Starsem/Arianespace
Flight ST12
November
18 Update: Preparations have begun for the liftoff of AMOS 2
A
new Starsem launch campaign is moving ahead for liftoff of the
AMOS 2 broadcasting and communications satellite, which is scheduled
in the second half of December on a Soyuz-Fregat vehicle.
This upcoming mission will mark the 12th performed under Starsem's
responsibility, and is to be the first commercial flight to
geostationary orbit by a Soyuz.
AMOS 2 arrived at Baikonur Cosmodrome November 10 aboard an
Antonov An-124 heavy-lift cargo airliner, which landed at the
launch site's Yubileiny airfield.
The satellite was transferred
to Starsem's payload processing facility in the MIK112 integration
building, where it will undergo final checkout and preparation.
The AMOS 2 spacecraft originally was planned for a missionaboard
Arianespace's Ariane 5, but was rescheduled to the Soyuz-Fregat
flight in agreement with the satellite's operator, Spacecom
Ltd.
The payload shift from Ariane to Soyuz is a demonstration
of the launcher family policy developed by Starsem and its Arianespace
affiliate company to best respond to clients' needs.
AMOS 2 will have a liftoff mass of 1,370 kg., and is to be positioned
at an orbital slot of 4 deg. West over the Gulf of Guinea.
The
satellite carries a payload of 22 Ku-band transponders and is
to provide a state-of-the-art platform for the distribution
of digital TV channels and business data for private/public
networks.
To
be co-located with the AMOS 1 spacecraft (launched by Arianespace
in 1996), AMOS 2 will create a "hot spot" for the Middle East
and European markets. A third beam expands access to the North
American East Coast, creating a link to the IP backbone and
other advanced broadband services.
AMOS operator Spacecom Ltd. is a Ramat Gan, Israel-based joint
venture of Israel Aircraft Industries Ltd., Eurocom Group, General
Satellite Services Co. and Mer Services Group Ltd.
To read the December 28th update, "Success for Flight ST12 - The AMOS 2 satellite is in orbit!", click here.
To read the December 24th update, "The Soyuz/Fregat is in the launch zone!", click here.
To read the December 15th update, "The Fregat upper stage is fueled and ready for integration with AMOS", click here.
To read the December 12th update, "Fueling of the AMOS 2 satellite is complete", click here.
To read the November 26th update, "Pre-launch checkout underway for the AMOS 2 satellite
", click here.
To see the latest headlines click here.
