Astra 2E

Spacecraft Nº:

Luxembourg spacecraft Nº: 23

Launch data: Designation  39285 / 13056A Launch date  29 Sept 2013 - 21:38 UT Launch site  Baikonur, LC-200/39 Launch vehicle  Proton-M/Briz-M Mission  Communications (Direct Broadcasting) Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee  35791 x 35796 km Eccentricity   Inclination  0.1 deg Period  1436.1 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the ASTRA 2E satellite. ASTRA 2E will provide Ku-band and Ka-band broadcast and broadband services to Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• The new satellites, to be designated Astra 2E, Astra 2F, Astra 2G and Astra 5B, will allow the release of the existing satellites at two orbital positions (28.2 and 31.5 degrees East) and add new capacity as well as fleet deployment flexibility for the SES group over the coming years. The satellites are scheduled for launch in several steps between 2012 and 2014.
• Three of the new spacecraft, Astra 2E, Astra 2F and Astra 2G, will serve to deliver next generation broadcast, VSAT and broadband services in Europe and Africa, and will carry Ku-and Ka-band payloads at 28.2 degrees East.
• The Ku-band capacity will allow SES ASTRA to enhance and secure its existing offering to major Direct-to-Home (DTH) markets in the UK and Ireland. With a Ku-band payload specifically designed to meet the requirements of some of Europe’s largest DTH broadcasters, the satellites will have spot beam and pan-European beam switching capabilities to accommodate both pay-TV and free-to-air broadcasters, and to provide these customers with increased functionality. The Ka-band payload will allow SES ASTRA to develop next generation broadband services in Europe, including its ASTRA2Connect product.
• Astra 2F was launched on Sept 28, 2012.

Mission details:

• Launch delayed from July 19 and July 20, 2013.
• The Astra 2E communications satellite was launched by International Launch Services Proton on Sept 29, 2013. This was the first Proton launch since its dramatic July failure, and the flight appears to have been fully successful.
• The Briz-M stage was inserted to a -496 x 171 km x 51.5 deg orbit and made burns to 174 x 175 km x 51.5 deg, 268 x 4999 km x 50.3 deg, 336 x 15157 km x 49.6 deg, 455 x 35740 km x 49.1 deg and 4177 x 45715 km x 22.9 deg where it released Astra 2E, which is a Eurostar E3000 satellite carrying Ka-band and Ku-band transponders.
  By Oct 8 Astra 2E was in GEO drift orbit at 35702 x 37533 km x 0.1 deg over 42E.

Satellite tracking: