SES-1
SES-1 is a geostationary communications satellite which is operated by SES World Skies, then by SES HistoryIt was originally ordered by SES Americom as a ground spare for AMC-5R, however in April 2008 a decision was made to launch it, and it was named AMC-1R. It was subsequently renamed AMC-4R, and finally SES-1 after SES Americom merged with SES New Skies to form SES World Skies.[1] It was the third SES World Skies satellite to be launched following the merger, but the first to carry the new SES designation.[2] SES-1 operates in geostationary orbit, and is intended to be located at a longitude of 101° West, where it will replace the AMC-2 and AMC-4 satellites. SES-1 enables high-definition television signals to very small aperture terminals in the United States.[3] SpacecraftSES-1 was built by Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC), and is based on the Star-2.4 satellite bus. It is equipped with 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. At launch, the satellite had a mass of 2,561 kg (5,646 lb). SES-1 has a design life of fifteen years; however, the spacecraft was launched with enough fuel to operate for at least sixteen years, if all systems remain functional.[1] LaunchThe launch of SES-1 was conducted by International Launch Services (ILS), using a Proton-M launch vehicle with a Briz-M upper stage.[3] The launch occurred from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 11:19:00 UTC on 24 April 2010.[2] The launch successfully placed SES-1 into a subsynchronous orbit close to geostationary altitude.[3][4] MissionIn May and June 2010, SES-1 was positioned close to 131° West to temporarily provide backup to the AMC-11 satellite in the event that AMC-11 could not continue broadcasting whilst it is moved out of the way of the failed Galaxy 15 satellite, which passed close to it at the end of May 2010.[5] In the end, services provided by AMC-11 were not interrupted.[6] See alsoReferences
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