| Names | AMOS-5i |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | AsiaSat (1995–2009, 2012) Spacecom (2009–2011) |
| COSPAR ID | 1995-064A |
| SATCATno. | 23723 |
| Website | https://www.asiasat.com |
| Mission duration | 13 years (planned) 16 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | AsiaSat-2 |
| Spacecraft type | AS-7000 |
| Bus | Lockheed Martin AS-7000 |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Astro Space |
| Launch mass | 3,379 kg (7,449 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 28 November 1995, 11:30:05UTC |
| Rocket | Long March 2E /FG-46 |
| Launch site | Xichang,LA-2 |
| Contractor | CGWIC |
| Entered service | January 1996 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated | May 2012 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 100.5° East (1995–2009) 17° East (2009–2010) 120° East (2012) |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 34transponders: 26C-band 8Ku-band |
| Coverage area | Asia,Pacific Ocean |
AsiaSat 2 was aHong Kongcommunications satellite, which was owned, and was initially operated, by the Hong Kong–basedAsia Satellite Telecommunications Company. It was positioned ingeostationary orbit at a longitude of 17° East of theGreenwich Meridian, on lease toSpacecom.[1] It spent most of its operational life at 100.5° East,[2] from where it was used to providefixed satellite services, including broadcasting, audio and data transmission, toAsia and thePacific Ocean.[3]
AsiaSat 2 was built byAstro Space, which by the time of its launch had become part ofLockheed Martin. It is based on theAS-7000satellite bus. At launch, it had a mass of 3,379 kg (7,449 lb),[3] and a design life of thirteen years. It carries twenty sixC-band and eightKu-bandtransponders.[2]
The launch of AsiaSat 2 was contracted to theChina Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), and used aLong March 2Elaunch vehicle with aFG-46 upper stage.[4] It was the maiden flight of the FG-46,[4] and the first Chinese launch since theApstar 2 failure, which killed a number of villagers in January 1995.[5] The launch was conducted fromXichang Launch Area 2 (LA-2) at theXichang Satellite Launch Centre at 11:30:05UTC on 28 November 1995.[6] The launch had previously been delayed twice, first from December 1994 due to the failure ofTelstar 402, which was based on the same satellite bus as AsiaSat 2, and subsequently whilst the Apstar 2 launch failure was investigated.[4]
Since theLong March 2E launch vehicle had experienced two failures in five launches, AsiaSat 2 had to pay a 27% premium forsatellite insurance instead of the usual 17–20%. Although the satellite was delivered to the correct orbit, the launch was a partial failure. Excessive acceleration during the launch caused a misalignment of the antenna feed horns on the Ku-band transponders, reducing the satellite's coverage area.[7] AsiaSat filed an insurance claim for US$58 million.[8]
AsiaSat 2 was replaced byAsiaSat 5 in 2009,[9] and in September 2009 it was leased toIsraeli operatorSpacecom Ltd. It was subsequently moved to a longitude of 17° East, and in January 2010 it began operations for Spacecom, who refer to it as AMOS-5i. Spacecom intended to operate it untilAMOS-5 was launched in 2011,[1] however during a stationkeeping manoeuvre in August 2010 they discovered that it was carrying less fuel than they had expected, meaning that it would have to be retired before the launch of its replacement.[10]
