Astra 2G passes in-orbit test phase
January 14, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Astra-2G’s builder, Airbus Defence & Space, says that the recently launched satellite has successfully completed its test phase and has been officially handed over to SES. The satellite was launched on Dec 27 on an International Launch Services rocket from the Baikonur launch complex in Kazakhstan.
Launch and Early Orbit Phase operations have been conducted from the Airbus Defence and Space spacecraft control centre in Toulouse. A series of manoeuvres enabled the satellite to reach geostationary orbit on 2 January, the solar arrays and antenna reflectors have been successfully deployed and the satellite has acquired final Earth pointing. All spacecraft functions are performing as expected.
Designed and manufactured by Airbus Defence and Space for satellite operator SES, Astra 2G is based on the highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform. It carries 62 Ku-band transponders as well as 4 Ka-band transponders. It will provide next generation broadcast and broadband services to the UK and Ireland, Europe and West Africa. It had a launch mass of 6 tonnes, has a wingspan of 40m in orbit, and a spacecraft power of 13kW until the end of its 15-year design lifetime.
Astra 2G is the ninth Airbus Eurostar model in the SES fleet. Three more similar models are in the pipeline for SES.
The satellite will eventually be placed in the 28.2/28.5 degrees East orbital slot.