The Amazonas 5 is a Spanish commercial communications satellite developed by SSL and operated by Hispasat. Launched on September 11, 2017 (2017-09-11), it has an expected service life of 15 years. Its orbit allows it to cover all of South America,[3] allowing for broadband and broadcast services. It replaces the Amazonas 4A and 4B satellites, the former of which experienced a performance loss and the latter which was cancelled.[4]
Design
Satellite bus
The satellite is based on the SSL 1300, a satellite bus produced by SSL. It has a launch mass of 5,900 kg (13,000 lb) and has two deployable solar panels.[3][4]
Propulsion
The satellite uses a chemical propulsion system for orbit raising with the main engine providing a force between 450 and 490 N and several altitude control thrusters. Although the SSL 1300 spacecraft bus can be equipped with an electric propulsion system, it is unknown if Amazonas 5 comes with it.[5]
Communications
The satellite's communication system is its main payload. It consists of 24 Ku band transponders for its South America beam and 34 Ka band spot beams for its Brazil beam.[3] It can provide broadband and television services and can deploy 3G, LTE, and 5G networks.[4]
Launch
Amazonas 5 launched from Baikonur CosmodromeSite 200, Kazakhstan, on September 11, 2017 (2017-09-11), on board a Proton-M Breeze M rocket. The launch was initially slated to happen on 9 September instead but the Proton rocket's arrival from Moscow was delayed.[1]
It was launched to a geostationary orbit with a periapsis of 35,780.1 km (22,232.7 mi), an apoapsis of 35,808.7 km (22,250.5 mi), and orbital inclination of 0.0°. It is placed at a longitude of 61° W in order to serve South America. It would provide internet connectivity to around 500,000 people in the region, and opens 500 new television channels.[2]
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
