Mission type Communication Mission duration 15 years (planned) Contractor ILS Launch mass 2,340 kg Rocket Atlas II Bus Lockheed Martin A2100 | COSPAR ID 2004-017A Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-36B Launch mass 2,340 kg Launch date 19 May 2004 Manufacturer Lockheed Martin | |
Operator SES Americom (2004–2009)
SES World Skies (2009—) Similar AMC‑21, Galaxy 15, Galaxy 17, Anik F1, AMC‑6 | ||
AMC-11 , previously GE-11, is a Dutch, previously American geostationary communications satellite which is operated by SES World Skies. It is currently positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 131 degrees West, from where it is used to relay cable television across North America for onward distribution. It broadcasts to Canada, the Caribbean, Mexico and the United States.
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 G and H bands of the NATO frequency spectrum, or the C band of the IEEE spectrum. At launch it had a mass of 2,340 kilograms (5,160 lb), with an expected operational lifespan of around fifteen years.
The launch of AMC-11, which was conducted by International Launch Services, was the penultimate flight and last commercial launch of the Atlas II carrier rocket, which flew in the Atlas IIAS configuration. The launch occurred from Space Launch Complex 36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, at 22:22 GMT on 19 May 2004. The launch successfully placed AMC-11 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, from which it raised itself to geostationary orbit by means of a LEROS-1C apogee motor. Its insertion into geosynchronous orbit occurred at 20:00 on 24 May 2004.
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. 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 degrees of AMC-11, however no service interruptions occurred.