Next generation of "Eutelsat Quantum" Class satellite

william-1

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Eutelsat breaks new ground with software-defined “Eutelsat Quantum" class satellite
Paris, 8 December 2014 - Eutelsat Communications (NYSE Euronext Paris: ETL) announces a ground-breaking programme that will raise the bar for service delivery by enabling its clients for the first time to actively define the performance and flexibility they need from a satellite. The innovative software-defined “Eutelsat Quantum” class of satellites will set new standards in terms of coverage, bandwidth, power and frequency configurability for users operating in government, mobility and data markets.
The development of the core technologies integrated into the "Eutelsat Quantum" design will be supported by ESA following the approval by its Council on December 2 of this new programme within the framework of a Public-Private Partnership with Eutelsat. The first satellite, to be launched in 2018, will be primed and manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space (ADS) in the UK using its innovative flexible payload technology and a new platform from its affiliate, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL). Both developments are supported by the UK Space Agency.
The new design will represent a first in the commercial satellite industry by enabling the complete electronic synthesis of ‘receive’ and ‘transmit’ coverages in the Ku-band, including on-board jamming detection and mitigation. It will give customers access to premium capacity through footprint shaping and steering, power (Mbps) and frequency band pairing that they will be able to actively define.
By adapting dynamically to all frequency bands in each ITU region, the "Eutelsat Quantum" class satellite will also be the first generation of universal satellites able to serve any region of the world. This ability to mirror or complement another satellite anywhere in geostationary orbit will offer a level of flexibility that will transform fleet management and enable a significantly more efficient use of resources.
Michel de Rosen, Chairman and CEO of Eutelsat, said: “We are delighted to initiate this ground-breaking programme with the support of ESA, as well as our longstanding partner, Airbus Defence and Space. Developing solutions that give our customers control over the performance and adaptability they need from our satellites is a key ambition for Eutelsat. With the “Eutelsat Quantum”’ class of satellite we will deliver on this goal, offering an incomparable level of efficiency and flexibility in data, mobility and government services markets.”
http://www.eutelsat.com/home/news/p...ontainer/eutelsat-breaks-new-ground-with.html
 

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Captain Jack

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I don't like the sound of this.... almost sounds like another nail in the coffin for DXers.
 

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It's a long way in the future as most of the current satellites will still be in orbit for a decade or more,
Estimated end of operational use in a stable orbit,
33 east 2016
28.5 east 2018
5 west 2019
12.5 west 2018
 

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Analoguesat

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28A is not going to last that long - the old girl is noticably down on power these days. If Eutelsat get another 12 months out of her in front line service Id be surprised.
 

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28A is not going to last that long - the old girl is noticably down on power these days. If Eutelsat get another 12 months out of her in front line service Id be surprised.

Yes that is what I thought but not according to Eutelsat
http://www.eutelsat.com/files/contributed/investors/pdf/reference-document-2013-2014.pdf

Maybe the document is just to impress the investors but in the real world things are different & they could be in trouble unless they can find a way to re-fuel old satellites :)

Eutelsat 28A is very low on fuel only has a couple of months left in stable orbit 2015 1st Qtr http://www.flysat.com/e28a-info.php
Eutelsat 33B @ 33 east 2014 http://www.flysat.com/e33b-info.php
Stellat 5/Eutelsat @ 5 west 2017 1st Qtr http://www.flysat.com/e5wa-info.php
Eutelsat @ 12.5 west 2017 3rd Qtr http://www.flysat.com/e12wa-info.php

The rest of the figures in the Eutelsat document look like some creative accounting has been been at work :eek:
As the Eutelsat's sums do not add up when compared these:-
http://www.flysat.com/sat-info-europe.php
http://www.flysat.com/sat-info-atlantic.php

The one that made me laugh was Eutelsat 8 west A due to go into inclined orbit 2014 2nd Qtr but according to Eutelsat it will be at a stable orbit until 2nd Qtr 2019 ;)
But in reality http://www.flysat.com/e8wa-info.php virtually gone :eek:
 

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Maybe the document is just to impress the investors but in the real world things are different & they could be in trouble unless they can find a way to re-fuel old satellites :)

Quite a few of the satellites in orbit (Astra 2A and Eutelsat 28A being obvious ones) are now operating well beyond there original design lives - I wonder if this is a combination of factors:-
1) The design life being the period it could operate with it's full complement of transponders in non-inclined orbit (therefore as as neither Eurobird or 2A are operating their full complement of transponders they aren't classed as within design life)
2) An excess of capacity meaning inclined orbit satellites are less useful - therefore you may as well get an extra 2-3 years DTH use out of it rather than 5-6 years of lightly used SNG use)
3) The stronger signals they put out allowing them to reduce station keeping fuel burns - if you can save 4% a year (2 weeks ish) over a ten year design life that gives you another half year - possibly compensated by slightly increasing power when at the fringes
4) The newer generation equipment being more reliable in service than originally planned for therefore the transponders lasting longer (also modern craft having more spares - see Astra 1A having 16 with 0 spares, Astra 1C having 18 + 3 IIRC, Astra 2B having 28 + 4 with most of it's life spent operating only ~20 - i.e. 14 spares) meaning it becomes fuel limited rather than transponder limited
5) The design life being conservative and how long insurance (etc) lasts*

