Amos (satellite)

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. 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. In 2009, Amos-1 was sold to Intelsat, and became Intelsat 24.
• Amos-2 was launched on December 28, 2003, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and it serves clients in three service regions: Middle East, 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. 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 than previous Amos generations and was launched on August 31, 2013, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. It is placed in geosynchronous orbit at 65° East longitude. It offers coverage across Southeast Asia along with high power coverage beams offering communication links from East Asia to the Middle East.
• Amos-5 was launched on December 11, 2011 and provided coverage over the continent of Africa, as well as Europe and the Middle East. The satellite was located at 17° East longitude. Unlike previous 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. The 5.3 ton satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries. It was destroyed on the pad on September 1, 2016, by an explosion at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 40.
• Amos-7 was launched on 5 August 2014 by SpaceX.
• Amos-8 was commissioned by the Government of Israel in September 2018.
• Amos-17 launched on August 6, 2019, and is a Boeing type 702MP satellite transmitting in the Ka, Ku, and C bands. It is a replacement for Amos-5 and provides coverage over the continent of Africa, as well as Europe and the Middle East. The satellite is located at 17° East longitude.