AMC-21
| Names | GE-21 Americom-21 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | SES Americom(2008–2009) SES World Skies(2009–2011) SES(2011-present) |
| COSPAR ID | 2008-038B |
| SATCATno. | 33275 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) 16 years, 12 days (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | GE-21 |
| Bus | STAR-2[1] |
| Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space(prime) Orbital Sciences(bus) |
| Launch mass | 2,473 kg (5,452 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1,161 kg (2,560 lb) |
| Power | 4.4kW |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 14 August 2008, 20:44UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5 ECA |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais,ELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | September 2008 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 125° West[2] |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 24Ku-band |
| Bandwidth | 36MHz |
| Coverage area | Canada,United States,Mexico,Caribbean,Central America |
AMC-21,orGE-21,is an Americancommunications satelliteoperated bySES S.A.,formerlySES World SkiesandSES Americom.It was launched in August 2008 and is expected to remain in service for approximately 15 years. It is currently located at 125° West longitude.
Spacecraft and mission design
[edit]AMC-21 is based on aSTAR-2satellite busthat provides 4.4kilowattsof power for the communications payload. The platform will support a 15-year on-orbit mission life.[3]It carries 24Ku-bandtranspondersat 36MHz,which will be used to broadcast television signals toCanada,United States,Mexico,theCaribbean,andCentral America.[2]
Manufacture
[edit]Thales Alenia Spacewas the prime contractor for AMC-21, and provided the satellite's communications payload. The STAR-2 bus was subcontracted toOrbital Sciences Corporation,as were integration and testing of the satellite.[3]As prime contractor, Thales Alenia Space delivered the completed satellite to SES Americom.[4]
Launch
[edit]AMC-21 was launched, along with theSuperbird-7satellite, by anAriane 5 ECAlaunch vehicle on 14 August 2008 at 20:44UTC.[5]The satellite separated from the launch vehicle in ageosynchronous transfer orbit(GTO). An onboardIHI-500 N(IHI-BT4)enginethen raised it to an operationalgeostationary orbitand placed it at a longitude of 125° West of theGreenwich Meridian.[1]After successful completion of in-orbit testing, SES Americom took operational control of AMC-21 in September 2008.[6]
Mergers and acquisitions
[edit]In September 2009,SES Americommergedwith SES New Skies to formSES World Skies,to which all of its operational satellites, including AMC-21, were transferred.
External links
[edit]- AMC-21 Channel List at SathintArchived17 March 2010 at theWayback Machine
References
[edit]- ^ab"AMC-21".Gunter's Space Page. 11 December 2017.Retrieved5 April2021.
- ^ab"AMC-21".SES.Retrieved5 April2021.
- ^ab"AMC-21".Orbital Sciences Corporation.
- ^"Orbital-Built AMC-21 Communications Satellite Successfully Launched".Northrop Grumman. 18 August 2008.Retrieved5 April2021.
- ^"Another successful Arianespace launch: Superbird-7 and AMC-21 in orbit"(Press release). Arianespace. 14 August 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 18 September 2010.
- ^"Orbital Reports Third Quarter 2008 Financial Results"(Press release). Orbital. 16 October 2008.