Amos 3

Designation	32794 / 08022A
Launch date	28 Apr 2008 - 05:00 UT
Launch site	B, LC-45/1
Launch vehicle	Zenit-3SLB
Mission	Military/Commercial: Communication
Geosynchronous orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee	35783 x 35798 km
Eccentricity	7.12E-05
Inclination	0.04 deg
Period	1436.1 min

1st launch of modified Zenith rocket.

Prime contractor	Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)
Operator	Space-Communications Ltd
Platform
Mass at launch	kg
Dry Mass	kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power
Equipment	15 transponders, Ku and Ka bands
Design lifetime	12 yrs

The Israeli Amos 3 communications satellite was launched on Apr 28 by Zenit-3SLB from Baykonur. The Blok DM-SLB made three burns to a low parking orbit, a 180 x 39064 km x 48.8 deg transfer orbit, and a 34225 x 39368 km x 0.7 deg near-geosynchronous orbit where it deployed Amos 3.
This deployment orbit is claimed by the Amos operators to be slightly different from the target one, although Land Launch, which operates the Zenit-3SLB, denies the launch vehicle was at fault.
By May 12 Amos 3 was in a 35762 x 35928 km x 0.1 deg orbit drifting at 0.8 deg W per day.

Ref.: #7(JR596-597), #226 - update: 27.08.09