Anik-F3 Going to 118.7

[mdonnelly]

And AMC-16 is going back to 85º W

MOSCOW (AFP) - Final checks have begun on the Canadian Anik F3 telecommunication satellite due to be launched into space by a Russian rocket next month, the rocket's makers said on Monday.
ADVERTISEMENT

The satellite, which weighs 4,600 kilograms (10,140 pounds), will supply telephone and Internet services and transmit television and radio signals across Canada and the United States.

It arrived at the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan on Saturday where it will undergo technical checks by experts from EADS Astrium, a subsidiary of European aerospace group EADS, which built it.

The Proton M rocket, made by the Khrunichev Space and Production Centre, has been there since the beginning of March and is going through similar tests, the Russian group said.

EADS built the satellite, which has a 15-year lifespan, for Telesat Canada, a pioneer in the field.

Following a planned launch on April 10, the satellite will be placed on a geostationary orbit at 118.7 degrees west.

See here.

...# SES Americom has presented a definite plan for re-initiation of Ka-band service at the 85º W.L. orbital location, and we acknowledge the unforeseen difficulties and delay surrounding the Anik F3 launch. On balance, we find that the continuity of Ku-band service to U.S. customers from the 118.75º W.L. orbital location and the launch difficulties warrant further extending the waiver of rule Section 25.161(c).
# SES Americom requested extension of the waiver through September 30, 2007. ILS has provided Telesat Canada with a new launch window between February 27, 2007 and April 27, 2007. Once Anik F3 is launched, SES Americom states that Telesat Canada will require approximately 35 days to test the satellite before the hand-off of traffic from AMC-16 to Anik F3, a task that will take an additional five days.28 Once the hand-off is complete, SES Americom states that it will take 35-45 days for AMC-16 to drift back to the 85º W.L. orbital location, where it can then establish Ka-band service under its authorization. Adding the time to undertake these additional steps, SES Americom anticipates that the AMC-16 space station will be back at the 85º W.L. orbital location between June and August, depending on whether Anik F3 is launched at the beginning or end of its launch window. SES Americom requests extension of the waiver through the end of September in order to build a modest cushion into its return schedule.
# Although we grant the extension request, we limit the extension to the minimum time necessary to accomplish the return of AMC-16 to its authorized location and the initiation of Ka-band service at that location. We therefore extend the waiver of Section 25.161(c) to a date 80 days following the launch of Anik F3, or July 24, 2007, whichever date is earlier. ...

See here.

 

[Inside]

Will this improve the signal from 118.7?

 

[rocatman]

As a follow on to this, SES Americom has asked the FCC to allow them to test the Ka band of AMC-16 at both 113 W and 97 W for 20 days at each location on its way back to 85 W. This was requested by Dish and Dish holds the Ka band licenses at both of these locations. Here's the FCC website address for this request:

http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/servlet/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-125381