Just Sharing This Eutelsat @ 28.5 east

[william-1]

Eutelsat @ 28.5 east

Having lost the recent dispute to SES Astra to part of the Ku band spectrum @ 28.5 east,

Eutelsat now only has 12 transponders + feeds at this location compared to 28 to 30 transponders that they used to have,

Eutelsat 28A was launched on the 8th of April 2001 with an estimated life span of 12 years E28A is now 12 years & 8 months old & the transponder power levels are a lot lower now than 3 years ago so it must be replaced very soon,

Eutelsat have placed Eutelsat 28B on standby @ 28.5 east this satellite was launched on 20th December 2008 but due to damage sustained moving E28B from 3.1 test area to 16 east to replace replace W2 as W2M/E28B was unable to do this on it's own as intended Eutelsat could only operate 8 to 10 transponders at high power due to the severe damage was sustained by W2M

Eutelsat W2M suffered a major anomaly affecting the satellite's power subsystem. This anomaly occurred during the satellite's transfer from the location used for in-orbit tests to its operating position at 16 degrees East where its mission was to replace well in advance Eutelsat's W2 satellite.

As W2M could not complete this mission on it's own Sesat from 36 east & Hotbird 4 were moved to 16 east until the current Eutelsat 16A was launched to 16 east in October 2011,

Eutelsat 28B does not have sufficient power to replace 28A @ 28.5 east for the 12 transponders + occasional feeds at this location as no new satellite has been ordered for this location I wonder what Eutelsat will move from the current satellites fleet to support 28B @ 28.5 east ?

 

[william-1]

Satellites used by Eutelsat in Western Europe (Ku band)

Launch..Satellite........Type....................Location
2002 Eutelsat 12 West A GeoBus (Italsat Bus) 12.5 west
x 2001 Eutelsat 8 West A Spacebus-3000B2 8 west
x 2002 Eutelsat 8 West C Spacebus-3000B3 7.5 west
*2015 Eutelsat 8 West B Spacebus-4000C3 8 west
2011 Eutelsat 7 West A Eurostar-3000 7.3 west
x 2002 Eutelsat 5 West A Spacebus-3000B3 5 west
*2014 Eutelsat 3B Eurostar-3000 3.1 east
2013 Eutelsat 3D Spacebus-4000C3 3.1 east
2004 Eutelsat 7A Eurostar-3000S 7 east
2006 Eutelsat 9A Spacebus-3000B3 9 east
*2014 Eutelsat 9B / EDRS A Eurostar-3000 9 east
2009 Eutelsat 10A Spacebus-4000C4 10 east
2006 Hotbird 13B Eurostar-3000 13 east
2008 Hotbird 13C Eurostar-3000 13 east
2009 Hotbird 13D Eurostar-3000 13 east
2011 Eutelsat 16A Spacebus-4000C3 16 east
x 1998 Eutelsat 16B Eurostar 2000+ 15.8 east 1.3 inclined
x 2000 Eutelsat 16C MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-727) 14.5 east 1.1 inclined
2012 Eutelsat 21B Spacebus-4000C3 21.5 east
2013 Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail 1 LS-1300 25.5 east

x 2001 Eutelsat 28A Spacebus-3000B2 28.5 east
2008 Eutelsat 28B I-3K (I-3000) Bus 28.5 east suffered a major anomaly affecting the satellite's power subsystem on its way to 16 east 5 years ago this limits the satellites power supply,

2003 Eutelsat 33A Boeing BSS-376HP 33.1 east
x 2002 Eutelsat 33B 3000B2 33.1 east
2009 Eutelsat 36B Spacebus-4000C4 36 east
x 1996 Eutelsat 48A Eurostar 2000+ (48.2 east incl. 3.5°)
x 1999 Eutelsat 48C Spacebus-3000B2 48 east

x 2003 Express AM22/Sesat 2 MSS-2500-GSO (MSS-767) 53.0°E
* 2014 Express AM6 Express 2000 53 east

x 1999 Telstar 12 LS-1300E 15 west
* 2015 Telstar 12V Eurostar-3000 15 west

* = awaiting launch

x = Several satellites in this list are coming to the end of their life within the next 2 years.

 

[timo_w2s]

I was never sure how many transponders Eutelsat 28B could deliver, so if it is only 8 to 10 then that is not good news for them. Any idea how long 28B is expected to be in service? It would have had about 10 years of fuel left in it if it was working as planned.

Some people think Eutelsat will give up their slot altogether and sell it to SES. I'm not so sure. Could they do a deal and rent a few transponders off Astra 2F or 2G which should cover the remaining Eutelsat range and keep 28B going for the remainder?

 

[william-1]

That makes good sense as they already lease transponders from Telstar 12 @ 15 west & Sesat 2/Express AM22 @ 53 west for feeds so leasing from SES Astra would be the cheaper option @ 28 east.

Eutelsat 28B has 32 operational transponders but only power on board for 1/3 of this payload due to the damage to the solar array panels.

 

[Pride Of Cucamonga]

Eutelsat 28B has 32 operational transponders but only power on board for 1/3 of this payload due to the damage to the solar array panels.

So the solar panels got damaged in transit? What actually happened?

 

[william-1]

Eutelsat W2M suffered a major anomaly (W2M Hit a mystery object) affecting the satellite's power subsystem. This anomaly occurred during the satellite's transfer from the location used for in-orbit tests to its operating position at 16 degrees East where its mission was to replace well in advance Eutelsat's W2 satellite. In the interests of protecting continuity of service for clients leasing capacity at the 16 degrees East position, Eutelsat has consequently taken the decision that in the current circumstances W2M will not be integrated into Eutelsat's satellite fleet. Currently under the control of ISRO, the satellite is undergoing a full technical investigation by ISRO and EADS.

