The Anik satellites are a series of geostationary communication satellites operated by satellite operator Telesat in Canada. The satellites are used for television, voice and datas in Canada and other parts of the world from 1972 thru 2013. The remaining Anik satellites that are still active are Anik F1, Anik F1R (replacing Anik F1), Anik, F2, Anik F3 and Anik AG1. The naming of the satellites was determined by a national contest. In Inuktitut, Canada’s national principal Inuit languages, Anik means “little brother”.

Anik F1R is operated by satellite operator Telesat from Canada. The satellite will replace Anik F1, which was experiencing accelerated degradation of its solar array reflector panels. Anik F1R was constructed by Astrium (EADS Astrium – Airbus Defense & Space) and is based on Astrium’s EuroStar-3000S satellite bus.

The satellite had a launch mass of about 4,000 kg, a solar array span of 35m once deployed in orbit and spacecraft power of 10kW at EOL. It will carry 24 C-band and 32 Ku-band transponders.

Anik F1R satellite was launched on September 9^th, 2005, on a Proton M/Breeze rocket booster, operated by launch operator ILS from the Baikonuor Cosmodrome launch site in Kazachstan.