the Lockheed-Martin corporation at an approximate cost of $100 million USD, although this amount has not been verified. It is solar powered, has an approximate mass of 2760 kg (launch vehicle mass 4328 kg), and is capable of transmitting on the C- and Ku-Bands.

According to this satellite enthusiast site, Rainbow-1 is still in orbit and located at 61.5 degrees West longitude, over the Earth's Equator. It is currently being used for Dish Network HDTV television signals, transmitted using DVB, on the Ku-Band transponders.

Echostar (owner of Dish Network) now owns the satellite (as it carried Voom HD Networks). In effect, the satellite was renamed Echostar 12 (or E*12) in March 2006.