Avi Blizovsky
Broadcasting "Amos 2", tonight: Photo: Channel 1
Direct link to this page: https://www.hayadan.org.il/amos2update0730.html
Update 09:00 - The control center in Yehud received command of Amos 2
Yossi Elitov and Liat Regev interviewed Yitzhak Nissen, manager of the Space Missile Evaluation Division at the Mabat Bihud plant, this morning on the program "An Other Matter".
"The satellite came under our control. It is at a high altitude of 36 thousand kilometers, and we here at the ground station visit the entire process of opening the solar panels, the electronic systems, the antennas and begin to activate the satellite and drive it to its service area.
The supervision in Kazakhstan was in the launch section and putting the satellite into orbit. There were four stages during the launch and telemetry during the launch was only for them. Right now the station is actually monitoring the satellite, activating all the systems and making sure all the systems are functioning correctly. We went through several stages: we opened the antennas, we opened solar panels, we bought the sun."
A critical part of the process is removing the antennas and pointing them towards the sun in order for us to start collecting energy from the sun. If we did not manage to pass this stage, the satellite would fade and would not have the energy required for its communication payload.
In response to the interviewers' question what it means to the small citizen in Israel, Nisanov answered:
This stabilizes the aerospace industry in the National Space League. We already have several satellites, we have Amos 1 and observation satellites. Putting Amos 2 into orbit proves that we already have a tradition in space and that we are part of the exclusive club of those several countries that have the same capabilities - both in launching and building satellites. It has a very high economic significance, with everything that goes with it.
Where is the satellite?
(as of 08:20) "The satellite is above Australia at an altitude of 36 thousand kilometers. Tomorrow morning we will have to start the APM engine on the satellite for the first time. The purpose of this engine is to give the satellite an additional push towards its circular orbit. At the moment its route is not symmetrical - on one side it is 4,000 kilometers and on the other side 36 thousand kilometers. We will have to round the route."
"Kazakhstan's part is over, the Starsem company managed to inject the satellite into space to the agreed point and currently the activity is only from the satellite. The launcher is already gone and sunk. The control of the satellite is done from our ground station here. We have antennas.”
We will offer through a space company a variety of additional services that are carried out by satellite communication. The loaded satellite has been in space for 7-8 years and all its sensors are full. Amos 2 came to increase the capacity of the satellite broadcasts. We could give Yes Company dozens more channels, and also the Broadcasting Authority - since we were at full capacity, we had to transfer some of the channels to nearby satellites. Now we can return them to Amos 2. In addition we can receive and transmit from the east coast of the USA. The coverage of the beam in the Middle East and Central Europe will be much more extensive than Amos 1 - this means that we will be able to provide service to many stations and users, not necessarily television.
Now there are five more critical days. Tomorrow morning there will be another critical step - starting the engine. Until then I do not foresee any dramatic event. In five to seven days, the ground station at the Air Industry, in Bemet-Yehud will put it in 4 West, the same direction as Amos 1. This is a slow and careful process, since we need to place Amos 2 only 4 kilometers away from Amos 1 and then both will be in the same direction Because it will be possible to use the same antennas in both Amos 1 and Amos 2.
Zion Shigav, head of the Amos 2 project in Baikonur. The entire team here is packing and galloping for the planes to return to Israel. We had a stormy night without sleep, minus 9 degrees, cold outside. There were 6-7 critical stages in the launcher.
The most critical moment for me - there were four critical moments when we were in the field itself in the cold of minus nine, when the stages of the launcher itself separated. The most critical moment for me was precisely when we were sitting in the hotel in the control room and we heard from Yehud that the antenna was successfully deployed and the panels were successfully deployed. These are very critical processes and there are very delicate mechanisms, and this guarantees the communication and the electricity supply to the satellite for its entire life.
There was a critical moment and there was an outburst of tremendous emotions, hugs and tears. There is a team of nine people who worked for nine weeks, integration people who are responsible for the integration of all the parts and connecting the satellite to the missiles. In addition, there are a number of other experts and a plant manager from Yossi Weiss's daughter is also here.
Amos 2 sent a first signal around six in the morning
07: 00 Update
The "Amos 2" satellite, which was successfully launched at midnight, sent its first signal about an hour ago. This is what the "Voice of Israel" reported this morning. The Voice of Israel messenger, Yair Weinrev, reported in the morning journal, a few minutes before seven o'clock, that around eight o'clock the satellite should reach its maximum height for the first time - 36 thousand kilometers, and that the control room in Baikonur reports that so far everything is working as planned.
The first signal was received this morning from the "Amos 2" satellite
By Amnon Barzilai and the "Haaretz" service - Walla news!
