The Astra 1P satellite, currently being assembled at the Thales Alenia Space premises in Cannes,
will be sent into space in the second half of 2024 from Florida.
The expert hands of the Thales Alenia Space site in Cannes are currently hard at work completing the finalization of the Astra 1P wide-beam telecommunications satellite. A work intended for SES, a major telecommunications operator based in Luxembourg.
“It will be positioned at 36,000 kilometers, in geostationary orbit. At this distance, its rotation around the earth will take the same time as our planet to complete one revolution on itself. It will therefore be virtually fixed,” explains Jean-Michel Bretagne , project manager of the Astra 1P satellite.
100% electric platform
Intended to replace three satellites, and planned for around fifteen years of use, the work is based on the powerful 100% electric Spacebus NEO platform, designed and developed by Thales Alenia Space. This has already proven itself in orbit, with six satellites in operation, including SES-17 for SES. ASTRA 1P aims to strengthen SES's core TV position, providing extensive coverage to countries such as Germany, Spain and France. Since the signing of the contract between SES and Thales Alenia Space, the project has made good progress.
“A large module assembled in Toulouse and another, smaller one, assembled on the Cannes site, were grouped together a few weeks ago.
The satellite will be finalized in the second quarter of 2024, for launch aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from SpaceX in the summer, from Cape Canaveral in Florida” specifies Jean-Michel Bretagne. The Thales Alenia Space team will travel to the firing range, to check that the transport has not caused any damage, the good health of the satellite and the temperature under the launcher fairing, among other things.
A follow-up from Cannes
As soon as the satellite separates from the rocket, the telemetry will be verified from Cannes. Electric platform requires,
Astra 1P will take four to five months to reach the planned orbit. Much longer than the ten days needed to reach geosynchronous orbit via chemical propulsion. “But electric makes it possible to carry more mass or to send a lighter assembly” adds the project manager.
With a launch mass of around five tonnes, and a height of almost seven meters, the satellite reaches 45 meters after deployment of the solar panels. “The power of the 20kW payload will make Astra 1P one of the most powerful satellites in geosynchronous orbit,” says Florent Bire, head of assembly, integration and testing for Astra 1P at Thales Alenia Space.