AMC-4
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AMC-4 (formerly GE-4) is a commercial broadcast communications satellite owned by SES World Skies, part of SES (and formerly GE Americom, then SES Americom). Launched in 1999, from Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 by Ariane 44LP H10-3. It provides coverage to North America, Latin America, Caribbean. Located in a geostationary orbit, AMC-4 provides service to commercial and government customers, with programming distribution, satellite news gathering and broadcast internet capabilities.[3]
Names | GE-4 (1999-2001) AMC-4 (2001-present) |
---|---|
Mission type | Communications[1] |
Operator | GE Americom (1999-2001) SES Americom (2001-2009) SES World Skies (2009-2011) SES (2011-present) |
COSPAR ID | 1999-060A ![]() |
SATCAT no. | 25954 |
Website | SES-AMERICOM AMC-4 |
Mission duration | 15 years (planned) [2][3] 24 years, 8 months, 28 days (elapsed) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | GE-4 |
Spacecraft type | Lockheed Martin A2100 |
Bus | LM A2100AX |
Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
Launch mass | 3,895 kg (8,587 lb) [2] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 13 November 1999, 22:54 UTC |
Rocket | Ariane 44LP H10-3 (V123) [2] |
Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2[1][2] |
Contractor | Arianespace |
Entered service | 2000 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
Regime | Geostationary orbit |
Longitude | 134.9° West [3] |
Transponders | |
Band | 52 transponders: 24 C-band 28 Ku-band[3] |
Frequency | 36 MHz 72 MHz (4 Ku-band) |
Coverage area | North America, Latin America, Caribbean[3] |
AMC-4 was launched on 13 November 1999 at 22:54 UTC as GE-4, GE Americom's fourth A2100 hybrid C-band and Ku-band satellite. The C-band payload was home to national television networks broadcasting to thousands of cable television headends. AMC-4's Ku-band transponders served the direct-to-home (DTH), VSAT, business television and broadband Internet market segments. These Ku-band transponders are designed to be switchable between North and South American coverages.[3] It was renamed AMC-4 after GE Americom was bought by SES and re-branded SES Americom. In 2009, SES Americom merged with SES New Skies to form SES World Skies. AMC-4 has been replaced by SES-1 in 2010. AMC-4 has been moved to 134.9° West, and currently has no FTA signals.