The Israeli communication satellite was successfully launched last night from Kazakhstan, aboard the Russian "Soyuz" launcher, after a delay of almost a year due to malfunctions
The satellite at the top of the launcher on the launch pad, before its launch
Haaretz reports: "The first signal was received this morning (Sunday) at approximately 6:00 a.m., from the Israeli communication satellite "Amos 2", which was launched into space last night at 23:30 p.m. The satellite took off on the back of the Russian "Soyuz" satellite launcher, from the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. In the coming week it will make its way until it reaches its final height - 36 thousand km. Amos 2 is the second generation of communication satellites that are produced in the "Mabat" systems of the Aerospace Industry. Its weight is about 1.4 tons.
The Israeli communication satellite "Amos 2" began to orbit the earth
By Amnon Barzilai, Haaretz (Walla News!)
The Israeli communication satellite "Amos 2" was successfully launched at 11:XNUMX last night. The satellite took off on the back of the Russian Soyuz satellite launcher from the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
The satellite is a second generation of Israeli communication satellites, produced in the "Mabat" missile and systems division of the Aerospace Industry. The weight of the satellite is about 1.4 tons, and it will hover, like all communication satellites, at an altitude of 36 thousand km. The journey of the "Soyuz" satellite launcher, which carries the Israeli satellite to its position in space, will last two days. "Amos 2" provides satellite communication services, and 70% of its capacity has been sold to cable companies in Israel and Europe.
"Amos 2" is able to transmit satellite transmissions to three regions: the Middle East, including the Gulf states and Iraq, Europe and the East Coast of the USA. Among the customers who signed a contract to receive service from the satellite are the Israeli government, the "Yes" company, the Israeli broadcasting authorities and the "Gilat Satellites" company. Foreign TV stations will also use the satellite, such as RTL from Germany and HBO - the largest pay TV company in the USA.
Following the end of the war in Iraq, the "H.L.L" company, which owns the satellite, is considering contacting the US government, the UN and American commercial companies and offering them the use of "Amos 2" services for transmissions to this area.
With the success of the launch, two Israeli communication satellites from the "Amos" series will operate in space. The "Amos 1" satellite was launched in 1996, and according to the forecast will end its operations in 2008. "Amos 2" broadcasts rely on the infrastructure and reception means built for "Amos 1".
About 2 million dollars were invested in the development of "Amos 130" and its production, some of it by raising capital through the issuance of bonds. According to the CEO of "H.L.L", David Polak, the cost of the satellite consists of the production cost - about 70 million dollars, the launch cost - about 35 million dollars, and the insurance fees - about 25 million dollars.
The Israeli defense establishment has not yet developed a launcher designed for large satellites. The existing launcher, "Comet", launches only small satellites, weighing 400-300 kg. The "Amos 2" satellite was originally planned to be launched, like "Amos 1", using the giant French satellite launcher "Ariane 5".
The original date for the launch was set for the first quarter of 2003. Due to delays, caused according to the French company due to problems in completing the manufacturing work of the satellite, the place intended for the Israeli satellite on the French launcher was given to another party. The aviation industry, the manufacturer of "Amos 2" which is a partner in the HLL company, which owns the satellite, threatened a lawsuit against the "Arian" company for breach of contract. In the compromise reached between the companies, it was agreed that "Amos 2" would be launched on top of the "Soyuz" satellite launcher.
The launcher, which will carry the Israeli satellite to its position in space, is manufactured by the Russian company "STARSEM", which is jointly owned by the companies "Arian", EADS, the Russian Space and Aviation Agency and the Samara Space Center.
According to Polak, after the launch of "Amos 2" the "H.L.L" company will begin raising the necessary capital to build "Amos 3", which will be launched in 2007. The satellite "Amos 3", which will replace "Amos 1", will be larger than its predecessors, will weigh about 2 tons and will cost about 160 million dollars.
The satellite will provide satellite communication services, and 70% of its capacity has been sold to cable companies in Israel and Europe. It is capable of transmitting satellite transmissions to the Gulf countries as well, and following the war in Iraq, the "H.L.L." company, which owns the satellite, is considering contacting the American government, the United Nations, and companies in the United States and offering them to use the services of Amos 2.
The launch of the satellite was delayed for about a year due to faults in its production, and faults discovered in the French satellite launcher "Ariane 5", which was initially intended to launch Amos 2. In the next four years, two Israeli communication satellites will function from space. "Amos 1" is expected to end its life in 2008, and the H.L.L.
Plans to start raising funds to finance the development and production of "Amos 3", which will be two or three times larger than the first model. "
Ami Ettinger, Maariv:
"Successfully launched the Israeli communication satellite "Amos 2". The satellite left the launch station in Baikonur, Kazakhstan and is making its way into space. The personnel of the launch station, the Russian-French Ariane, announced that the launch was successful and that everything is working properly."
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Communications, Ehud Olmert, said this evening shortly after the launch of the satellite: "It's exciting, I belong to a generation that if you see an operation like this with the Israeli flag over it, it does something to him. Israel is the pioneer and exclusive in this field, and it is an investment of millions of dollars."
