ECHOSTAR 12 (RAINBOW 1) (27852)

COSPAR: 2003-033A | Alt Name: Rainbow 1

Image

Additional Sources

Launch Details

Launch Date

July 17, 2003

Launch Site

Cape Canaveral Space Force Station

Launch Pad

SLC41

Launch Vehicle

Atlas V 521

Orbital Elements

NORAD ID

27852

International Designator

2003-033A

Epoch

Sat, 04 Jul 2026 05:02:12 GMT

Apogee

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Perigee

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Inclination

6.31°

Right Ascension

85.31°

Eccentricity

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Argument of Perigee

124.66°

Period

1456.27 min

Mean Motion

0.99 rev/day

Latitude

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Longitude

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Altitude

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Velocity

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Polar Plot

3D Visualization

Basic Satellite Info

Name

ECHOSTAR 12 (RAINBOW 1)

Alternative Name

Rainbow 1

Type

Payload

Status

Non-operational

Owner

RBOW

Country

United States

Constellation

N/A

Related Satellites

Major Events

N/A

Latest TLEs

1 27852U 03033A   26185.20986395 -.00000129  00000-0  00000-0 0  9990

2 27852   6.3091  85.3120 0008344 124.6635  85.4024  0.98883034 83782

Source: Celestrak

Summary

ECHOSTAR 12 (also known as Rainbow 1) is a communication satellite manufactured by LMCSS and owned by RBOW. Launched on July 17, 2003, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's SLC41 pad using an Atlas V 521 launch vehicle, it reached stable orbit the following day. The satellite has a configuration of A2100AXS with dimensions of 6 meters in length and 3.6 meters in diameter, featuring a span of 26 meters when its solar arrays are deployed. It is equipped with 36 Ku-Band transponders for direct broadcasting communication services. The dry mass of the satellite is 2,000 kg, while it had a launch mass of 4,328 kg, powered by two deployable solar arrays and batteries. With an expected lifetime of 18 years, ECHOSTAR 12 has a shape described as "Box + 2 Pan" with a radar cross-section (RCS) of 10 square meters.

Physical Characteristics

Length

Diameter

3.6

Span

Dry Mass

2000

Launch Mass

4328

Shape

Box + 2 Pan

Radar Cross Section

Visual Magnitude

Unknown

Color

Unknown

Material Composition

Unknown

Technical Details

Payload

Rainbow 1

Purpose

Communication (Direct Broadcasting)

Mission

Communication (Direct Broadcasting)

Manufacturer

LMCSS

Life Expectancy

18 years

Bus

A2100

Configuration

A2100AXS

Motor

Leros 1C

Equipment

36 Ku-Band transponders

Power System

2 deployable solar arrays, batteries

ADCS

Unknown

Transmitter Frequency

Unknown

Map

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