Amos (satellite)

amos

Model of Israeli Amos-5 satellite during "Semana de Espacio", in IFEMA, Madrid.
Country of origin	Israel
Operator	Spacecom
Production
Status	Active
Built	5 known
Launched	5
First launch	Amos-1, 16 May 1996
Last launch	Amos-4, 31 August 2013

Amos is a series of Israeli communications satellites. All Amos satellites are operated by Spacecom and are developed by its partner, Israel Aerospace Industries (except Amos 5 which was developed by JSC Reshetnev).

The six Amos satellites were launched using five different rockets, Soyuz, Zenit, Proton, Ariane and Falcon 9 from three different launch sites, Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Guiana Space Centre and Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Satellites

• Amos-1 was the first Israeli communications satellite. Its development was based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Alenia Space. It was launched on May 16, 1996 from European Space Centre in French Guiana. It was in use for home TV services (DTH/DBS by the Yes company in Israel and by HBO and others in Europe. Space Communications LTD quickly succeeded in filling all transmission capacity of Amos-1 and accumulated additional requests. Therefore, it decided to broaden its activity and initiated Amos-2 creation which is operational today (see below).
• Amos-2 was launched on December 28, 2003 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and it serves clients in three service regions: Middle East (including Israel), Europe and the east coast of United States. Transmission and communication services provided by this satellite include: direct distribution of TV and radio translations; TV and radio translations to communication centers; distribution of internet services, data transmissions to communication networks. Amos-1 and Amos-2 were placed in proximity to create a common location, which enables satellite users to increase user abilities without additional antennas. After Amos-3 replaced Amos-1, Amos-2 and Amos-3 are placed in proximity.
• Amos-3 was launched on April 28, 2008.^[1] It achieved the planned orbit successfully. The $170 million satellite is designed to offer increased capacity, expanded coverage and improved links between the Mideast and Europe and the eastern U.S. It is to remain in space 18 years. Amos 3 replaced the Amos 1 satellite. The satellite is located at 4°W on the equator, the same as Amos-2 satellite.
• Amos-4 is a larger platform (3.5 tons) than previous Amos generations and was successfully launched on August 31, 2013 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.^[2] It is currently on the way to be placed in geosynchronous orbit at 65° East longitude. It will offer coverage across Southeast Asia along with high power coverage beams offering communication links from East Asia to the Middle East.
• Amos-5 (he:עמוס 5) was launched at December 11, 2011^[3] and provides coverage over the continent of Africa, as well as Europe and the Middle East. The satellite is located at 17°E longitude. Unlike the other AMOS satellites, it was developed by the Russian company Reshetnev rather than IAI. Contact with the satellite was lost on 21 November 2015.
• Amos-6 was expected to be launched by mid-2016 to replace Amos-2.^[4] The 5.3 ton satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries. It was destroyed on the pad on September 1st, 2016 by an explosion at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.^[5]

References

1. "Haaretz.com; After delay, Amos 3 satellite to launch into orbit on Monday". Archived from the original on 2 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-28.
2. "Amos 4 satellite launched into space".
3. "Amos 5 satellite launched into space".
4. Israel’s domestic satellite industry saved. Jerusalem Post. Retrieved on June 9, 2012.
5. SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Explodes on Launch Pad in Florida. Space.com. Retrieved on September 1st, 2016.