Astra 2E: General Discussion (Post-Testing)

[C0re]

The Ka band testing would be complete too by now. There aren't that many Ka transponders to test, right?

 

[Menorca Man]

Makes you wonder whether there might be a problem with either the thrusters or guidance and control? The longer the channels I watch remain on 1F the better as far as this Menorcan resident is concerned!!

 

[sonnetpete]

On the evidence I've seen on n2yo, 2E was (for most of last week) drifting extremely slowly eastwards, by 0.01 degrees per day. Then at the end of the week it began drifting west. From the change of direction, I'd say that at least the thrusters are ok.

 

[cazhh]

When 1H ends up at 28.2 we'll know that something is wrong

 

[dvdfilm]

I've never seen a new SES sat being on hold for so long.
I agree that Ka tps should have been tested by now.
Also,if the delay is because of other sat movements in the fleet,as suggested,I'd be surprised that for once Murdoch is denied priority..

 

[Schroeder]

I've never seen a new SES sat being on hold for so long.
I agree that Ka tps should have been tested by now.
Also,if the delay is because of other sat movements in the fleet,as suggested,I'd be surprised that for once Murdoch is denied priority..

It's primarily for Freesat (improved spot beam). I doubt it bothers Murdoch if the satellite moves now or next year, he gets revenue from subscriptions and he may not get more one it's in place, he may even get less if some places lose signal.

 

[timo_w2s]

Is there a limit to how "lazily" a satellite can go without causing a traffic jam? What if someone else wants to shift a satellite in the mean time? I wonder if there are speed limits near the Clarke belt?

 

[Schroeder]

Is there a limit to how "lazily" a satellite can go without causing a traffic jam? What if someone else wants to shift a satellite in the mean time? I wonder if there are speed limits near the Clarke belt?

I guess that is down to how far above (or below) the Clarke Belt is the minimum distance for moving. The higher/lower you go above/below it determines how fast you travel. 1H is moving slowly and that is not very high, approx 50 km above the Clarke Belt, 2F was about 100 km above and move somewhat faster. Maybe it's not safe to move much lower that 50km.

 

[Waveguide]

Is there a limit to how "lazily" a satellite can go without causing a traffic jam? What if someone else wants to shift a satellite in the mean time? I wonder if there are speed limits near the Clarke belt?

Clearly a parking violation as things have developed!
The authorities are obviously trying to tow it away, you can clearly see the
traktor-beam in the picture. 2E is the faint one top center.
A stuck parking brake or "soppatorsk" perhaps.



Below the traktor-beam is another funny creature, it always appears in the same
position slowly going north. A bright object always followed by a fainter one next to it.
No lens flare, no other bright objects looks like this. Any space-stuff travelling in pairs?

2E is firmly parked in the same position. Where do we send the parking tickets?

 

[Huevos]

If they're really going to wait until next year to start transmission then I don't understand why they don't send it on a lazy path now thus saving fuel.

Under ITU rules there is a minimum amount that you have to raise/lower the orbit, so that it doesn't interfere with static geosats.

 

[PaulR]

Yes, Schroeder has already alluded to that. But there still must be a reason they're not despatching it now at the slowest allowable pace.

 

[Huevos]

Below the traktor-beam is another funny creature, it always appears in the same position slowly going north. A bright object always followed by a fainter one next to it.

I've got that in one of my pictures too, but can't detect the fainter one. Obviously going east/west 100% in sync with the earth's rotation.

 

[Huevos]

there still must be a reason they're not despatching it now at the slowest allowable pace.

Most likely tests that we don't have the equipment to monitor.

 

[smoggy07]

Just a thought, has there been any solar flares that the bods could be worried about, or maybe something is due to pass by the Clarke belt that they want to avoid?

[EDIT]

Most likely tests that we don't have the equipment to monitor.

Telemetry or some kind of systems data perhaps

I wonder if it has a military payload? I know there are mil sats up there, I think one is co-located at 13E or there about

It would explain why its gone quiet for us hobbyists if a military payload is being tested (+ SES nor the military involved wouldn't exactly advertise the fact they had a payload up there), anyone got any UHF ears to point up there lol

 

[Waveguide]

I've got that in one of my pictures too, but can't detect the fainter one. Obviously going east/west 100% in sync with the earth's rotation.

I was sure it was some lensflare but in this image the star-trail is blown with all pixels at 255
but still no visible "copy" of it. The double trail is below 190 as highest level. No editing at all,
just cropped to size.

 

[hvdh]

Actually for a long time already, we have Thuraya-2 at 44.0 East with 3.7 degree inclination, that is always closely accompanied by US spysat Mentor 4 (NROL-26).
http://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/search/label/Thuraya 2

 

[cazhh]

OMG. I'm soo excited. I thought i give it a try. Still very hazy, but nice stars visible in the North east, South east all hazy, no stars visible with the plain eye.
Anyways, i wanted to give it a try and see what i can get. Aaaaaand:



What do you think ? Are those Satellites ? Center should be roundabout 28.2.

 

[Waveguide]

Welcome to the club cazhh - you passed the test at the first attempt!

@ hvdh - That means a very bright reference in a very convenient place.
I must get more practice in identifying known objects from the list you sent.
Thanks a lot!

 

[hvdh]

Yes these NROL satellites with big ears could be brigher!
In the list, so far I keep the classified satellites separate from the main list, because of the different TLE source.
Maybe I could merge them, then such constellations are more apparent.
http://members.ziggo.nl/hvdh16/Sats/Sats.htm

Another constellation nearby you could try are:
47.5 E: Intelsat 10
47.6 E: Yahsat 1B
47.7 E: P360/PAN (still engulfed with mystery)
48.0 E: Eutelsat 48C (inclined 0.8°)
48.2 E: Eutelsat 48A (inclined 4.0°)
At about 20:20 UTC the Eutelsats should be about in line with the others on the belt.

 

[Huevos]

The double trail is below 190 as highest level. No editing at all, just cropped to size.

Here's a stack of three 30 second images with some object moving north/south. Looks like it's moved about 0.08ºover the 90 second exposure.