BSB (Marco Polo) 1 & 2 31W

**Analoguesat** · 18-11-2007

These were the two craft that operated the BSB service into the UK in the late 1980's. Incredible as it may seem now it took one satellite to operate just 5 channels!

Marco Polo 1 was acquired in-orbit by Nordiska Satellitaktiebolaget in 1993, and operated until 2000 as Sirius 1 in the 5E orbital slot. It was then moved to 13 W, and renamed Sirius W and was operated in an inclined orbit.

Nordic Satellite AB expected it to be servicable past 2006, although BSB 1 was sent up to the junk orbit in May 2003

Marco Polo 2 was acquired in-orbit by Telenor of Norway in 1992, and renamed Thor 1. It was located at 0.8 W until it was switched off in January 2002. However, in November 2002, it was moved to 7.4W, and reactivated with digital test signals broadcasting towards Scandanavia. But, the end was near, and poor old Marco Polo 2 was sent up to the junk orbit in early January 2003..

**Analoguesat** · 18-11-2007

And heres a screengrab of the very last image to be transmitted off the BSB craft

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