Amos (satellite)

Amos (satellite)
BY ANDRE I ASHDOD ALL RIGHT RESERVED
AMOS is a name for a series of Israeli communications satellites. AMOS are developed by Israel Aircraft Industries and operated by the private company Spacecom.

AMOS 1 [1] [2] was the first Israeli communications satellite. Its development was based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Espace. It was launched on May 16, 1996 from European Space Centre in French Guiana.
It is in use for home TV services (DTH/DBS by the Yes company in Israel and by HBO and others in Europe. Space Communications LTD quickly succeeded in filling all transmission capacity of Amos 1 and accumulated additional requests. Therefore Space Communications LTD decided to broaden its activity and initiated Amos 2 creation, which is today in its full ownership.

AMOS-2 satellite launchAMOS 2 [3] [4] was launched on December 28, 2003 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and it serves clients in three service regions: Middle East (including Israel), Europe and the east coast of USA. 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 tranmissions to communication networks.
Amos 1 and Amos 2 are placed in proximity to a create common location, which enables satellite users to increase user abilities without additional antennas.

AMOS 3 [5] is planned to be launched in the beginning of 2008.

AMOS 4 [6] is planned to be launched in mid 2010.

AMOS 1





The AMOS 1 satellite was solely an IAI project, with SpaceCom providing marketing and customer service. Construction began in 1992 and it was launched in 1996, providing communications services to Israeli and European customers. Although a technological success, the State Comptroller called it an economic failure.

The AMOS-1 (8/9 transponders) communications satellite provides high quality broadcasting and communication services for the growing markets of Central Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

Developed and manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries, in cooperation with DASA of Germany and Alcatel Espace of France, the AMOS-1 satellite was successfully launched in May 1996 and positioned at geostationary orbit at 4÷ West. Thanks to its unique features and capabilities, AMOS-1 is the ideal, state-of-the-art solution for satellite broadcasting services such as distribution of multiple digital TV channels to Cable Headends, Direct-To-Home and Business data transmissions for private and public networks using Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs).

AMOS-1, having wide bandwidth transponders operating in Ku frequency band, provides high EIRP of above 55 dBW at beam center and offers an excellent, cost-effective and reliable solution for broadcasting over 20 digital TV channels per transponder to Cable Headends, as well as Direct To Home television to very small dish antennas.

R.R. Satellite Communications Ltd. is broadcasting on a 24 hour base through AMOS-1 satellite for Israeli channel 1, 2, 33 and METV. We rent Space Segment on the AMOS-1 satellite for permanenet and ocasional use

.R. Satellite Communications Ltd. is broadcasting on a 24 hour base through AMOS-1 satellite for Israeli channel 1, 2, 33 and METV. We rent Space Segment on the AMOS-1 satellite for permanenet and ocasional use


It was the first Israeli communications satellite. The satellite was positioned at 4 deg west longitude in the geo-stationary orbit.

Its development is based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Espace. It was launched at May 16, 1996 from Kourou in French Guiana. It is in use for home TV services (DTH/DBS by "Yes" company in Israel and by HBO and others in Europe. Spacecom succeeded quickly to fill all transmission abilities of AMOS-1 and accumulated additional requests. Therefore Spacecom decided to broaden its activity and initiated AMOS 2 creation, which is today in its full ownership.

AMOS-1 carries nine Ku-band transponders.

Weighing 970 kg at launch, AMOS-1 incorporated a 400 newton Liquid Apogee Boost Motor (ABM) and Fourteen 10 newton Reaction Control Thrusters for raising the satellite's orbit from Geo-stationary Transfer orbit to its final geo- stationary orbit as well as for its altitude control. It carried 450 kg of propellant (monomethyl hydrazine and MON-3).

AMOS-1 measures 11.5 m in length in its final in-orbit configuration. It is 3-axis body stabilised using Sun and Earth sensors, momentum and reaction wheels. Its solar array generates 1380 W power, backed up by 24 A·h Ni-Cd batteries.

After its launch into Geo-synchronous transfer orbit by Ariane 4, AMOS-1 it was taken to its final geo-stationary orbit by firing the apogee boost motor in phases. After it reached the geo-stationary orbit, its antenna and solar Panels were deployed and the satellite was finally placed in its allocated slot of 4° West longitude.

.R. Satellite Communications Ltd. is broadcasting on a 24 hour base through AMOS-1 satellite for Israeli channel 1, 2, 33 and METV. We rent Space Segment on the AMOS-1 satellite for permanenet and ocasional use It was the first Israeli communications satellite. The satellite was positioned at 4 deg west longitude in the geo-stationary orbit. Its development is based on experience from Ofeq reconnaissance satellites in association with DASA and Alcatel Espace. It was launched at May 16, 1996 from Kourou in French Guiana. It is in use for home TV services (DTH/DBS by "Yes" company in Israel and by HBO and others in Europe. Spacecom succeeded quickly to fill all transmission abilities of AMOS-1 and accumulated additional requests. Therefore Spacecom decided to broaden its activity and initiated AMOS 2 creation, which is today in its full ownership. AMOS-1 carries nine Ku-band transponders. Weighing 970 kg at launch, AMOS-1 incorporated a 400 newton Liquid Apogee Boost Motor (ABM) and Fourteen 10 newton Reaction Control Thrusters for raising the satellite's orbit from Geo-stationary Transfer orbit to its final geo- stationary orbit as well as for its altitude control. It carried 450 kg of propellant (monomethyl hydrazine and MON-3). AMOS-1 measures 11.5 m in length in its final in-orbit configuration. It is 3-axis body stabilised using Sun and Earth sensors, momentum and reaction wheels. Its solar array generates 1380 W power, backed up by 24 A·h Ni-Cd batteries. After its launch into Geo-synchronous transfer orbit by Ariane 4, AMOS-1 it was taken to its final geo-stationary orbit by firing the apogee boost motor in phases. After it reached the geo-stationary orbit, its antenna and solar Panels were deployed and the satellite was finally placed in its allocated slot of 4° West longitude.