Amos (satellite)
Encyclopedia
AMOS is a name for a series of Israel
i communications satellites. All AMOS satellites are operated by Spacecom
and are developed by its partner, Israel Aerospace Industries (except AMOS 5 which is developed by JSC/Reshetnev
).
Amos 1 and Amos 2 are placed in proximity to a create common location, which enables satellite
users to increase user abilities without additional antennas
.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i communications satellites. All AMOS satellites are operated by Spacecom
Spacecom
Spacecom, or Space Communication , is a communications satellite operator in the Middle East, European Union and North-America headquartered in the city of Ramat Gan, Israel...
and are developed by its partner, Israel Aerospace Industries (except AMOS 5 which is developed by JSC/Reshetnev
JSC Information Satellite Systems
JSC Information Satellite Systems - Reshetnev Company is a Russian satellite manufacturing company. It is based in the closed city of Zheleznogorsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai near the city of Krasnoyarsk. The company was formerly called NPO PM.- Overview :...
).
- AMOS 1AMOS 1Intelsat 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...
was the first Israeli communications satelliteCommunications satelliteA communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
. Its development was based on experience from OfeqOfeqOfeq, also spelled Offek or Ofek is the designation of a series of Israeli reconnaissance satellites first launched in 1988. All Ofeq satellites have been carried on top of Shavit rockets from Palmachim Airbase in Israel, on the Mediterranean coast. The Low Earth Orbit satellites complete one...
reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Alenia SpaceThales Alenia SpaceThales Alenia Space is an aerospace company born after the Thales Group bought the participation of Alcatel in the two joint-ventures between Alcatel and Finmeccanica, Alcatel Alenia Space and Telespazio.-History:...
. It was launched on May 16, 1996 from European Space CentreCentre Spatial GuyanaisThe Guiana Space Centre or, more commonly, Centre Spatial Guyanais is a French spaceport near Kourou in French Guiana. Operational since 1968, it is particularly suitable as a location for a spaceport due to its proximity to the equator, and that launches are in a favourable direction over water...
in French GuianaFrench GuianaFrench Guiana is an overseas region of France, consisting of a single overseas department located on the northern Atlantic coast of South America. It has borders with two nations, Brazil to the east and south, and Suriname to the west...
. It was in use for home TV services (DTHDTHDTH may refer to:* The Daily Tar Heel, a student newspaper at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill* Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City* Danmarks Tekniske Højskole, a previous name for the Technical University of Denmark...
/DBSDirect broadcast satelliteDirect broadcast satellite is a term used to refer to satellite television broadcasts intended for home reception.A designation broader than DBS would be direct-to-home signals, or DTH. This has initially distinguished the transmissions directly intended for home viewers from cable television...
by the Yes company in IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and by HBO and others in EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Space Communications LTD quickly succeeded in filling all transmissionTransmission (telecommunications)Transmission, in telecommunications, is the process of sending, propagating and receiving an analogue or digital information signal over a physical point-to-point or point-to-multipoint transmission medium, either wired, optical fiber or wireless...
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 2AMOS 2AMOS-2 is an Israeli commercial communication satellite, part of the AMOS series of satellites. The satellite was positioned at 4° W longitude in the geo-stationary orbit....
was launched on December 28, 2003 from BaikonurBaikonur CosmodromeThe Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
, KazakhstanKazakhstanKazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
and it serves clients in three service regions: Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
(including IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
), EuropeEuropeEurope is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the east coast of USA. Transmission and communicationCommunicationCommunication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
services provided by this satelliteSatelliteIn the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
include: direct distribution of TV and radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
translations; TV and radioRadioRadio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
translations to communication centers; distribution of internetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
services, data transmissions to communication networks.
Amos 1 and Amos 2 are placed in proximity to a create common location, which enables satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
users to increase user abilities without additional antennas
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
.
- AMOS 3 was launched on April 28, 2008. 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 will replace the AMOS 1 satellite. The satellite is located at 4°W on the equator, the same as Amos 1 and Amos 2 satellites.
- AMOS 4 :he:עמוס 4 is a larger platform (3.5 tons) than previous AMOS generations and is planned for launch in late 2012 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 is scheduled to be launched in mid 2011 and provide coverage over the continent of Africa.