| Mission type | Communication |
|---|---|
| Operator | EchoStar |
| COSPAR ID | 2003-033A |
| SATCATno. | 33207 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) 21 years, 8 months, 1 day (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | A2100AXS |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems |
| Launch mass | 4,328 kilograms (9,542 lb) |
| Dry mass | 2,760 kilograms (6,080 lb) |
| Power | watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | July 17, 2003, 23:45 (2003-07-17UTC23:45Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 521 AV-003 |
| Launch site | Cape CanaveralSLC-41 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 86.4° West |
| Inclination | 0 degrees |
| Period | 1,437.0 minutes |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 36Ku band |
| Coverage area | Contiguous United States |
Echostar 12 (E*12), also known asCablevision-1 andRainbow-1, is a commercialcommunications satellite ingeosynchronous Earth orbit. It was launched on 17 July 2003, as Rainbow-1, on the third flight of theAtlas V rocket fromCape Canaveral,Florida. Its original purpose was to transmitdigital television streams for the ill-fatedVoom high definitiondirect broadcast satellite network.
Part of theA2100 series of commercial satellites, Rainbow-1 was constructed by theLockheed Martin corporation at an approximate cost of $100 million USD,[1] although this amount has not been verified. It issolar powered, has an approximatemass of 2,760 kilograms (6,080 lb) (launch vehicle mass 4,328 kilograms [9,542 lb]), and is capable of transmitting on theC- andKu bands.
EchoStar (Dish Network spin off) now owns the satellite. The satellite was renamed Echostar 12 (or E*12) in March 2006.
EchoStar 12 is still in orbit and located at 61.5 degrees West longitude, over the Earth's equator.[2][3] It is currently being used for Dish NetworkHDTV television signals, transmitted usingDVB, on the Ku band transponders. The satellite has lost some capability due to degradation of its solar power system.[4]
0°00′N61°30′W / 0°N 61.5°W /0; -61.5
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