 

[william-1]

ISRO built W2M satellites develop snag, hurting ISRO’s credibility

A power system failure in the ISRO-EADS built W2M satellite for Paris-based communication satellite operators Eutelsat is an unprecedented problem for ISRO, say senior officials in the Indian space agency.

ISRO having enjoyed great success with indigenous satellites was making its first foray into the big business of satellite exports with the W2M project that fetched the agency US $33 million in revenue in a contract jointly executed with EADS.

While one major power system glitch has been reported in ISRO built satellite systems in the past -- in the Insat-2D in 1997 -- senior officials in the agency said the problems that are threatening to bring down the W2M "are totally different". "It comes after a series of over 10 successful satellite launches," the official said.

"Investigations are still on to pin point the problem. We have not been able to do that yet," the official said.

"A serious anomaly has occurred. Ground simulations are underway through the ISRO satellite centre and the Master Control Facility to put the satellite back on track," Director, Publicity & PR at ISRO S Satish said.

ISRO officials refused to comment as yet on the effect of a W2M failure on ISRO's efforts to be a major player in the space business.

Eutelsat reported the failure of the W2M satellite launched by the European Space Agency on December 20, 2008 through a communiqué on January 28 this year.

"Currently under the control of ISRO, the satellite is undergoing a full technical investigation by ISRO and EADS," the communiqué said while also stating that the satellite was not to the specification given to ISRO-EADS.

 

[Pride Of Cucamonga]

Eutelsat W2M suffered a major anomaly (W2M Hit a mystery object) affecting the satellite's power subsystem. This anomaly occurred during the satellite's transfer from the location used for in-orbit tests to its operating position at 16 degrees East

So did it hit a piece of space junk / meteor fragment or something? Is this more likely to happen in transit, or just coincidence? thanks

 

[C0re]

We don't really know and it's very likely that the technicians don't know the exact cause either.

I can receive the 2F UK beam perfectly on my small dish but a few transponders on the 28A are really suffering now in drizzle conditions. My signals:
11.222h 15-20% - with rain the signal is lost sometimes
11.224v 45-50%
11.259v 85%
11.261h 30%
11.307h 64%
11.307v 50%
11.344h 50%
11.344v 62%
11.389h 64%
11.390v 50%
11.426v 25-30%
11.428h 50%

As comparison 2F UK 11.024h 68%

11.222h en 11.426v are low.

If the 28B could only replace 10 transponders then 2 transponders have to be dropped. The last one 11.428h only transmits two radio channels, two tv channels and some Freesat data channels.

 

[timo_w2s]

If the 28B could only replace 10 transponders then 2 transponders have to be dropped. The last one 11.428h only transmits two radio channels, two tv channels and some Freesat data channels.

Yeah, that can go, I mean who really needs an EPG on Freesat anyway? ;)

Here are my quality ratings from a 60m dish in Southern UK:
C1 F 11.222GHz/H 66%
C2 F 11.224GHz/V 73%
C2 F 11.259GHz/V 80%
C1 F 11.264GHz/H 69%
C3 F 11.307GHz/H 74%
C4 F 11.307GHz/V 77%
C4 F 11.343GHz/V 78%
C3 F 11.344GHz/H 72%
C5 F 11.388GHz/H 76%
C6 F 11.390GHz/V 74%
C5 F 11.426GHz/H 73%
C6 F 11.426GHz/V 72%

They are the weakest but I haven't noticed much change over the last couple of years or so. Same goes for 2A, no noticeable change here.

For comparison: 1N PE and 2A 77-83%, 2F European 83-86%, 1N UK spot is about 84-87%, 2F UK spot 90-91%.

Readings from a Technomate TM6900 in dry weather.

 

[C0re]

Here it was raining during the time of measuring (one hour ago).

 

[timo_w2s]

Just looking at my figures again for 11.222GHz/H and I can see it has gone down a few percent from 69% back in 2011 to 66% today but a few other 28A transponders have gone up by a couple of percent over the same period. Equipment has all stayed the same over the years I've taken readings.

11.222GHz/H is definitely the weakest transponder for me at 28E though.

 

[C0re]

Yeah, that can go, I mean who really needs an EPG on Freesat anyway? ;)

Haha, I don't know how much space the EPG takes? It could move to another transponder already in use.

 

[timo_w2s]

Haha, I don't know how much space the EPG takes? It could move to another transponder already in use.

Yes I agree, it does seem underused. Like the Sky EPG on 11.778V used to have a bunch of channels on it at one point too but doesn't contain much any more.

 

[Huevos]

Haha, I don't know how much space the EPG takes? It could move to another transponder already in use.

No it can't move. This is a default transponder written into the firmware of all Freesat boxes. If that transponder is closed all Freesat boxes will be dustbin fodder.

 

[C0re]

Some channels from another 28A transponder can move to that mux.

 

[Analoguesat]

Some channels from another 28A transponder can move to that mux.

IIRC that mux isnt put through the Sky adaptation hub(s) so any channels that transmit on Sky would disappear off the epg

 

[timo_w2s]

No it can't move. This is a default transponder written into the firmware of all Freesat boxes. If that transponder is closed all Freesat boxes will be dustbin fodder.

Yikes, so if Eutelsat was to leave SES would need to make sure their frequencies are out of sync for this transponder then!