Nilesat 101

Egypt

Spacecraft n°:

Egypt satellite n°: 1

Also called Nilesat 1

Launch data:

Designation	25311 / 98024A
Launch date	28 Apr 1998 - 22:53 UT
Launch site	Ko, ELA-2
Launch vehicle	Ariane-44P (V-108)
Mission	Telecommunications
Geostationary orbit on:
Perigee / Apogee	km
Eccentricity
Inclination	°
Period	min
Location	7°W

On the contract: 2 satellites (1 = ground spare) + 2 earth stations on the contract: total amount: $158 million for Matra Marconi Space. The second satellite could be modified and launched to cover more of the African continent

Telesat Canada provided the consultancy to setup the whole system.

Specifications

Prime contractor	Matra Marconi Space
Platform	Eurostar-2000
Operator	Nilesat
Mass at launch	1840 kg
Mass in orbit	1100 kg
Dry mass	795 kg
Dimension	2.3 x 2.4 x 1.7 m
Solar array	21.5 m span
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	3750 W
Design lifetime	16 years

Ku-band

Main transponders	12
Backup transponders	6
Power	105 W
Bandwidth	33 MHz
Coverage	Middle East & North Africa
EIRP max	50.3 dBW
Polarization
Frequencies	downlink: 11.7 - 12.5 GHz

2.3 m diameter onboard antenna
Payload provided by Alcatel Espace

NileSat 101 reception is far better than predicted: reception in London was predicted with 4.5 m dish but only 1.2 m ones are required. As far as the Arabian Gulf is concerned, viewers in Oman can receive signals on 90cm dishes.

Transponder frequency chart (GHz)

Transponder	Polarization	Frequency
2	V	11.747
3	H	11.766
4	V	11.785
5	H	11.804
6	V	11.823
7	H	11.842
8	V	11.861
9	H	11.881
10	V	11.900
11	H	11.919
12	V	11.938
13	H	11.957
14	V	11.956
15	H	11.996
16	V	12.015
17	H	12.034
18	V	12.053

Description:

The Egyptian Satellite Company's first satellite of the first generation, Nilesat-101 will be operated in a geostationary orbit with a payload of 12 operating transponders optimized for Digital Multimedia DTH applications. It was positioned at 7 degrees W and transmitted at 105 W. Its expected life time is 15 years.

Ref: #15, #27, #102, #228 - update: 20.03.08