AMC-21
| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator |
SES Americom (2008-2009) SES World Skies (2009—) |
| COSPAR ID | 2008-038B |
| Mission duration | 16 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | STAR-2[1] |
| Manufacturer |
Thales Alenia Space Orbital |
| Launch mass | 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lb)[1] |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 August 2008, 20:44 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | Kourou ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 125° West[2] |
| Period | 24 hours |
AMC-21, or Americom-21, is a communications satellite operated by SES World Skies, formerly SES Americom. It was launched in August 2008 and is expected to remain in service for approximately 15 years. It is currently located at 125° West longitude.
Spacecraft and mission design
AMC-21 is based on a STAR-2 platform that provides 4.4 kilowatts of power for the communications payload. The platform will support a 15-year on-orbit mission life.[3] It carries 24 J band (IEEE Ku band) transponders, which will be used to broadcast television signals to Canada the Caribbean, Mexico, and the United States.[2]
Manufacture and launch
Thales Alenia Space was the prime contractor for AMC-21, and provided the satellite's communications payload. The STAR-2 bus was subcontracted to Orbital Sciences Corporation, as were integration and testing of the satellite.[3] As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space delivered the completed satellite to SES Americom.
AMC-21 was launched, along with the Superbird 7 satellite, by an Ariane 5ECA rocket on 14 August 2008.[4] The satellite separated from the carrier rocket in a geosynchronous transfer orbit. An onboard IHI-500N engine then raised it to an operational geosynchronous orbit and placed it at a longitude of 125° West of the Greenwich Meridian.[1] After successful completion of in-orbit testing, SES Americom took operational control of AMC-21 in September 2008.[5] In September 2009, SES Americom merged with SES New Skies to form SES World Skies, to which all of its operational satellites, including AMC-21, were transferred.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "AMC-21". Gunter's Space Page.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "AMC-21". SES.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "AMC-21". Orbital Sciences Corporation.
- ↑ "Another successful Arianespace launch: Superbird-7 and AMC-21 in orbit" (Press release). Arianespace. August 14, 2008.
- ↑ "Orbital Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results" (Press release). Orbital. 16 October 2008.
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