In the latter case we know that as stuff gets old it starts to break and from what we know both Astra and Eutelsat have different plans of action at 28.2'E
i.e. Astra has Astra 2C ready and waiting saving it's transponders (even though the footprint is suboptimal) and extra capacity is being held back on 2E and 2F.
Eutelsat have various craft which are lightly used so if Eurobird was to fail they can shunt another one across (see Eutelsat 48B - 28:cool: with non-DTH stuff being shuffled around (e.g. if they were a bit short of SNG stuff after losing 48B they could use Hotbird, 36'E etc if the other options were unviable for a specific customer). Eurobird's rates are known to be cheaper and presumably part of this is the expectation that a catastrophic failure would result in a longer loss of service than Astra (although it wouldn't surprise me if Arqiva had an agreement with Astra to use "spare" capacity should the need arise with the obvious delay in Sky and Freesat boxes seeing the services in there new homes).

* So taking Eurobird and 2A as examples - if those were to have failed in 2005 then the insurance will probably have covered any compensation the operators needed to pay out, but now it may not do. Therefore SES will have done one or more of a number of things, such as Kept the rates the same / reduced them on the understanding of a failure of 2A then capacity would be forthcoming on a co-located satellite within a few minutes / hours; Continued to charge the same rates, but in the event of failure just pay out; Come to an agreement with the insurer to review the performance of the craft more frequently and adjust the premiums/agreement as required.

With regards to point 1 Eutelsat / Astra will have been monitoring them throughout their lives and have a good feel as to how long they will last (and what their future plans are). With a satellite like Eurobird that has 30 transponders (including six spares) using it at a position like 28.'5E (where only 8 can be used) some of these limitations may be less relevant. (e.g. if it still has 16 working and based on usage they are expecting one failure a year then the fuel becomes the limiting factor.

It's obviously in Astra's interest to minimise they usage of their new craft (no point burning out all the transponders now meaning it becomes a bit useless at EOL even though it's got a few more years fuel).

IIRC the three limiting factors for a satellites life operating at maximum power, with a full complement of transponders in geostationary orbit are:-
1) Fuel - once it's gone it's gone
2) Transponders - once they fail (typically start failing after ~10 years) you're onto the spares
and also
3) Solar panel degradation (i.e. scratches and space dust reducing the amount of power generated)
4) Other wear and tear (i.e. heat/cooling cycle).

Therefore if the fuel can be used as sparingly as possible, and you have an excess of spare transponders you can keep the satellite going until the fuel runs out provided the rest of it doesn't start to fail. The solar panel degradation becomes immaterial towards EOL as there are fewer transponders to power (IIRC Astra 1A was designed to have only 14 operational by 1999 but didn't have any spares so that was to be expected - and even if all 16 were still working* then the solar panel degradation would have meant two being turned off).
* IIRC two had gone faulty pretty early on and were taken over by Astra 1C.
 

hvdh

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Eutelsat's Reference Document 2014-2015 was issued today (in French, English should be out soon).
Investors - Reference document - Eutelsat

See page 18 & 19 for the fleet.
Eutelsat 33B will end stable operation in 2015Q4. Indeed inclination is climbing already.
Eutelsat 33C (ex 28A) is missing in the list (the only one of Eutelsat's fleet).
Anyway, 8WC will become 33D in 2 weeks, and stable operation is listed until 2017Q4.
 

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So the oldest bird still on Eutelsat's books is Eute 48A (launch Nov 1996 as Hotbird 2!)
 

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Eutelsat Reference document 2015-2016 was issued today!
http://www.eutelsat.com/files/contributed/investors/pdf/AG2016/Eutelsat Communications Reference Document 2015-2016.pdf

Edit: not much surprises in the satellite list, except these names that were never revealed on the site:

Eutelsat 36A that spent some time at 70.5°E is being referred to as Eutelsat 70C.
Now at 88.5°E, but without a new name.

Eutelsat 33D that spent some time at 70.3°E is being referred to as Eutelsat 70D.
Now end-of-life.
 
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eutelsay say will be launch 2019
 

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Eutelsat 12 West B 12.5°West europe, M E, americas 26 Ku 31 Ku september 2001 end of geostationary orbit Q1 2019,
What will replace Eutelsat 12 West B next year ?
I do not think it will be Eutelsat Quantum but you never know,

Other possibilities that depend on successful launches of replacement satellites Eutelsat 7C & Hotbird's 13f & 13G,
Eutelsat 7A will probably move here & be renamed Eutelsat 12 West C,

Much later:-
One of the Hotbirds from 13 East may move here after 2021 probably 13E.
 
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2 Hot Bird sats, launch 2021, to replace 3 Hot Birds at 13degE. All-electric Eurostar Neo platform to provide 22kW power, 4,500kg launch mass.
 

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It is almost certain that specific beams will be designed for Poland.
 
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