SES-1

SES-1
Mission type Communication
Operator SES World Skies
COSPAR ID 2010-016A
Mission duration 15 years (planned)
Spacecraft properties
Bus Star-2.4
Manufacturer Orbital Sciences
Launch mass 3,170 kilograms (6,990 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date 24 April 2010, 11:19:00 UTC
Rocket Proton-M/Briz-M
Launch site Baikonur 200/39
Contractor ILS
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Longitude 101° West (2013)
Inclination 0 degrees
Period 24 hours
Transponders
Band 24 G/H band (IEEE C band)
24 J band (IEEE Ku band)
Coverage area C-band (USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Canada, Central America)
Ku band (USA, Southern Canada, Northern Mexico)

SES-1 is a geostationary communications satellite which is operated by SES World Skies. It was originally ordered by SES Americom as a ground spare for AMC-5R, however in April 2008 a decision was made to launch it, and it was named AMC-1R. It was subsequently renamed AMC-4R, and finally SES-1 after SES Americom merged with SES New Skies to form SES World Skies.[1] It was the third World Skies satellite to be launched following the merger, but the first to carry the new SES designation.[2] SES-1 operates in geostationary orbit, and is intended to be located at a longitude of 101 degrees West, where it will replace the AMC-2 and AMC-4 satellites, and be used broadcast high-definition television to very small aperture terminals in the United States.[3]

SES-1 was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and is based on the Star-2.4 satellite bus. It is equipped with 24 G/H band (IEEE C band), and 24 J band (IEEE Ku band) transponders, and at launch it had a mass of 3,170 kilograms (6,990 lb). It has a design life of fifteen years, however it was launched with enough fuel to operate for at least sixteen if its systems are still functional.[1]

The launch of SES-1 was conducted by International Launch Services, using a Proton-M carrier rocket with a Briz-M upper stage.[3] The launch occurred from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 11:19:00 GMT on 24 April 2010.[2] The launch successfully placed SES-1 into a subsynchronous orbit close to geostationary altitude.[3][4]

In May and June 2010, SES-1 was positioned close to 131° West to temporarily provide backup to the AMC-11 satellite in the event that AMC-11 could not continue broadcasting whilst it is moved out of the way of the failed Galaxy 15 satellite, which passed close to it at the end of May.[5] In the end, services provided by AMC-11 were not interrupted.[6]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Krebs, Gunter. "SES 1, 2, 3". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "SES-1 Mission Overview". International Launch Services. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  4. Bergin, Chris (24 April 2010). "ILS Proton-M successfully launches with Orbital-built SES-1 satellite". Nasaspaceflight.com. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  5. de Selding, Peter B (17 May 2010). "SES Details Plan To Avert Interference by Failed Intelsat Craft". Space News. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  6. de Selding, Peter B (3 June 2010). "Intelsat, SES Safely Negotiate Passage of Wayward Craft". Space News. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.