Astra 1B
Astra 1B [SES]
The Luxembourg-based Societe Europeenne des Satellites (SES) provides telecommunications services to most of Europe via American-manufactured spacecraft.
In 1989 SES acquired the incomplete Satcom K3 and modified it for the use as a european direct broadcasting satellite.
Astra 1B is based on Lockheed-Martin (GE Astro Space) spacecraft buses, a 1.5 metric ton AS-5000 series platform. Astra 1B has overall dimensions of 2.2 m by 2.2 m by 2.8 m with a solar panel span of 24.3 m and 4.9 kW. The spacecraft carries 16 active 60W Ku-band transponders.
| Nation: | Luxembourg |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Communication (Direct Broadcasting) |
| Operator: | SES |
| Contractors: | GE Astrospace |
| Equipment: | 16 (+6) Ku-band transponders |
| Configuration: | AS-5000 |
| Propulsion: | 2 LEROS-1 |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 12 years |
| Mass: | 2580 kg (2617 kg ?) |
| Orbit: | GEO |
| Satellite | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra 1B (ex Satcom K3) | 02.03.1991 | Ko ELA-2 | Ariane-44LP H10 | with Meteosat 5 |
Further Astra missions:
- Astra 1A (AS-4000)
- Astra 1B (AS-5000)
- Astra 1C, 1D (HS-601)
- Astra 1E, 1F (HS-601)
- Astra 1G, 1H, 2A, 2C (BSS-601HP)
- Astra 1K (Spacebus-3000B3S)
- Astra 1KR (A2100AXS)
- Astra 1L (A2100AXS)
- Astra 1M (Eurostar-3000)
- Astra 1N (Eurostar-3000)
- Astra 2B (Eurostar-2000+)
- Astra 2D, 3A (BSS-376HP)
- Astra 2E, 2F, 2G, 5B (Eurostar-3000)
- Astra 3B (Eurostar-3000)
Astra 4A(Spacebus-4000C3)- Astra 4A (A2100AXS)
- Astra 4B (LS-1300)
- Astra 5A (Spacebus-3000B2)
