AMC-4
AMC-4 (formerly GE-4) is a commercial broadcast communications satellite owned by SES World Skies, part of SES S.A. (and formerly GE Americom, then SES Americom). Launched in 1999, from Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 by Ariane 44LP H10-3. It provides coverage to North America, Latin America, Caribbean. Located in a geostationary orbit, AMC-4 provides service to commercial and government customers, with programming distribution, satellite news gathering and broadcast internet capabilities.
| Names | GE-4 (1999-2001) AMC-4 (2001-present) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | GE Americom (1999-2001) SES Americom (2001-2009) SES World Skies (2009-2011) SES S.A. (2011-present) |
| COSPAR ID | 1999-060A |
| SATCAT no. | 25954 |
| Website | SES-AMERICOM AMC-4 |
| Mission duration | 15 years (planned) 24 years, 2 months, 1 day (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | GE-4 |
| Spacecraft type | Lockheed Martin A2100 |
| Bus | LM A2100AX |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch mass | 3,895 kg (8,587 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 13 November 1999, 22:54 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 44LP H10-3 (V123) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | 2000 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 134.9° West |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 52 transponders: 24 C-band 28 Ku-band |
| Frequency | 36 MHz 72 MHz (4 Ku-band) |
| Coverage area | North America, Latin America, Caribbean |
AMC-4 was launched on 13 November 1999 at 22:54 UTC as GE-4, GE Americom's fourth A2100 hybrid C-band and Ku-band satellite. The C-band payload was home to national television networks broadcasting to thousands of cable television headends. AMC-4's Ku-band transponders served the direct-to-home (DTH), VSAT, business television and broadband Internet market segments. These Ku-band transponders are designed to be switchable between North and South American coverages. It was renamed AMC-4 after GE Americom was bought by SES and re-branded SES Americom. In 2009, SES Americom merged with SES New Skies to form SES World Skies. AMC-4 has been replaced by SES-1 in 2010. AMC-4 has been moved to 134.9° West, and currently has no FTA signals.