| AMC-23 | |
| Names List: | GE-2i Worldsat-3 AMC-13 GE-23 Eutelsat-172A Eutelsat-174A |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | SES Americom (2005-2009) SES World Skies (2009-2011) SES S.A. (2011-2012) Eutelsat (2012-present) |
| Cospar Id: | 2005-052A |
| Satcat: | 28924 |
| Mission Duration: | 16 years (planned) (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft: | GE-23 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Spacebus 4000 |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Spacebus 4000C3 |
| Manufacturer: | Alcatel Space |
| Launch Date: | 29 December 2005, 02:28:40 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Proton-M / Briz-M |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 81/24 |
| Launch Contractor: | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered Service: | Mars 2006 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 186° West |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 38 (+10) transponders: 18 (+4) C-band 20 (+6) Ku-band |
| Trans Coverage: | Asia-Pacific, West Coast of the United States |
| Programme: | SES constellation |
| Previous Mission: | AMC-21 |
AMC-23 (formerly GE-23) is an American geostationary communications satellite that was launched by a Proton-M / Briz-M launch vehicle at 02:28:40 UTC on 29 December 2005. The satellite to provide services to the Asia-Pacific, West Coast of the United States through separate beams to each region, after parking over the Pacific Ocean through its 18 (+4) C-band and 20 (+6) Ku-band transponders, over 186° West longitude.[1]
AMC-13 was originally ordered as GE-2i. In early 2004, AMC-13 was transferred to Worldsat LLC, a new subsidiary of SES Americom as Worldsat 3. The original AMC-13 was to feature 60 C-Band transponders, but when transferred to Worldsat, it was ordered to be changed to the hybrid C-/Ku-band payload with 18 C-band and 20 Ku-band transponders. In early 2005, it was renamed AMC-23.[2] [3]
In 2007, the satellite was spun-off from SES Americom to GE-Satellite, when General Electric split off from SES. After this transaction, the satellite was renamed GE-23.[2]
Eutelsat has announced in June 2012 the acquisition of GE-23 satellite from GE-Satellite. The satellite is renamed to Eutelsat 172A and expands Eutelsat coverage to Asia-Pacific region and West Coast of United States of America. The satellite had at that time an estimated lifespan of 8.5 years.[2] [3]
In 2017, after Eutelsat 172B had replaced it, Eutelsat 172A was moved to 174° East and renamed Eutelsat 174A.[2] [3]