MUMBAI: The AMC-10 telecommunications satellite, designed and built by Lockheed Martin for Ses Americom was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral aboard a Lockheed Martin-built Atlas IIAS rocket. The rocket was provided by International Launch Services (ILS).
SES Americom claims to be the largest satellite service provider in the US. Its key customers include Viacom, Time Warner, Discovery, Fox, HBO, NBC, NHK and US public broadcaster PBS.
AMC-10 features 24, 36 MHz C-band transponders that will be used to provide cable television services to the 50 United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. AMC-10 will take the place of the retiring Lockheed Martin-built Satcom C-4 at orbital location 135 degrees West Longitude. It will enhance SES Americom's world-wide fleet of satellites, which provide global distribution of cable, broadcast television and radio, telecommunications services,
business television and broadband data.
Based on the A2100 satellite series manufactured by Lockheed Martin AMC-10 has a predicted service life of 15 years and represents the 23rd straight successful launch of an A2100 spacecraft for customers worldwide.
SES Americom's president Dean Olmstead was quoted in a company release saying, "AMC-10's C-band payload is fully committed to the top tier cable programmers who are depending on us to distribute dozens of channels and new high definition services to over 80 million American TV households. Since 1996 Americom has added nine A2100 satellites to our fleet, and we look forward to adding the tenth when we launch AMC-11 in May."
Lockheed Martin's A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft series is designed to meet a wide variety of telecommunications needs ranging from Ka-band/broadband services, fixed satellite services in a C-band and Ku-band payload configuration, high-power direct broadcast services using the Ku-band frequency spectrum, and S-band payloads. The A2100's modular design features a reduction in parts. This simplifies construction, increases on-orbit reliability and also reduces weight and cost.
Established in 1973 with its first satellite circuit for the US Armed Forces SES Americom operates a fleet of 16 spacecraft in orbital positions providing service throughout the Americas, across Europe, over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and throughout Asia. It is a member of the SES Global family.