"Olmert added: "This puts the State of Israel in terms of capacity at the limit with only six other countries. The State of Israel today serves as a meeting point for the transfer of satellite transmissions between countries thanks to the Amos satellite.
"Amos 2" should be placed at a fixed point in space, at a distance of 36 thousand km from the surface of the earth, not far from the "Amos 1" satellite. He is expected to reach this point in about 16 days. Any antenna that receives the broadcasts from "Amos 1" today, will be able to receive the "Amos 2" broadcasts, without any need to reorient the dish. The uniqueness of "Amos 2" is its high power which allows to receive the broadcasts with a small antenna and in excellent quality.
The satellite should operate for about 12 years. During its years of operation, Amos 2 will provide broadcasting and communication services such as: distribution of television and radio broadcasts directly to viewers' homes, distribution of television and radio broadcasts to cable centers, distribution of Internet services, and data transmission to communication networks.
Customers in Israel, the Middle East, Europe and the USA
The "Amos 2" satellite is actually based on the technology of "Amos 1" which has been around for 7 years, plus improvements and technological developments. The introduced changes are intended to meet additional mission requirements, mainly in the field of frequencies. The "Amos 2" satellite will serve customers in three service areas: Israel and the Middle East, Europe, and the East Coast of the USA.
The launch of "Amos 2" was initially planned for October 2002, after it became clear that "Amos 1" had an oversubscription of applicants to use its services. The HLL company raised an amount of NIS 660 million for its construction and launch in 2002.
Since then the launch has been postponed several times. Initially due to delays in the construction of the satellite at the Mebat plant of the Aerospace Industry and some of its subcontractors. After that, difficulties were discovered in launching it from the Kourou site in French Guinea in cooperation with the French space company Ariane. Finally, it was decided to move the launch to the current site.
Amos 2 in the sky
After three years and an investment of 150 million dollars, the Israeli satellite "Amos 2" was successfully launched yesterday from the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan * within 0 1 days it should reach its final station, and in a month and a half it will already receive and broadcast TV, radio and Internet * the little brother "Amos 3" already in planning
Alon Goldstein is a messenger from Ariv to the space center in Baikonur
The Israeli communication satellite, "Amos 2", was launched yesterday at 23:30 (Israel time), and joined its three brothers, the Israeli satellites already sailing in space - "Amos 1", "Iros" and "Ofek 5". Amos 2 was launched from the Baikonur launch site in Kazakhstan, in a cold of 10 degrees below zero. From the closest observation point, about a kilometer from the launch site, the impressive trail of fire and smoke left behind by the huge missile was clearly visible, until it disappeared in the layer of fog that had already landed on the frozen prairie yesterday morning. Amos 2 was launched using a Russian Soyuz rocket at the end of which was mounted an afrigate - a launch facility that puts the satellite into orbit, on the way to its permanent station.
* Altitude: 36,000 km
The launch process includes four stages that last about six and a half hours, and it should end today at seven in the morning. During the next ten days, the satellite will stabilize at its final station at an altitude of 36 thousand km, exactly above the equator. If everything goes as planned, in about a month and a half Amos 2 will start receiving and broadcasting TV, radio and Internet channels. The length of the launch rocket is about 42 meters, and its weight, including the satellite, reached 308 tons at launch, more than two-thirds of which was fuel. The weight of the satellite itself is about 1,300 kg, of which about 750 kg is fuel, which will be used to run the engines for its docking at the terminal station and for position corrections over the years.
Yesterday's launch was the 1,684th launch of the Soyuz rocket, which has been used for decades to launch people and satellites - including the first satellite, Sputnik, and a few years later Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. It was also one of the causes of insomnia for good Americans, since the Soviets also used it to carry nuclear arrowheads.
* Can also broadcast to Iraq
The final station of Amos 2 is at point 4 west - four degrees west of the Greenwich line, where its older brother - Amos 1 is located. The two satellites are supposed to be at a distance of a little more than 40 km from each other, zero distance in spatial terms. Amos 1, which was launched in 1996, is supposed to end its life in about six years and its younger brother is expected to survive about 12 years in space. At the Space Communications company that initiated and financed the launch of the satellite and at the aerospace industry that developed and built Amos 2, they are already thinking out loud about the development and launch of the next satellite, Amos 3, which will join its two brothers in the future, exactly at the same point in space. Shigar Amos 2 is a complex project (at a price of 150 million dollars), which lasted about three years and crossed continents. The satellite is the fruit of pure Israeli development, no small reason for national pride, since the number of countries capable of producing satellites is extremely limited.
Amos 2 should cover a larger area than its older brother. The satellite's reception transmission beams extend over Europe, the eastern coast of the United States and the Middle East. Amos 2 can also broadcast to the Iraqi region, and Haal Communication hopes that the day will not be far away when Baghdad will receive broadcasts directly from the Israeli satellite.
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~320398271~~~151&SiteName=hayadan
