Eutelsat electric bird arrives a month early
September 28, 2015
By Chris Forrester
Eutelsat has reported that its 115 West B craft, its first all-electric satellite, has completed its steady ascent to its target geostationary orbit a month ahead of the original schedule. It will now undertake a couple of weeks of on-orbit testing and enter commercial service in mid-October.
Originally ordered as ‘SatMex-8’, Eutelsat Americas 115 West B has 24 C-Band and 41.5 Ku-band transponders. Next year its ‘sister’ satellite, Eutelsat 117 West B, will also reach its orbit following its launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket from Cape Canaveral.