Satmex 8 --> Eutelsat 117 West A

Spacecraft nº:

Mexico spacecraft nº: 11

Launch data: Designation  39122 / 13012A Launch date  26 March 2013 - 19:06:48 UT (3:06:48 p.m. EDT) Launch site  Baik, LC-200/39 Launch vehicle  Proton-M/Briz-M (Proton-M 93536/Briz-M 99536) Mission  Communication Geostationary orbit on Apr 5.70: Perigee / Apogee  35777 x 35796 km Eccentricity   Inclination  0.04 deg Period  1436.02 min

Spacecraft data:

Description:

• SATMEX 8 is a geostationary satellite lanched on a 15-year mission linking the Americas with C-band and Ku-band communications for Satelites Mexicanos S.A., or Satmex. This satellite will replace Satmex 5, an aging craft launched in 1998. Satmex 8 adds 45 percent of total capacity over Satmex 5, translating to a 94 percent increase in Ku-band capacity. Its 64 transponders will distribute video programming, broadband multimedia, and reach remote customers with telemedicine, distance learning and emergency services.

Mission details:

• Launch postponed until 2013. The rocket 93535 for Satmex 8 has arrived to Baikonur on November 10th, 2012. She was damaged during its move by railway from its factory to Baikonur Cosmodrome while in its rail transport containers. She will be returned to Moscow. The rocket 93536 for Anik G1 has departed Moscow on November 20th, 2012. She will replace damaged rocket.
• The Proton/Briz-M returned to flight on Mar 26, 2013 with the launch of Satmex 8. The first four Briz-M burns raised the orbit from -495 x 171 km x 51.6 deg to 173 x 173 km x 51.6 deg, 270 x 5000 km x 50.3 deg, 330 x 18016 km and 425 x 35799 km x 49.1 deg. A fifth burn at 0358 UTC Mar 27 placed the satellite in a high perigee 6118 x 35824 km x 18.4 deg transfer orbit and was followed by spacecraft separation at 0420 UTC.
• The Briz-M disposal burn lowered the discarded stage to 5932 x 34126 km; the DTB drop tank was jettisoned into the 330 x 18016 km intermediate orbit.
• Satmex 8 renamed Eutelsat 117 West A.

Satellite tracking: