Astra 2A
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (June 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
|
|
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2008) |
 |
This article or section is written like an advertisement. Please help rewrite this article from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising which would require a fundamental rewrite in order to become encyclopedic for speedy deletion, using {{db-spam}}. (June 2008) |
| General information | |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | August 30, 1998 |
| Launch Mass | 3,635 kg |
| Orbit Mass | |
| Manufacturer | Hughes |
| Model | HS-601HP |
| Launcher / Flight Number |
Proton / |
| Lifetime | 15 year |
| Transponder Information | |
| Transponder Capacity | 32 Ku band to be reduced to 28 as craft aged. |
| Twta output power | 28x98W |
| Bandwidth | 28x33 MHz |
| EIRP | 51 dBW |
| Sundries | |
| Expendable Energy | |
| Location | |
| Former location | 27°E (testing) |
| Current location | 28.2°E |
| List of broadcast satellites | |
Astra 2A is a communications satellite owned by SES Astra. Launched in 1998, half its expected end-of-life capacity of 28 transponders were pre-booked by BSkyB, who utilised it and a re-positioned Astra 1D to launch their new Sky Digital service. 21 transponders are active, as of 2006, with two of these active but unused.
The satellite suffered pre-launch technical issues with its apogee motors and was moved to a launch by the Proton rocket rather than the Ariane V, as the Proton was deemed more suitable considering the craft's precarious state.
When positioned at 28E, it joined DFS Kopernikus 1, which served mainly Eastern Europe. The satellite was the first of Astra's craft to never carry analogue television services, and as of 2006, carries standard definition digital television, digital radio, and high-definition digital television, as well as Sky Interactive streams and the AVC Broadband and Silvermead satellite internet services. Two beams, both of which transmit on horizontal and vertical polarisation, exist - "2A North" and "2A South". The South beam covers almost all of Europe, with the North beam covering only Northern Europe at a high power.
