AMC-11
NamesGE-11
AMC-11 (2004-present)
Anik F4 (in preparation)
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorSES Americom (2004-2009)
SES World Skies (2009-2011)
SES S.A. (2011-present) Telesat (purchaser)
COSPAR ID2004-017A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.28252
Mission duration15 years (planned)
19 years, 7 months, 26 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftGE-11
Spacecraft typeLockheed Martin A2100
BusA2100A
ManufacturerLockheed Martin
Launch mass2,340 kg (5,160 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date19 May 2004, 22:22:01 UTC
RocketAtlas IIAS (AC-166)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-36B
ContractorLockheed Martin
Entered serviceJuly 2004
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude131° West (planned 111.1° West as Anik F4)
Transponders
Band24 C-band
Coverage areaCanada, United States, Mexico, Caribbean
SES constellation planned to become Telesat Anik
← AMC-10
AMC-12 →
 

AMC-11 , previously GE-11, is an American geostationary communications satellite which is operated by SES S.A. It is currently positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 131° West, from where it is used to relay cable television across North America for onward distribution.[1] It broadcasts to Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and the United States.[2]

SES and Telesat have agreed[3] that Telesat will buy the satellite to replace the failing Anik F2 satellite in its Anik fleet. Permission from the FCC is pending; once issued, the satellite will be repositioned to 111.1° West.[4]

Hitherto the satellite is owned by SES S.A. and used to relay cable television across the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean.[1]

Spacecraft

AMC-11 was built by Lockheed Martin, and is based on the A2100A satellite bus. It was originally ordered by GE Americom as GE-11, however following the merger of GE Americom and SES, it was redesignated AMC-11 while still under construction. It is equipped with 24 transponders operating in the C-band.[2] At launch it had a mass of 2,340 kg (5,160 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of around fifteen years.[5][6] On December 1, 2022, AMC 11 ends its life cycle and was replaced by the SES 21 satellite.

Launch

The launch of AMC-11, which was conducted by International Launch Services, was the penultimate flight and last commercial launch of the Atlas II launch vehicle, which flew in the Atlas IIAS configuration. The launch occurred from SLC-36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, at 22:22:01 UTC on 19 May 2004.[7] The launch successfully placed AMC-11 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO), from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit by means of a LEROS-1c apogee motor.[6] Its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred on 24 May 2004.[8]

Galaxy 15

In late May and early June 2010, the Galaxy 15 satellite, which had failed with its transponders still broadcasting, passed close to AMC-11. Since Galaxy 15 broadcast on similar frequencies to AMC-11, interference from its transponders could have affected signals originating from AMC-11.[9] As a result, AMC-11 was manoeuvred out of the way of Galaxy 15, and the SES-1 satellite was brought in to provide backup in case AMC-11 could not continue broadcasting. Galaxy 15 passed within 0.2° of AMC-11, however no service interruptions occurred.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "AMC-11 - Home to HD PRIME – America's Cable Neighborhood". SES World Skies. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b "AMC-11 Data". SES. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  3. ^ Rainbow, Jason (8 November 2022). "Telesat buys in-orbit satellite to help cover Anik F2 shortfall". Space News. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Application to the FCC to transfer AMC-11 to Telesat". fcc.report. FCC. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  5. ^ "UCS Satellite Database". Union of Concerned Scientists. 1 April 2010. Archived from the original on 8 May 2010. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  6. ^ a b Krebs, Gunter (21 July 2019). "GE 7, 8 / AMC 7, 8, 10, 11, 18 (Aurora 3)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  7. ^ McDowell, Jonathan (14 March 2021). "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  8. ^ McDowell, Jonathan. "Index". Geostationary Orbit Catalog. Jonathan's Space Report. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  9. ^ de Selding, Peter B. (30 April 2010). "Galaxy 15, Still Adrift, Poses Threat to Its Orbital Neighbors". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  10. ^ de Selding, Peter B. (3 June 2010). "Intelsat, SES Safely Negotiate Passage of Wayward Craft". SpaceNews. Archived from the original on 7 June 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
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