- Fifth Eurostar satellite delivered by Astrium this year
- Second of four satellites built by Astrium for SES Astra
As prime contractor for ASTRA 1M, Astrium is
responsible for the design and build of the satellite and the supply of
both the payload and the Eurostar E3000 platform. ASTRA 1M arrived at
the launch site at the end of September, where its tanks were filled
and the satellite was assembled in the upper stage of the launcher.
Following the launch, the Astrium control centre in Toulouse will take
control of the satellite, position it on its operational location,
before handover to SES ASTRA.
ASTRA 1M will deliver direct-to-home (DTH) services, including
digital and high definition (HD) television with pan-European coverage.
Once positioned at 19.2°E, it will be the second Eurostar satellite in
the ASTRA fleet following ASTRA 2B, which was launched in September
2000. Astrium is constructing two other Eurostar E3000 satellites for
SES ASTRA: ASTRA 3B is currently undergoing final assembly and testing,
and ASTRA 1N was ordered in July 2008.
ASTRA 1M will be the fifth Eurostar satellite launched this year and
the 39th in orbit. It is the 14th Eurostar E3000 satellite. Eleven
others are currently at various stages of production.
The communications payload includes 36 high-power Ku-band
transponders and three deployable antennas. The spacecraft will have a
launch mass of 5,300 kg, a solar array span of 35 metres once deployed
in orbit, and electrical power of 10 kW.
