Anik (satellite)

The Anik satellites are geostationary communications satellites launched by Telesat Canada for television in Canada. In Inuit "Anik" means "little brother".cite web|url=http://www.livingdictionary.com/search/viewResults.jsp?language=en&searchString=Anik&languageSet=all |title=anik|work=Asuilaak Living Dictionary|accessdate=2007-02-16]

The Satellites

Anik A

The Anik A satellites were the world's first national domestic satellites. They gave the CBC the ability to reach the Canadian North for the first time. Each of the satellites was equipped with 12 C-band transponders, and thus had the capacity for 12 colour television channels.

There is a detailed description of the Anik A satellites on the Boeing Satellite Systems website [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/anik_a/anik_a.html here] .

Anik B

The Anik B satellite had twelve C-band transponders like the Anik As, with an additional six Ku band transponders.

It was launched on December 15, 1978 and was the successor to the Anik A series and Hermes (aka Communications Technology Satellite, or CTS) experimental satellite.

Most of the transponders were devoted to CBC Television -- East and West feed, CBC Parliamentary Television Network, CITV-TV Edmonton, CHCH Hamilton, and TVOntario.

CNCP Telecommunications [cite news | last = Clifford| first = Edward | title = Rockets may lift Telesat's Aniks | page = B16 | publisher = Globe and Mail | date = May 31, 1980 ] also used Anik B as a relay for its services. The Globe and Mail used Anik B to transmit copy to printing plants across Canada. [cite news | last = Immen | first = Wallace | title = Platform to give Anik a boost after ride on space shuttle | page = E8 | publisher = Globe and Mail | date = September 10, 1982]

Anik C

The Anik C satellite series was three times more powerful than the Anik A series. They each had sixteen Ku band transponders.

There is a detailed description of the Anik C satellites on the Boeing Satellite Systems website [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/anik_c/anik_c.html here] .

Anik C-3 was used to distribute Canada's first pay television networks -- First Choice, Superchannel, C-Channel, AIM Pay-TV since February 1983.

Anik C-3 transponder lineup (1983):
* 02 - Atlantic Satellite Network
* 03 - Assiniboia Downs Racing Network
* 06 - Super Écran Tv Payante
* 10 - Radio-Quebec
* 14 - La Sette 2
* 15 - Knowledge
* 16 - [http://www.sette.com/en/enbref/historique.shtml La Sette] 1
* 17 - Access Alberta
* 18 - TFO
* 19 - Premier Choix/TVEC Tv Payante
* 20 - TVOntario
* 23 - Superchannel
* 24 - TVOntario-Legislature
* 25 - CHSC Canadian Home Shopping Club (West feed)
* 27 - Knowledge Network
* 30 - First Choice
* 32 - CHSC Canadian Home Shopping Club (East feed)

Anik D

Anik D1 & D2 series C-Band satellites were launched in 1982 and 1984. They were based on the Hughes 376 design. Anik D1 carried the CANCOM package - a group of television signals for use by cable companies.

Anik E

Anik E1 & E2 were launched in the early 1990s to replace Anik D1 & D2. Unlike the cylinder-shaped satellites of the D-series, these were regular type satellites, but newer generation.

On Thursday, January 20, 1994 Anik E1 and E2 suffered problems due to solar activity. E1 failed first at 12:50 (EST), knocking out satellite-delivered television signals in Canada. After a few hours, Telesat managed to restore normal functions on E1 at 20:15 EST. At 21:00 EST, E2 failed, as the gyroscope that helps keep the satellite positioned correctly had caused the signals not to point towards Earth. The exact problem lay with the circuitry having to do with the stabilizing momentum wheel. [cite journal
last =
first =
year = 1994
month = March
title = Anik E ... Phone Home
journal = Broadcaster
volume =
issue =
pages = 12 ] E2 was not restored to service for five months; users had to relocate services to E1 and reposition satellite dishes; for some users, such as Northwestel in northern Canada, it meant days of flying technicians from one community to another to reposition the dishes.

Telesat ultimately restored E2 by constructing special earth stations at each end of the country to monitor the satellite's position, and using its control jets to finely position the satellite, but this shortened the satellite's lifetime as the fuel was intended for much less frequent adjustments along its geostationary orbit.

Anik F1

Anik F1 is a Canadian geosynchronous communications satellite that was launched on November 21 2000 by an Ariane 44 rocket from the European Space Agency Guiana Space Centre at Kourou. At the moment of its launch it was the most powerful communications satellite ever built. It has an advanced xenon Ion thruster propulsion system and its communication "footprint" covers Central America as well as North America.

It was launched by Telesat, a Canadian communications company. The primary customers are the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Star Choice, CHUM Limited and Canadian Satellite Communications Inc.Telesat is a subsidiary of BCE: Bell Canada Enterprise Inc.

* Manufacturer: Telesat Canada
* Satellite Type: Boeing Satellite Systems (formerly Hughes aircraft) bus model 702
* Mass: 4710 kg (10,384 lb) at launch and 3015 kg (6647 lb) in orbit
* Dimensions: 40.4 m (132.5 feet) long and 9.0 m (29.5 feet) wide with the solar panels and antennas deployed.
* DC power: 17.5 kW
* Expected lifetime: 15 years
* Transponders: 84 C band and K_u band
* Launch vehicle: Ariane 4

The solar panels of Anik F1 degraded more rapidly than expected, and a replacement Anik F1R was launched in 2005, with Anik F1 switching to serving only South America [http://www.telesat.ca/investorRelations/pdf/annualReport/2003/presidentreport-e.pdf] . Anik F1R also carries a GPS/WAAS payload.

Anik F2

At 5,900 kilograms, it is more than ten times the size of Anik A1 and is one of the largest, most powerful communications satellites ever built. Anik F2 is a Boeing 702-series satellite, designed to support and enhance current North American voice, data, and broadcast services with its C- and Ku-band technologies. It is the fifteenth satellite to be launched by Telesat.

With its use of Ka-band technology, low-cost two-way satellite delivery will be available for wireless broadband Internet connections, telemedicine, teleteaching, teleworking and e-commerce in the most remote regions of Canada.

Anik F3

According to SatNews Publishers, Anik F3 is a 4,634-kilogram broadcasting and telecommunications satellite which will provide direct-to-home television in the United States, broadband Internet and telecommunications for Bell Canada, and broadcast TV in northern and other remote areas of Canada. [cite web | url = http://www.satnews.com/stories2007/4281/ | title = Anik F3 Launch Successful | publisher = SatNews Daily] It was built by EADS Astrium and launched on a Proton M rocket. It was successfully placed into orbit by International Launch Services, who also launched Anik F1R, Nimiq 1 and Nimiq 2.

References

External links

* [http://www.telesat.ca/satellites/index.htm Telesat's list of satellites]
* [http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/commercial.asp The list from the CSA's website]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-75-92/science_technology/satellites/ CBC Digital Archives - Launching the Digital Age: Canadian Satellites]
* [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/376/anik_d/anik_d.html Anik D series]
* [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/anik_f1/anik_f1.html Anik F1]
* [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/anik_f2/anik_f2.html Anik F2]
* [http://www.pwnhc.ca/timeline/index_winIFix.asp?forward=http%3A//www.pwnhc.ca/timeline/1950/1972_Anik.html#Scene_1 1972 Anik A1]
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