The Israeli satellite operator has endured a harrowing 18 months. In November 2015, the company’s Amos-5 satellite fell. In September 2016, the Amos-6 satellite was destroyed in a catastrophic explosion of the upper stage of a Falcon-9 rocket during unsuccessful ground tests. This explosion did not just impact the company’s lost revenue; it also derailed a potential sale of the company to Chinese investors.
Spacecom has leased AsiaSat-8 for four years to make up for the loss of Amos-6, and can exercise a five-year lease option if necessary. When selling satellite communications services, the company refers to AsiaSat-8 as Amos-7. The next satellite to replace the destroyed Amos-6 will be Amos-8; its launch is scheduled for early 2020, if the company can raise enough funds.
Spacecom CEO David Pollack said the September explosion “hit the company hard.” In an interview with Space Intel Report, he admitted that the loss of the satellite derailed a deal with Facebook.
Pollack said that construction of the Amos-17 satellite is ongoing in cooperation with Boeing. It is currently being discussed who will launch the satellite into orbit – the launch of Amos-17 is scheduled for early 2019.