Astra 2C's move to 28.2E

Not misplaced. Most satellites located at 19.2, 23.5 and 28.2 are interchangeable as back up system and do have similar footprints.
 
Not misplaced. Most satellites located at 19.2, 23.5 and 28.2 are interchangeable as back up system and do have similar footprints.

Shouldn't the footprint shift 9 degrees east and slightly south (?) when moved from 19.2 to 28.2?
 
That's correct, but it doesn't shift parallelly but it somewhat heels over.
 
That's correct, but it doesn't shift parallel but it somewhat heals over.

Hence my question of whether the footprint image is for 2C at 19.2 or 28.2?
 
In that link it's the footprint at 19.2. But at 28.2 it won't be different a lot, the Canary spot will remain.
 
So according to the fact sheet it could replace 2A?
Well, the lower half of 2A but oddly they moved most of 2A's transponders out of reach of 2C when 2E arrived.

Hence my question of whether the footprint image is for 2C at 19.2 or 28.2?
I've attached some footprints of 2C at 28.2E from 2009.
 

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The footprint does have to point 9degrees further over because the satellite moves 9 degrees. But it does happen when the satellite is at test location because the satellite is tested with the same geocentric orientation.
 
The footprint does have to point 9degrees further over because the satellite moves 9 degrees. But it does happen when the satellite is at test location because the satellite is tested with the same geocentric orientation.
Yep, you just need to see some of the current footprints at 31.5E to see how they can reorient the old beams to suit that position better.
 
Well, the lower half of 2A but oddly they moved most of 2A's transponders out of reach of 2C when 2E arrived.


I've attached some footprints of 2C at 28.2E from 2009.

maybe return same footprint like 2009
 
Yep, you just need to see some of the current footprints at 31.5E to see how they can reorient the old beams to suit that position better.

Doesn't it depend on the satellite? Here is a picture of 1N's footprint when it was at 28.2 and it's quite a bit off, as seen by mislocation of Canary spot and shape of Italy. http://robssatellitetv.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/astra-1n_pan_european_ku_band_beam2_L.jpg

Also, according to SES website http://www.ses.com/4628719/astra-2c , 2C has one pan European beam, not north / south. Maybe they are just showing the south beam?
 
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Doesn't it depend on the satellite? Here is a picture of 1N's footprint when it was at 28.2 and it's quite a bit off, as seen by mislocation of Canary spot and shape of Italy. http://robssatellitetv.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/astra-1n_pan_european_ku_band_beam2_L.jpg
Doesn't it depend where they want to point to beams? Tilting the beam north/south/east/west.

Also, according to SES website http://www.ses.com/4628719/astra-2c , 2C has one pan European beam, not north / south. Maybe they are just showing the south beam?
I wouldn't take too much notice of the SES site, according to that 1N now has just one European beam (ex PE2)...
 
Doesn't it depend where they want to point to beams? Tilting the beam north/south/east/west.

I don't think the Astra satellites are designed with steering options on the European beams. And why would they? Extra costs and more to go wrong for very little benefit.
 
Even so, the attitude of the entire craft can be trimmed.
 
I don't think the Astra satellites are designed with steering options on the European beams. And why would they? Extra costs and more to go wrong for very little benefit.
They are not steerable in the true sense, but look at the beams of the old birds at 31.5E to see how fixed footprints can be manipulated.
 

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astra 2c is at 21.8 right now.. anybody knows when it's expected to arrive??
 
No, but at a rate of around 0.6 deg/day, extrapolation suggests around 10 days.

But there appears to be no haste - we originally thought it would move more or less immediately after 1N assumed service at 19.2E.

And SES-Astra don't provide anything but the most rudimentary PR.



PS: Which Tracking Resource are you using?
 
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