Rainbow-1

{{Short description|American Commercial Communications satellite}}

{{For|the American war plan code named Rainbow 1|United States color-coded war plans#Rainbow plans{{!}}United States color-coded war plans}}

{{Infobox spaceflight

| name = Rainbow-1 → EchoStar XII

| image =

| image_caption =

| mission_type = Communication

| operator = EchoStar

| website =

| COSPAR_ID = 2003-033A

| SATCAT = 33207

| mission_duration = 15 years (planned)
{{time interval|17 July 2003|show=ymd|sep=,}} (in progress)

| spacecraft_bus = A2100AXS

| manufacturer = Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems

| dry_mass = {{convert|2,760|kg|lb}}

| launch_mass = {{convert|4,328|kg|lb}}

| power = watts

| launch_date = {{start-date|July 17, 2003, 23:45|timezone=yes}} UTC

| launch_rocket = Atlas V 521 AV-003

| launch_site = Cape Canaveral SLC-41

| launch_contractor =

| entered_service =

| disposal_type =

| deactivated =

| orbit_epoch =

| orbit_reference = Geocentric

| orbit_regime = Geostationary

| orbit_periapsis =

| orbit_apoapsis =

| orbit_inclination = 0 degrees

| orbit_period = 1,437.0 minutes

| orbit_longitude = 86.4° West

| apsis = gee

| trans_band = 36 {{Ku band}}

| trans_frequency =

| trans_capacity =

| trans_coverage = Contiguous United States

| trans_TWTA =

| trans_EIRP =

| trans_HPBW =

}}

Echostar 12 (E*12), also known as Cablevision-1 and Rainbow-1, is a commercial communications satellite in geosynchronous Earth orbit. It was launched on 17 July 2003, as Rainbow-1, on the third flight of the Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Its original purpose was to transmit digital television streams for the ill-fated Voom high definition direct broadcast satellite network.

Part of the A2100 series of commercial satellites, Rainbow-1 was constructed by the Lockheed Martin corporation at an approximate cost of $100 million USD,{{cite web | url=http://www.astronautix.com/craft/as2100.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719070852/http://www.astronautix.com/craft/as2100.htm | archive-date=2013-07-19 | title=As 2100 }} although this amount has not been verified. It is solar powered, has an approximate mass of {{convert|2760|kg}} (launch vehicle mass {{convert|4328|kg|disp=sqbr}}), and is capable of transmitting on the C- and K_u bands.

EchoStar (Dish Network spin off) now owns the satellite. The satellite was renamed Echostar 12 (or E*12) in March 2006.

EchoStar 12 is still in orbit and located at 61.5 degrees West longitude, over the Earth's equator.{{cite web|url=http://www.lyngsat.com/rain1.html|title=Lyngsat|last=Lyngsat|accessdate=2017-11-28|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185658/http://www.lyngsat.com/rain1.html|archivedate=2016-03-03}}{{cite web|url=http://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=27852|title=EchoStar 12 (Rainbow 1, Cablevision 1)|last=SatBeams|accessdate=2017-11-28}} It is currently being used for Dish Network HDTV television signals, transmitted using DVB, on the K_u band transponders. The satellite has lost some capability due to degradation of its solar power system.P. deSelding, "Solar Array Power Failure Limits Use of EchoStar 12 Satellite," Space News 8/31/2009, page 32. [http://spacenews.com/solar-array-power-failure-limits-use-echostar-12-satellite/ web version]; see also [https://archive.today/20130202175826/http://www.spacenews.com/archive/archive09/echostar_0518.html 19 May 2009]