Names | Eutelsat 28F |
---|---|
Mission type | Communications |
Operator | SES S.A. |
COSPAR ID | 2012-051A |
SATCAT no. | 38778 |
Website | https://www.ses.com/ |
Mission duration | 15 years (planned) 12 years, 4 months, 10 days (elapsed) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | Eurostar |
Bus | Eurostar-3000 |
Manufacturer | Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) |
Launch mass | 5,968 kg (13,157 lb) |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 28 September 2012, 21:18:07 UTC |
Rocket | Ariane 5ECA (VA209) |
Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3 |
Contractor | Arianespace |
Entered service | 21 November 2012 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
Regime | Geostationary orbit |
Longitude | 28.2° East |
Transponders | |
Band | 63 transponders: 60 Ku-band 3 Ka-band |
Coverage area | Europe |
Astra 2F is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES S.A., launched in September 2012 to the Astra 28.2°E orbital position.[2] The satellite provides free-to-air and encrypted direct-to-home (DTH) digital television and satellite broadband services for Europe and Africa.
Astra 2F is the first of three "second generation" satellites for the 28.2° East position which replace the first generation Astra 2A, Astra 2B and Astra 2D satellites previously positioned there.[3][4] The second, Astra 2E, was launched in 2013 and the third, Astra 2G, was launched in 2014.[5][6] Some parts of the construction of Astra 2F by Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) in Stevenage, United Kingdom could be seen in the BBC2 documentary programme, How To Build... A Satellite broadcast on 27 November 2011.
Astra 2F was successfully launched from Kourou in French Guiana on 28 September 2012, at 21:18:07 UTC by an Ariane 5ECA launch vehicle from Centre Spatial Guyanais.[7] and underwent in-orbit testing at 43.5° East.[8] Commercial operations at 28.2° East began on 21 November 2012.[9]