Amos-6

AMOS 6 is a 5-ton Earth satellite,[1] one of the Spacecom AMOS series, to be built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a defence and aerospace company, with payload components from various sub-contractors including Canada's MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates that is building the communications payload, and Thales Alenia Space ETCA for the electric propulsion. The satellite "will incorporate new technologies that represent a significant leap forward in the capabilities of IAI and the state of Israel in space," according to IAI's president and chief executive, Joseph Weiss.[1]

Amos-6 is said to be costing US$200m, and is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2015 and have an orbital life of 16 years.[1]

In January 2013, Spacecom announced that they had signed a contract with SpaceX for the 2015 launch of the Amos-6 satellite on a Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Amos-6 is intended to replace the Amos-2 satellite, planned to be retired in 2016.[2]

Amos stands for Affordable Modular Optimized Satellite,[1] and is also an allusion to the Jewish prophet Amos.

Under the deal with Spacecom, state-owned IAI, flagship of Israel's defence industry, will build Amos-6 and its ground control systems, as well as provide operating services.[1] Spacecom has estimated that the cost of launching, insuring and one year's operation of Amos 6 will be $85 million.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 IAI to launch new 5-ton Amos satellite, spacedaily.com, 6 July 2012, accessed 11 July 2012
  2. ↑ Money, Stewart (2013-01-30). "SpaceX Wins New Commercial Launch Order". Innerspace.net. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  3. ↑ Spacecom to build $200m Amos 6 satellite, Aviv Levy, globes.co.il, 24 June 2012, accessed 9 July 2012

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