| PAS-6 | |
| Names List: | PANAMSAT 6 Panamsat 6 |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | PanAmSat (1997-2004) |
| Cospar Id: | 1997-040A |
| Satcat: | 24891 |
| Mission Duration: | 15 years (planned) 7 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft Type: | SSL 1300 |
| Spacecraft Bus: | LS-1300 |
| Manufacturer: | Space Systems/Loral |
| Launch Date: | 8 August 1997, 06:46:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Ariane 44P H10-3 (V98) |
| Launch Site: | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 |
| Launch Contractor: | Arianespace |
| Entered Service: | October 1997 |
| Disposal Type: | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated: | April 2004 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 45° West |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 36 Ku-band |
| Trans Coverage: | South America, Brazil |
| Programme: | PanAmSat constellation |
| Previous Mission: | PAS-3R |
| Next Mission: | PAS-5 |
PAS-6 was a communications satellite owned by PanAmSat and serving the South America market.
PAS-6 was constructed by Space Systems/Loral, based on the LS-1300 satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of .[2] Designed for an operational life of 15 years, the spacecraft was equipped with 36 Ku-band transponders.[3]
Arianespace launched PAS-6, using an Ariane 4 launch vehicle, flight number V98, in the Ariane 44P H10-3 configuration. The launch took place from ELA-2 at the Centre Spatial Guyanais, at Kourou in French Guiana, on 8 August 1997, at 06:46:00 UTC.[3]
On 17 March 2004, PAS-6 suffered an anomaly resulting in a loss of power. Then PanAmSat moved the satellite to a storage orbit while the PanAmSat and SS/L evaluated the problem. On 1 April 2004, this satellite experienced another anomaly and more significant loss of power. PAS-6 was put in graveyard orbit.[3]