EchoStar VI or EchoStar 6 is a former American

communications satellite A communications satellite is an artificial satellite that relays and amplifies radio telecommunication signals via a transponder; it creates a communication channel between a source transmitter and a receiver at different locations on Earth. C ...

which was operated by

EchoStar EchoStar Corporation is an American company, a worldwide provider of satellite communication and Internet services through its Hughes Network Systems and EchoStar Satellite Services business segments. EchoStar is based out of unincorporated Arapa ...

. In 2013, the satellite was rebranded BermudaSat 1 after the satellite was sold to a

Bermuda ) , anthem = "God Save the King" , song_type = National song , song = " Hail to Bermuda" , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , mapsize2 = , map_caption2 = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = , e ...

n subsidiary of SES S.A., a satellite technology company based in

Luxembourg Luxembourg ( ; lb, Lëtzebuerg ; french: link=no, Luxembourg; german: link=no, Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, ; french: link=no, Grand-Duché de Luxembourg ; german: link=no, Großherzogtum Luxemburg is a small lan ...

.Bermuda Secures Caribbean Slot with EchoStar 6 Satellite
/ref> It was constructed by

Space Systems Loral SSL, formerly Space Systems/Loral, LLC (SS/L), of Palo Alto, California, is a wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary of Maxar Technologies. SSL designs and builds satellites and space systems for a wide variety of government and commercial cust ...

and is based on the

LS-1300 The SSL 1300, previously the LS-1300 and the FS-1300, is a satellite bus produced by Maxar Technologies. Total broadcast power ranges from 5 to 25 kW, and the platform can accommodate from 12 to 150 transponders. The SSL 1300 is a modular platf ...

satellite bus. Its launch was contracted by International Launch Services, using an

Atlas IIAS Atlas II was a member of the Atlas family of launch vehicles, which evolved from the successful Atlas missile program of the 1950s. The Atlas II was a direct evolution of the Atlas I, featuring longer first stage tanks, higher-performing engines ...

carrier rocket. The launch occurred at 05:21 GMT on 14 July 2000 from Space Launch Complex 36B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It was originally built as Sky 1B or MCI-2 for MCI Communications. This was later cancelled and the satellite was rebuilt as Echostar VI. Following its launch and on-orbit testing, it was placed in

geostationary orbit A geostationary orbit, also referred to as a geosynchronous equatorial orbit''Geostationary orbit'' and ''Geosynchronous (equatorial) orbit'' are used somewhat interchangeably in sources. (GEO), is a circular geosynchronous orbit in altitud ...

at 73° West, from where it provides broadcast and communications services to Europe using wide-band feeds. It carries thirty two transponders, and has an expected on-orbit lifespan of 12 years. In March and August 2010, the satellite experienced solar-array anomalies resulting in the loss of 24 (of an initial 108) solar cell strings. Although the anomalies did not reduce the estimated useful life, the power reduction limits it to operating 24 DBS transponders (of the initial 32) at approximately 125 watts per channel, or 12 DBS transponders (of an original 16) at approximately 250 watts per channel. In April 2013, the satellite was moved to 96.2° West, leased to SES on behalf of the Bermudan government and renamed BermudaSat 1.Minister On Bermuda’s Satellite Network
/ref> As BermudaSat 1, the satellite, which was slated for retirement in 2014, was designed chiefly to serve video and maritime communications in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as to enable to secure the 96.2° West position for Bermuda.

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Echostar 06 Communications satellites in geostationary orbit Spacecraft launched in 2000 Telecommunications in Bermuda Satellites using the SSL 1300 bus E06 SES S.A.