Intelsat 24

Intelsat 24 (Amos-1)
Mission type Communication
Operator Spacecom (1996–2009)
Intelsat (2009–present)
COSPAR ID 1996–030B
SATCAT № 23865
Website Amos-1
Mission duration 12 years (planned)
14+ years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Launch mass 961 kilograms (2,119 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date May 16, 1996, 01:56:29 (1996-05-16UTC01:56:29Z) UTC
Rocket Ariane 44L
Launch site Kourou ELA-2
Contractor Arianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference system Geocentric
Regime Geostationary
Later Geosynchronous
Longitude 4° West (1996-2009)
47.3° East (2009-)

Intelsat 24, previously Amos-1, is a commercial communication satellite which is operated by Intelsat. It was previously operated by Spacecom as Amos-1, and formed part of the AMOS series of satellites. It was the first Israeli communications satellite, and was initially positioned at 4° West longitude in geostationary orbit. It has since been moved to 47.3 degrees East.[1]

Its development was based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Espace. It was launched on May 16, 1996 from Kourou in French Guiana, aboard an Ariane 4 rocket flying in the 44L configuration. It was used for home TV services (DTH/DBS by "Yes" company in Israel and by HBO and others in Europe). Spacecom succeeded quickly to fill all transmission abilities of Amos-1 and accumulated additional requests. Therefore, Spacecom decided to build AMOS 2, which replaced AMOS-1 on orbit at 4 degrees West. AMOS-1 carries nine Ku band transponders.

Weighing 970 kg at launch, Amos-1 incorporated a 400 Newton liquid apogee motor and fourteen reaction control thrusters, each delivering ten Newtons of thrust for raising the satellite's orbit from geostationary transfer orbit to its final geostationary orbit as well as for its attitude control. It carried 450 kg of propellant (monomethyl hydrazine and MON-3).

Amos-1 measures 11.5 m in length in its final in-orbit configuration. It is 3-axis body stabilised using Sun and Earth sensors, momentum and reaction wheels. Its solar array generates 1380 W power, backed up by 24 A·h Ni-Cd batteries. After its launch, it was raised to its final geostationary orbit by firing the apogee boost motor in phases. After it reached the geostationary orbit, its antennae and solar panels were deployed and the satellite was placed in its allocated slot at 4° West longitude. Amos 1 and Amos 2 were placed near each other to enable satellite users to aim once and reach either satellite from the same antenna.

In 2009, Amos-1 was sold to Intelsat, and became Intelsat 24.[2] Intelsat moved it over the Middle East, put it into an inclined orbit to conserve fuel, and rented its capacity to Tachyon Networks for US military communications.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Jameson, Helen. "Tackling the Challenges of Communication" (PDF). Global Military Communications. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  2. ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Amos-1 -> Intelsat 24". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 9 May 2010.

External links

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