Engineering:AMC-23

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Short description: American communications satellite
AMC-23
NamesGE-2i
Worldsat-3
AMC-13
GE-23
Eutelsat-172A
Eutelsat-174A
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorSES Americom (2005-2009)
SES World Skies (2009-2011)
SES S.A. (2011-2012)
Eutelsat (2012-present)
COSPAR ID2005-052A
SATCAT no.28924
Mission duration16 years (planned)
18 years, 1 month, 20 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftGE-23 [1]
Spacecraft typeSpacebus 4000
BusSpacebus 4000C3
ManufacturerAlcatel Space
Launch mass4,981 kg (10,981 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date29 December 2005,
02:28:40 UTC
RocketProton-M / Briz-M
Launch siteBaikonur Cosmodrome,
Site 81/24
ContractorKhrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Entered serviceMars 2006
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude186° West
Transponders
Band38 (+10) transponders:
18 (+4) C-band
20 (+6) Ku-band
Coverage areaAsia-Pacific, West Coast of the United States
SES constellation
← AMC-21
 

AMC-23 (formerly GE-23) is an American geostationary communications satellite that was launched by a Proton-M / Briz-M launch vehicle at 02:28:40 UTC on 29 December 2005. The 4,981 kg (10,981 lb) satellite to provide services to the Asia-Pacific, West Coast of the United States through separate beams to each region, after parking over the Pacific Ocean through its 18 (+4) C-band and 20 (+6) Ku-band transponders, over 186° West longitude.[2][3]

GE-2i/AMC-13/Worldsat-3/AMC-23

AMC-13 was originally ordered as GE-2i. In early 2004, AMC-13 was transferred to Worldsat LLC, a new subsidiary of SES Americom as Worldsat 3. The original AMC-13 was to feature 60 C-Band transponders, but when transferred to Worldsat, it was ordered to be changed to the hybrid C-/Ku-band payload with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. In early 2005, it was renamed AMC-23.[1][3]

GE-23

In 2007, the satellite was spun-off from SES Americom to GE-Satellite, when General Electric split off from SES. After this transaction, the satellite was renamed GE-23.[1]

Eutelsat-172A

Eutelsat has announced in June 2012 the acquisition of GE-23 satellite from GE-Satellite. The satellite is renamed to Eutelsat 172A and expands Eutelsat coverage to Asia-Pacific region and West Coast of United States of America. The satellite had at that time an estimated lifespan of 8.5 years.[1][3]

Eutelsat-174A

In 2017, after Eutelsat 172B had replaced it, Eutelsat 172A was moved to 174° East and renamed Eutelsat 174A.[1][3]

See also

References