AMC-5

For the ship, see USS Kestrel (AMc-5).

The AMC-5, originally called GE-5, was a geosynchronous direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) located at 79° West longitude, operated by SES Americom in the Ku-band. It was used by a variety of television customers, including being home to the CBS Newspath service.^[1]

AMC-5

Names	GE-5 Nahuel-1B
Mission type	Communications
Operator	GE Americom (1998–2001) SES Americom (2001–2009) SES World Skies (2009–2011) SES (2011-2014)
COSPAR ID	1998-063B
SATCAT no.	25516
Mission duration	12 years (planned) 15 years, 6 months (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	GE-5
Bus	Spacebus 2000
Manufacturer	Dornier (prime contractor) Aérospatiale (bus)
Launch mass	1,698 kg (3,743 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	28 October 1998, 22:15:00 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 44L (V113)
Launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	17 May 2014
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	79° West
Transponders
Band	16 Ku-band
Coverage area	United States, Canada, Mexico
SES constellation ← AMC-4 AMC-6 →

The satellite was retired and moved to a graveyard orbit on 17 May 2014 after 15 years of service.^[2]

Payload and specifications

AMC-5 Horizontal Transponders On Scope

Spacecraft design: Aérospatiale Spacebus 2000
Orbital location: 79° West
Launch Date: 28 October 1998
Vehicle: Ariane 44L
Design life: 15 years
Band: Ku-band
Ku-band payload: 16 x 54 MHz
Transponder type: TWTA, 55 watts
Transponder redundancy: 11 for 8
Receiver redundancy: 4 for 2
Coverage: United States, Canada, Mexico^[3]