# AMOS-6

> Israeli commercial communications satellite destroyed in a launch vehicle explosion

**Wikidata**: [Q4747815](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4747815)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMOS-6_(satellite))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/amos-6

## Summary
AMOS-6 was an Israeli commercial communications satellite destroyed during a launch vehicle explosion in 2016. It was part of the AMOS satellite series and designed for telecommunications, but the Falcon 9 rocket carrying it failed shortly after liftoff, resulting in the satellite's loss.

## Key Facts
- **Class**: Communications satellite
- **Operator**: Spacecom
- **Mass**: 5,250 kg (launch weight)
- **Launch Date**: September 1, 2016 (expected)
- **Launch Vehicle**: Falcon 9 Full Thrust (B1028)
- **Launch Site**: Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40
- **Orbit**: Geostationary orbit (expected)
- **Manufacturer**: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (general contractor)
- **State of Use**: Destroyed before launch
- **Cause of Destruction**: Explosion during launch

## FAQs
### Q: What was AMOS-6?
A: AMOS-6 was an Israeli commercial communications satellite designed for telecommunications. It was part of the AMOS series and operated by Spacecom. However, it was destroyed during a launch vehicle explosion in 2016.

### Q: Why was AMOS-6 destroyed?
A: AMOS-6 was destroyed when the Falcon 9 rocket carrying it exploded shortly after liftoff on September 1, 2016. The explosion occurred at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40.

### Q: Who operated AMOS-6?
A: AMOS-6 was operated by Spacecom, an Israeli satellite operator. The satellite was designed to provide telecommunications services but was lost during its launch.

### Q: What was the mass of AMOS-6?
A: AMOS-6 had a launch mass of 5,250 kilograms. It was part of the AMOS series of communications satellites.

### Q: What was the expected orbit for AMOS-6?
A: AMOS-6 was expected to be placed in a geostationary orbit. However, the satellite was destroyed before reaching its intended orbit.

## Why It Matters
AMOS-6 was part of Israel's efforts to expand its satellite communications capabilities. The AMOS series, developed by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, aimed to provide high-quality telecommunications services to the Middle East and Africa. The loss of AMOS-6 was a significant setback for Spacecom and Israel's space industry, highlighting the risks and challenges of satellite launches. The incident also drew attention to the reliability of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which had previously achieved successful launches but faced its first major failure with AMOS-6.

## Notable For
- **First major failure of SpaceX's Falcon 9**: The explosion of the Falcon 9 rocket carrying AMOS-6 marked the first significant failure of SpaceX's launch vehicle, which had previously achieved multiple successful missions.
- **Loss of a commercial communications satellite**: AMOS-6 was a critical asset for Spacecom's telecommunications network, and its destruction disrupted planned services for customers in the Middle East and Africa.
- **Highlighted launch vehicle reliability concerns**: The incident raised questions about the reliability of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, which had been a key player in the commercial space industry.

## Body
### Overview
AMOS-6 was the sixth satellite in the AMOS series, a constellation of Israeli commercial communications satellites designed to provide telecommunications services. The satellite was built by Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd and operated by Spacecom. It was equipped with advanced communications payloads and propulsion systems to ensure reliable service.

### Launch and Destruction
AMOS-6 was scheduled to launch on September 1, 2016, aboard a Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. However, the launch ended in disaster when the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff. The explosion destroyed the satellite and the rocket, marking the first major failure of SpaceX's Falcon 9 launch vehicle.

### Technical Specifications
- **Mass**: 5,250 kg (launch weight)
- **Propulsion**: S400 engine for spacecraft propulsion
- **Power Source**: Spacecraft solar array with a capacity of 10,300 watts
- **Orbit**: Geostationary orbit (expected)
- **Manufacturers**: Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd (general contractor), MDA Space (payload subcontractor), Thales Alenia Space (subcontractor for propulsion and reaction control system), Alliant Techsystems (subcontractor for solar array), Emcore (subcontractor for photovoltaic cells), ArianeGroup (subcontractor for S400)

### Significance
The loss of AMOS-6 had significant implications for Spacecom and Israel's space industry. The satellite was part of a planned expansion of the AMOS constellation to enhance telecommunications services in the Middle East and Africa. The incident also drew attention to the risks associated with satellite launches and the need for improved reliability in launch vehicles.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "CommunicationsSatellite",
  "name": "AMOS-6",
  "description": "Israeli commercial communications satellite destroyed in a launch vehicle explosion",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMOS-6_(satellite)",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20724381", "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Amos-6_mishap"],
  "additionalType": "FormerEntity",
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd"
  },
  "operator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Spacecom"
  },
  "launchVehicle": {
    "@type": "LaunchVehicle",
    "name": "Falcon 9 Full Thrust"
  },
  "launchDate": "2016-09-01",
  "orbit": "Geostationary orbit",
  "mass": {
    "@type": "QuantitativeValue",
    "value": "5250",
    "unitCode": "KGM"
  },
  "causeOfDestruction": "Explosion during launch"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/amos-6.htm)
2. [Source](https://www.space.com/33929-spacex-falcon-9-rocket-explodes-on-launch-pad.html)
3. [Source](https://www.aerospace-technology.com/projects/amos-6-communications-satellite/)
4. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/falcon-9_v1-2.htm)
5. [Source](https://www.spaceflightinsider.com/organizations/space-exploration-technologies/spacex-set-launch-amos-6-tropical-storm-hermine-looms/)
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. [Source](https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/IAI_to_launch_new_5-ton_Amos_satellite_999.html)
8. Quora