Commercial satellite Amos 2 entering orbit

Israel has launched its second commercial communications satellite yesterday, the Amos 2. It was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, and the operation was conducted by Starsem, a European-Russian space launching venture.

AMOS 1, launched in 1996 by Arianespace in French Guiana, was Israel's first communications satellite.

It provides broadcasting services for Israeli and foreign customers in the Middle East and Europe, serving Israeli satellite television company YES as well as U.S. broadcaster HBO in Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and the Czech Republic.

AMOS 2 will expand capacity and coverage, providing access to the east coast of the United States and offering broadband services in addition to direct-to-home television distribution.

Source: Reuters