Orbital location: 28.2°E Launch vehicle: Proton Bands: Ku-band, Ka-band Design Life: 15 years Satellite manufacturer: EADS Astrium Astra 2E is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES. It was due to be launched to the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot on July 21, 2013, but this was delayed by the failure of the Proton-M rocket during the previous launch. The satellite will provide free-to-air and encrypted direct-to-home (DTH) digital TV and satellite broadband services for Europe and the Middle East. Confusingly, SES' Astra 2F satellite was launched 10 months before Astra 2E. Astra 2E is the second of three 'second generation' satellites for the 28.2°E position to replace the first generation Astra 2A, Astra 2B craft that served there since 1998 and 2000 respectively. A third craft in the series - Astra 2G - will be launched to 28.2°E in 2014 When Astra 2E becomes operational at 28.2°E, the Astra 1N satellite (currently co-located at 28.2°E) is expected to be moved to its design location of 19.2°E and the channels currently broadcasting from Astra 1N moved to Astra 2E

• published: 30 Sep 2013
• views: 101