Astra 5A

Overview

Astra 5A

names list	Sirius 2 GE-1E
mission type	Communications
operator	Nordiska Satelit AB / GE Americom / SES Sirius AB / SES Astra
cospar id	1997-071A
satcat	25049
mission duration	15 years (planned) 11 years, 2 months (achieved)
spacecraft	Sirius 2
spacecraft type	Spacebus
spacecraft bus	Spacebus 3000B2
manufacturer	Aérospatiale
launch mass	2920 kg
dry mass	1250 kg
power	6.5 kW
launch date	12 November 1997, 21:48 UTC
launch rocket	Ariane 44L H10-3 (V102)
launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
launch contractor	Arianespace
entered service	January 1998
disposal type	Graveyard orbit
deactivated	April 2009
last contact	16 January 2009
orbit reference	Geocentric orbit‡R1R‡
orbit regime	Geostationary orbit
orbit longitude	Astra 5°E (1997-April 2008) Astra 31.5°E (April 2008-2009)
apsis	gee
trans band	32 (+8) Ku-band
trans bandwidth	26 transponders at 33 MHz 6 transponders at 36 MHz
trans coverage	Sweden, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East
programme	Astra constellation

Astra 5A was one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES at the Astra 31.5°E. Launched in 1997 to the 5° East position by NSAB (Nordiska Satelit AB) (later SES Sirius, and now a non-autonomous part of SES) as Sirius 2, operation of the satellite was transferred to SES in April 2008 and the craft renamed and moved to 31.5° East to open up a new orbital position for the company for the development of markets in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East.[2]

Astra 5A failed in orbit in 2009.

Sirius 2 / GE-1E

Sirius 2 is a 32 transponder satellite, used for direct-to-home (DTH) transmissions as well as video and data communication services. Sirius 2 has two DTH beams, each with 13 transponders used for transmission of TV channels to homes equipped with parabolic antennas. One of the beams transmits to the Nordic area and the other towards central and southern Europe. GE AMERICOM

Astra 5A

Sirius 2 / GE-1E

Market

Demise of satellite

See also

External links

References