GE 1 [Lockheed Martin]
Official name AMC-3 (GE-3)
Alternative name AMC 3 (GE 3)
Cospar ID 1997-050A
Norad ID 24936
Launch date 1997-09-04
Launch site AFETR
Launch vehicle Atlas-2AS
Country/Organization USA
Type application Communication
Operator GE Americom → SES Americom
RCS size LARGE
Decay date ON ORBIT
Period (min) 1436.1
Inclination (deg) 6.25
Perigee (km) 35775
Apogee (km) 35798
Eccentricity 0.000321350229835273
Mean motion (revs. per day) 1.00271568832254
Semi-Major axis (km) 42164.635
Raan (deg) 72.5637
Arg of perigee (deg) 331.4417
Shape Box + 2 Pan
Mass (kg) 1585.73
Height (m) 2.6
Width (m) 1.8
Depth (m) 1.8
Span (m^2) 22
Lifetime 15 years
Contractors Lockheed Martin
Equipment 24 C-band transponders, 24 Ku-band transponders
Propulsion LEROS-1c
Configuration A2100A
Power 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

GE-1 is owned by GE Americom and is a continuation of the old RCA/GE Satcom series. GE-1 has 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders, and replaced Satcom K1. GE-1 was placed in a supersynchronous transfer orbit of 191 × 56495 km × 25.0 deg.

GE 2 was launched on 30 Jan 1997. This is a C- and Ku-band spacecraft operated by GE Americom. It will replace Satcom K1 at 85° West. It has 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders.

GE 3 carries also 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders to provide voice and video communications to North America after parking at 127° W longitude.

GE 1, 2 and 3 have been renamed AMC 1, 2 and 3, when GE Americom was sold to SES.

The A2100 satellites have a liquid apogee engine and electric arcjet thrusters.

The aging AMC 3, being in inclined orbit, was acquired by Global Eagle in january 2017 and rebranded Eagle 1.

Satellite COSPAR Date LS Launch Vehicle Remarks
AMC-1 (GE-1) 1996-054A 1996-09-08 AFETR Atlas-2A
AMC-2 (GE-2) 1997-002A 1997-01-30 FRGUI Ariane-44L H10-3 with Nahuel 1A
AMC-3 (GE-3) 1997-050A 1997-09-04 AFETR Atlas-2AS