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]

AMC-11

Names	GE-11 AMC-11 (2004-present)
Mission type	Communications
Operator	SES Americom (2004-2009) SES World Skies (2009-2011) SES S.A. (2011-present)
COSPAR ID	2004-017A
SATCAT no.	28252
Mission duration	15 years (planned) 18 years, 2 months, 16 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	GE-11
Spacecraft type	Lockheed Martin A2100
Bus	A2100A
Manufacturer	Lockheed Martin
Launch mass	2,340 kg (5,160 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	19 May 2004, 22:22:01 UTC
Rocket	Atlas IIAS (AC-166)
Launch site	Cape Canaveral, SLC-36B
Contractor	Lockheed Martin
Entered service	July 2004
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	131° West
Transponders
Band	24 C-band
Coverage area	Canada, United States, Mexico, Caribbean
SES constellation ← AMC-10 AMC-12 →

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.[3][4]

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.[5] 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.[4] Its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred on 24 May 2004.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

See also

• 2004 in spaceflight

References