SES awards contract for Astra 1M

Analoguesat

"SES ASTRA AWARDS ASTRA 1M CONTRACT TO EADS ASTRIUM

Eurostar E3000 satellite scheduled for launch into 19.2° East in 2008
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG) is pleased to announce that it has awarded the contract for the construction of its ASTRA 1M satellite to European manufacturer EADS Astrium.

EADS Astrium, as prime contractor for ASTRA 1M, will design and build the satellite and supply both the payload and the platform. European industry will supply the majority of the spacecraft equipment and technology. The satellite will provide a full range of television broadcasting services, including HDTV and other advanced audiovisual as well as broadband services.

The ASTRA 1M spacecraft will provide eventual replacement capacity at 19.2° East and will support and protect SES ASTRA's growth at the 28.2° East orbital position serving the UK and Irish markets. This growth is secured through ASTRA 1M protecting the timely relocation of ASTRA 2C to 28.2° East from its current position at 19.2° East, such relocation being nominally planned after the successful launches of ASTRA 1KR and ASTRA 1L. This strategy provides additional capacity to meet the strong demand in the UK and Irish markets, driven by the expected growth of HDTV services. This optimised fleet configuration will also release an additional 8 transponders for the African market.

EADS Astrium will manufacture the ASTRA 1M spacecraft based on its flight-proven and state-of-the-art Eurostar E3000 platform, the latest version of the Eurostar series, which first became part of the SES fleet with the ASTRA 2B spacecraft launched in September 2000.

ASTRA 1M will carry 36 transponders for the first five years (32 thereafter) covering the FSS and BSS frequency bands. The spacecraft will feature pan-European coverage. 150 Watt TWTA's (Travelling Wave Tube Amplifiers) will provide optimal output for reception on small sized dishes throughout the coverage area. The satellite will be specified for a minimum service life of 15 years. It will have a launch mass of 5300 kilograms, a solar array span of 35 metres once deployed in orbit, and spacecraft power of 10 kW at end of life. The ASTRA 1M spacecraft will be compatible with all flight proven launch vehicles. SES ASTRA will choose a launch service provider in the near future.

"We are most pleased to work with EADS Astrium on the ASTRA 1M mission, and building on our fruitful cooperation on ASTRA 2B", said Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. "Our decision is proof of the competitiveness of the European Space industry in general, and EADS Astrium in particular."

Antoine Bouvier, CEO of EADS Astrium, said: "We are delighted that SES ASTRA orders again an EADS Astrium satellite. Their decision to select us with an E3000 satellite confirms their confidence in the superior reliability of Eurostar and our industrial capability. We are convinced that this contract heralds a new phase of cooperation with SES ASTRA, who is a world leading operator and is recognized globally for its technical expertise."

BarMoo

This is pretty good news - especially for those of us who have spent the last years moaning about 2D

At least Astra now admit that 2C does, indeed, have real family and friends at 28.2°, LOL.

Now, when does 1KR and 1L launch? How does this tie-in with next years world cup and SKY's HD launch ???

Have Fun,

Mark.

Have Fun, Moo.

Analoguesat

1KR - late 2005 / early 2006
1L - late 2006

EgyptDUDE

okay but does this mean it will have a stronger transmition? wider coverage ? anything better for ppl outside UK ? i dont think so

Analoguesat

Well Astra 2C has pan European beams, so it will cover the whole of Europe when it slots at 28E next year. As for better for people outside the uk, if you are hoping the BBC ITV etc will switch to 2C - no chance. However you will get lots more UK shopping channels!

EgyptDUDE

shopping channels again

what do u expect the channels will move to it ? or new channels ?

will skky join ?

Analoguesat

Of course Sky will be using it. Thers 20 odd new transponders up for grabs. Its almost certain is that a lot of the 2C capacity will be used for HDTV - we know of 10 channels planning to launch in HDTV eventulally already, and at 2 HDTV channels per tp, thats 5 gone already.

BarMoo

There are 22 transponders on 2C in use today (haven't bothered to check if there is more capacity). Each transponder can easily manage three HD channels. So, that's potentially 66 HD channels, LOL.

Now all we need is some content

This might be the wrong thread to mention this (given the other HD thread), but I stumbled on to the HD-1 website (http://www.hd-1.tv/) and reminded myself that their service requires a conditional access card.

Since there are no HD channels I know of that are FTA - I will be watching to see if the BBC join SKY's encrypted (HD) service when it launches. I think that everyone will agree that there has to be more than a couple of channels for all the expense of HD.

So far we know that all HD programming is encrypted. I guess the BBC and other PSB's only have to chose why type. Given that all the PSB's are lazy buggers, I guess it will be Videoguard - since they will jump onto the SKY bandwagon without blinking.

What an interesting few months lie ahead

Have Fun,

Mark.

Have Fun, Moo.

ax197

Astra 2C is not as strong as 2A and 2B (at least based on the reception we have here in Athens). U need a 1.2m dish for a perfect 2A, 2B reception whereas for 2C U need something slightly larger.

I am not intending to upgrade to a larger dish until I see channels moving to 2C that are of interest to me ! ! !

Analoguesat

2C is the strongest at 19E here by quite a bit.


@ mljgmljg 2C has a capacity of 32 tp's

BarMoo

@ analoguesat, thanks for that albeit, give it a week and i'll forget.

Mark.

Have Fun, Moo.

Analoguesat

You can check basic details about dozens of the craft which have operated above Europe here:

http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/...omparison.html