Anik (satellite)

Anik ( Inuktitut for little brother ) is the name for geosynchronous communications satellites, which are used by Telesat Canada for Canadian television.

The satellite

Anik A

By Anik A satellites handed the CBC for the first time to the north of Canada. Each of the satellites equipped with 12 C-band transponders, thereby each having a capacity of 12 color television.

Anik B

The satellite Anik -B had as the Anik A satellites 12 C -band transponders and additionally 6 Ku -band transponders.

It was launched in 1978 and was the successor of the Anik -A series of experimental satellites and Hermes (also known as Communications Technology Satellite, or CTS).

Anik C

The Anik C satellites were three times as powerful as the Anik A satellites. They each had 16 Ku -band transponders.

Anik C3 was used for Canada's first pay- TV channels.

Anik D

As well as the C- Anik satellites Anik D satellites based on the satellite bus HS -376 Hughes, but sent on the C- band.

Anik e

The two Anik E satellites launched in 1991 to replace the Anik D satellites. They were equipped with 24 C-band and 16 Ku-band transponders.

On January 20, 1994, there were by a solar storm of the gyroscopes both satellites, which the antennas were not get updated anymore properly aligned and no more signals could be transmitted. In Anik E1 could be switched to a backup system after a few hours, but this was also defective in Anik E2, so that this satellite could resume operation only after five months.