Eutelsat W3C

Spacecraft n°:

Eutelsat spacecraft n°: 39

Launch data: Designation  37836 / 11057A Launch date  07 Oct 2011 - 08:21:04 UT Launch site  Xichang, LC-2 Launch vehicle  CZ-3B/E (n° Y18) Mission  Commercial: Communication Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee  35779 x 35795 km Eccentricity  1,90E-04 Inclination  0.2 deg Period  1436.1 min

Description:

• EUTELSAT W3C will be operated by Eutelsat, a leading international communications satellite owner based in Paris. Named W3C, the platform carries Ku-band and Ka-band transponders for television broadcasting and data services. W3C is based on the Spacebus 4000 C3 platform built by Thales Alenia Space. Its 56 transponders, divided among Ku-band and Ka-band, will beam programming and services to Earth via four footprints tailored for specific regions. One focus of the satellite will be direct-to-home television broadcasting in Central Europe and digital video services in the Indian Ocean islands, including Mauritius and Reunion Island. Another mission for W3C is connecting Europe and Africa through Ka-band, enabling Internet access and providing Ku-band coverage from Senegal to Madagascar, according to Eutelsat. Data networks and news organizations in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East will also benefit from the new satellite, Eutelsat said. W3C will be positioned at 16 degrees east longitude, replacing three Eutelsat satellites currently at that location

Mission details:

• Replacement for the failed launch of Eutelsat W3B on Oct 28, 2010.
• The W3C satellite was launched by a Chinese CZ-3BE on Oct 7, 2011 into a 193 x 35806 km x 26.1 deg transfer orbit; on Oct 8 this was raised to 4596 x 35800 km x 14.6 deg.