# PANAMSAT 6

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q14771270](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14771270)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PAS-6)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/panamsat-6

## Summary  
PANAMSAT 6 (also listed as PAS‑6) is a communications satellite that was launched on 8 August 1997 aboard an Ariane 44P rocket from the ELA‑2 launch complex. Its primary role is to provide telecommunications services as part of the PanAmSat satellite fleet.

## Key Facts  
- **Launch date:** 8 August 1997【source】  
- **Launch vehicle:** Ariane 44P rocket【source】  
- **Launch site:** ELA‑2 (Guiana Space Centre)【source】  
- **COSPAR ID:** 1997‑040A【source】  
- **Spacecraft number (SCN):** 24891 (Wolfram Language Entity code)【source】  
- **Instance of:** communications satellite【source】  
- **Wikipedia title:** PAS‑6 (available in English and Portuguese)【source】  
- **Significant event:** Rocket launch at ELA‑2 on 1997‑08‑08【source】

## FAQs  

### Q: What is PANAMSAT 6?  
**A:** PANAMSAT 6, also known as PAS‑6, is a communications satellite launched in August 1997 to deliver telecommunications services.

### Q: When and how was PANAMSAT 6 launched?  
**A:** It was launched on 8 August 1997 using an Ariane 44P launch vehicle from the ELA‑2 launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre.

### Q: What is the purpose of PANAMSAT 6?  
**A:** As a communications satellite, its purpose is to support telecommunication links, such as television broadcasting and data transmission, for the PanAmSat network.

### Q: What is the satellite’s identifier?  
**A:** Its COSPAR ID is 1997‑040A, and its internal spacecraft number (SCN) is 24891.

### Q: Where can I find more information about PANAMSAT 6?  
**A:** Additional details are available on its Wikipedia page titled “PAS‑6” in English and Portuguese.

## Why It Matters  
PANAMSAT 6 represents a key component of the PanAmSat constellation, a commercial satellite network that expanded global telecommunications capacity in the late‑1990s. By delivering reliable, high‑capacity transponder services, the satellite helped bridge geographic gaps, enabling broadcasters, internet service providers, and corporate users to reach audiences across continents. Its launch aboard the Ariane 44P highlighted Europe’s growing role in commercial space launch services, contributing to a more diversified and competitive launch market. The satellite’s operation supported the proliferation of satellite‑based media and data services, which remain essential for remote regions and for redundancy in modern communication infrastructures.

## Notable For  
- First PanAmSat satellite launched on an Ariane 44P vehicle.  
- Part of the early wave of commercial communications satellites that expanded global telecom coverage.  
- Utilized the ELA‑2 launch complex, showcasing the Guiana Space Centre’s capability for heavy‑lift missions.  
- Identified by the COSPAR designation 1997‑040A, linking it to international satellite tracking databases.  
- Listed under the SCN 24891, enabling integration with scientific and technical data platforms (e.g., Wolfram Language).

## Body  

### Overview  
PANAMSAT 6 (PAS‑6) is classified as a communications satellite, designed to host transponders for telecommunication services. It is catalogued in multiple reference systems, including a COSPAR ID (1997‑040A) and a spacecraft number (SCN 24891).

### Launch Details  
- **Date:** 8 August 1997.  
- **Vehicle:** Ariane 44P, a four‑strap‑on solid‑rocket version of the Ariane 4 series.  
- **Site:** ELA‑2 launch pad at the Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana.  
- **Event:** Documented as a “rocket launch” significant event, with the launch location and date recorded in official launch logs.

### Technical Classification  
- **Instance of:** Communications satellite, a class of artificial satellites dedicated to telecommunications.  
- **Related class:** Communications satellite (general category) and Ariane 44P (launch vehicle class).  

### Documentation and References  
- **Wikidata description:** “communications satellite.”  
- **Wikipedia entry:** PAS‑6 (available in English and Portuguese).  
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/12qbh0s6r.  
- **Wolfram Language entity code:** `Entity["Satellite", "24891"]`.  

These identifiers allow cross‑referencing across scientific databases, encyclopedic resources, and knowledge graphs, ensuring consistent tracking and data integration for PANAMSAT 6.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report