AMOS-3 (satellite)

AMOS-3 / AMOS-60
Names	Affordable Modular Optimized Satellite-3; AMOS-60
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Spacecom Satellite Communications
COSPAR ID	2008-022A
SATCAT no.	32794
Website	https://www.amos-spacecom.com/
Mission duration	18 years (planned); 16 years, 7 months and 5 days (in progress)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	AMOS-3
Spacecraft type	AMOS
Bus	AMOS Bus
Manufacturer	Israel Aerospace Industries (bus); Thales Alenia Space (payload)
Launch mass	1,263 kg (2,784 lb)
Dry mass	837 kg (1,845 lb)
Power	1700 watts
Start of mission
Launch date	28 April 2008, 05:00:00 UTC
Rocket	Zenit-3SLB (# 1)
Launch site	Baikonur, Site 45/1
Contractor	Yuzhmash
Entered service	June 2008
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	4° West
Transponders
Band	14 transponders:; 12 Ku-band; 2 Ka-band
Coverage area	Eastern United States, Europe, Africa, Israel, Middle East
	AMOS Series ← AMOS-2 AMOS-5i →

AMOS-3, also known as AMOS-60, is an Israeli communications satellite operated by Spacecom Satellite Communications.

History

Spacecom Satellite Communications has signed an agreement in September 2005 with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to buy its third satellite, AMOS-3, from the Israeli defense contractor.

Satellite description

The satellite is powered by twin solar panels, and is based on the Israeli AMOS Bus. It replaced AMOS-1 in geosynchronous orbit at 4° West. AMOS-3 carries fourteen Ku-band / Ka-band transponders, and is expected to have an on-orbit lifetime of 18 years.

Launch

It was launched atop the maiden flight of the Zenit-3SLB launch vehicle, the first launch contracted by the Land Launch organisation. The launch was originally scheduled to occur in 2007, and later March 2008, however this was delayed until 24 April 2008. The launch attempt on 24 April 2008 was scrubbed for "technical reasons".^[1] This was later determined to be a problem with the erector/transporter system, which had failed to retract and move away from the launch vehicle. AMOS-3 lifted-off from Site 45/1 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 05:00:00 UTC on 28 April 2008.^[2]

References

^ "Tracking Station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.
^ "Haaretz.com; Video shows how AMOS-3 communications satellite was sent into orbit". Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.

External links

International Media Switzerland Archived 25 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine Official provider's site

[1] "Tracking Station". Spaceflight Now. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 24 April 2008.

[2] "Haaretz.com; Video shows how AMOS-3 communications satellite was sent into orbit". Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.

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