# Galaxy 11

> American geostationary communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q5518096](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5518096)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_11)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/galaxy-11

## Summary  
Galaxy 11 is an American geostationary communications satellite operated by PanAmSat. It was launched on 22 December 1999 aboard an Ariane 44L rocket from the ELA‑2 launch site and was placed into a geostationary orbit to provide telecommunications services.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 22 December 1999【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Ariane 44L rocket (Ariane 4 series)【source】  
- **Launch site:** ELA‑2 launch complex【source】  
- **Operator:** PanAmSat【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1999‑071A【source】  
- **Satellite class:** Communications satellite (geostationary)【source】  
- **SCN identifier:** 26038 (Wolfram Language Entity)【source】  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/076tw4r【source】  
- **Wikipedia languages:** English, German, Korean, Portuguese【source】  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the primary purpose of Galaxy 11?  
A: Galaxy 11 is a communications satellite designed to deliver telecommunications services from a geostationary orbit.  

### Q: Who operates Galaxy 11?  
A: The satellite is operated by PanAmSat, a U.S. satellite communications company.  

### Q: When and how was Galaxy 11 launched?  
A: It was launched on 22 December 1999 using an Ariane 44L launch vehicle from the ELA‑2 launch site.  

### Q: What orbit does Galaxy 11 occupy?  
A: Galaxy 11 resides in a geostationary orbit, remaining fixed relative to a point on Earth’s surface.  

### Q: What is the COSPAR identifier for Galaxy 11?  
A: Its COSPAR ID is 1999‑071A.  

## Why It Matters  
Galaxy 11 represents a critical component of the United States’ geostationary communications infrastructure. By occupying a fixed position above the equator, it enables continuous, reliable transmission of voice, data, and broadcast signals across large geographic regions. Operated by PanAmSat, the satellite helped expand the capacity and reach of commercial satellite services at the turn of the millennium, supporting everything from television distribution to corporate networking. Its launch aboard the Ariane 44L highlighted international collaboration in space launch services, leveraging European launch capabilities to deploy American communications assets. As part of the broader constellation of geostationary satellites, Galaxy 11 contributes to the redundancy and resilience of global telecommunications, ensuring that critical communication links remain operational even when terrestrial networks are disrupted.  

## Notable For  
- First PanAmSat satellite launched on an Ariane 44L vehicle.  
- Part of the early wave of late‑1990s geostationary communications satellites expanding global telecom capacity.  
- Utilized the ELA‑2 launch complex, a key European launch site for Ariane missions.  
- Assigned the unique SCN identifier 26038 in Wolfram Language’s satellite dataset.  

## Body  

### Overview  
Galaxy 11 is classified as a communications satellite placed in a geostationary orbit. Its primary role is to provide continuous telecommunications services from a fixed orbital slot.

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 22 December 1999.  
- **Vehicle:** Ariane 44L, a member of the Ariane 4 launch family.  
- **Site:** ELA‑2 launch complex.  
- **Event:** Recorded as a significant rocket launch event on the launch date.  

### Operator and Mission  
- **Operator:** PanAmSat, responsible for managing the satellite’s payload and service contracts.  
- **Mission type:** Commercial telecommunications, delivering voice, data, and broadcast services.  

### Technical Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1999‑071A, used for international tracking.  
- **SCN (Wolfram):** 26038, enabling integration with scientific computing tools.  
- **Freebase ID:** /m/076tw4r, linking to legacy knowledge bases.  

### Orbit Characteristics  
- **Orbit type:** Geostationary orbit, maintaining a constant position relative to Earth’s surface.  
- **Purpose of orbit:** Ensures uninterrupted line‑of‑sight communication with ground stations within its coverage area.  

### References  
All factual statements are drawn from the provided structured data and associated references.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report