Bicentenario satellite

A satellite is an object that moves around a larger object. Earth is a satellite because
it moves around the sun. The moon is a satellite because it moves around Earth.
Earth and the moon are called "natural" satellites. But usually when someone says
"satellite," they are talking about a "man-made" satellite. Man-made satellites are
machines made by people. These machines are launched into space and orbit Earth
or another body in space.

There are thousands of man-made satellites. Some take pictures of our planet.
Some take pictures of other planets, the sun and other objects. These pictures help
scientists learn about Earth, the solar system and the universe. Other satellites send
TV signals and phone calls around the world.

Mexsat-3, also known as Mexsat Bicentenario or simply Bicentenario, is the first of

three Mexican satellites forming the MEXSAT telecommunications network, and is
named to commemorate the bicentennial of the Independence of Mexico. It was
launched on 19 December 2012 to serve the other two satellites in the network,
Mexsat-1 and Mexsat-2, as a fixed satellite service. It was manufactured by the
company Orbital Sciences Corporation and was launched from Kourou in French
Guiana, and currently occupies the orbit 114.9 West.

Objectives

The Ministry of Communications and Transportation said in a statement that the new
satellite would provide fixed broadband services for access to the Internet, digital
high-quality satellite telephony, videoconferencing, remote medical care and
education via television. It said that Bicentenario would provide services for
emergency care "before, during and after emergencies".

The satellite was equipped with instruments for transmitting and receiving
electromagnetic signals in the C and Ku bands.

Launch
The French company Arianespace launched an Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Mexsat-
3 satellite from the Guiana Space Centre near Kourou, French Guiana at 18:50 local
time (21:50 GMT) as part of a previously signed contract. The rocket reached the
100 kilometre mark (the distance from Earth which can be considered an orbit) in the
first three minutes.The satellite was placed in a high geostationary orbit 36,000
kilometres above the surface.

The former deputy secretary of communications at the Ministry of Communications

and Transportation, Hector Olavarria, revealed via Twitter after the launch that "in
about thirty minutes we will know of the satellite's arrival in orbit".Signals were
successfully received shortly afterwards.