PAS-6

PAS-6 was a communications satellite owned by PanAmSat and serving the South America market.

PAS-6

Names	PANAMSAT 6 Panamsat 6
Mission type	Communications
Operator	PanAmSat (1997-2004)
COSPAR ID	1997-040A
SATCAT no.	24891
Mission duration	15 years (planned) 7 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft type	SSL 1300
Bus	LS-1300
Manufacturer	Space Systems/Loral
Launch mass	3,420 kg (7,540 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date	8 August 1997, 06:46:00 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 44P H10-3 (V98)
Launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Entered service	October 1997
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	April 2004
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[1]
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	45° West
Transponders
Band	36 Ku-band
Coverage area	South America, Brazil
PanAmSat constellation ← PAS-3R PAS-5 →

Satellite description

PAS-6 was constructed by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of 3,420 kg (7,540 lb).^[2] Designed for an operational life of 15 years, the spacecraft was equipped with 36 Ku-band transponders.^[3]

Launch

Arianespace launched PAS-6, using an Ariane 4 launch vehicle, flight number V98, in the Ariane 44P H10-3 configuration. The launch took place from ELA-2 at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, at Kourou in French Guiana, on 8 August 1997, at 06:46:00 UTC.^[3]

Decommissioning

On 17 March 2004, PAS-6 suffered an anomaly resulting in a loss of power. Then PanAmSat moved the satellite to a storage orbit while the PanAmSat and SS/L evaluated the problem. On 1 April 2004, this satellite experienced another anomaly and more significant loss of power. PAS-6 was put in graveyard orbit.^[3]