Afristar

Launch data: Designation 25515 / 98063A Launch date 28 Oct 1998 Launch site: Ko, ELA-2 Launch vehicle: Ariane-44L (V113) Mission Commercial: Communications Geostationary orbit : Perigee / Apogee  35772 x 35799 km Eccentricity  3.20E-04 Inclination  0.03° Period  1436.05 min

Description:

• First WorldSpace satellite; digital audio and multi-media communications to Africa, Middle East, Asia, Latin America and Caribbean.
• In early Jan 1999 it was revealed that one of the 2 payload interface units is not working properly. This could reduce the expected lifetime of the satellite by preventing a backup TWTA to replace a failed primary TWTA.
• Operational service started on 1st Oct 1999.
• On Jan 6, 2018 the Afristar satellite′s orbit was raised to the GEO graveyard, at 36114 x 36176 km x 3.7 deg. The satellite was retired after 20 years service at the 21.0° E location.
  Originally used by Noah Samara&prime:s Worldspace for digital pan-African distribution of local African radio content, it was repurposed in 2010 for Samara′s Yamzi online education company and then sold on in 2017 to CMMB/Hong Kong′s Silkwave broadcasting operator, now part of CMMB Vision.