# AsiaSat 8

> Hong Kong commercial communication satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q17486654](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17486654)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AsiaSat_8)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/asiasat-8

## Summary
AsiaSat 8 is a commercial communications satellite operated by the Hong Kong-based company AsiaSat. Launched in 2014 and positioned in geostationary orbit, it provides high-power telecommunications services and is also known by the alias AMOS-7 following a lease agreement with Spacecom.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** August 5, 2014 (08:00 UTC)
- **Launch Vehicle:** SpaceX Falcon 9 v1.1 (Flight 11)
- **Manufacturer:** Lanteris Space Systems, utilizing the Lanteris 1300 spacecraft bus
- **Launch Mass:** 4,535 kilograms
- **Operator:** AsiaSat (People's Republic of China)
- **Orbital Position:** Geostationary orbit with an orbital period of 1,436.1 minutes
- **Power System:** Two spacecraft solar arrays generating 8,500 units of power
- **Alternative Name:** AMOS-7 (used during its lease to Spacecom)
- **Succession:** Follows the destroyed AMOS-6 satellite and precedes AMOS-17 in service context

## FAQs
### Q: Who manufactured and launched AsiaSat 8?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems using the Lanteris 1300 bus. It was launched into orbit by SpaceX on August 5, 2014, using a Falcon 9 v1.1 rocket from Cape Canaveral.

### Q: Why is AsiaSat 8 also called AMOS-7?
A: AsiaSat 8 is referred to as AMOS-7 because it was leased to the Israeli satellite operator Spacecom starting in December 2016. This lease provided transponder services to fill the gap left by the AMOS-6 satellite.

### Q: What are the orbital details of AsiaSat 8?
A: It operates in a geostationary orbit around Earth with an apoapsis of 35,802 km and a periapsis of 35,784 km. It maintains a near-circular orbit with an eccentricity of 0.0002164.

## Why It Matters
AsiaSat 8 is a significant asset in the global telecommunications infrastructure, specifically within the Asian and Middle Eastern markets. Its high-power capacity, driven by dual solar arrays, allows for robust commercial communication services. 

The satellite's role became particularly critical following the destruction of the Israeli satellite AMOS-6 in a launch vehicle explosion. By entering into a lease agreement with Spacecom in late 2016, AsiaSat 8 (operating as AMOS-7) ensured continuity of service for customers who relied on the AMOS fleet. This transition highlights the flexibility of the commercial satellite industry, where orbital assets can be repurposed or leased to different international operators to maintain global connectivity.

## Notable For
- **Spacecom Service Recovery:** It served as the primary replacement for the AMOS-6 satellite, which was destroyed during a pre-launch test.
- **High Power Output:** It is equipped with a power system capable of 8,500 units, supported by two large solar arrays.
- **Falcon 9 Milestone:** Its deployment was part of the 11th flight of the SpaceX Falcon 9, specifically the v1.1 variant.
- **Dual Identity:** It is one of the few commercial satellites widely recognized under two distinct names (AsiaSat 8 and AMOS-7) due to its operational history.

## Body

### Launch and Deployment
AsiaSat 8 was launched on August 5, 2014, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 40. The mission utilized the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle (serial number 011). Following a successful launch, the satellite underwent testing and officially entered service in October 2014.

### Technical Specifications
The spacecraft was built by Lanteris Space Systems based on the Lanteris 1300 bus platform. 
- **Mass:** The satellite had a launch weight of 4,535 kg.
- **Power:** It is powered by two spacecraft solar arrays.
- **Identification:** It is tracked under the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 40107 and COSPAR ID 2014-046A.

### Orbital Characteristics
AsiaSat 8 orbits the Earth in a geostationary configuration, meaning its orbital period matches the Earth's rotation.
- **Apoapsis:** 35,802 km
- **Periapsis:** 35,784 km
- **Orbital Period:** 1,436.1 minutes
- **Eccentricity:** 0.0002164

### Operational History and Leasing
While originally operated solely by AsiaSat, the satellite's mission profile expanded in December 2016. Spacecom signed a transponder service agreement to lease the satellite's capacity. Under this agreement, the satellite took on the name AMOS-7. This arrangement was intended to bridge the service gap between the lost AMOS-6 mission and the future deployment of AMOS-17.

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "AsiaSat 8",
  "description": "Hong Kong commercial communication satellite",
  "url": "https://www.asiasat.com/satellite-fleet/asiasat-8",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q17486683",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AsiaSat_8"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Satellite"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.asiasat.com/satellite-fleet/asiasat-8)
2. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/asiasat-8.htm)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://www.satellitetoday.com/telecom/2016/12/02/spacecom-signs-transponder-service-agreement-asiasat-8/)
5. [Source](https://spacenews.com/spacecom-extends-asiasat-satellite-leasing-deal/)
6. [Source](https://heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=40107)
7. [Source](https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=40107)