Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 26/09/13 : Astra 2E satellite, the new UK TV satellite, and its launch vehicle, the Proton M rocket, have been rolled out onto Pad 39, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

This is in preparation for the launch on the evening of Sunday 29th (Eurotime) and 30th Sept (Baikonur Cosmodrome time).

Launch time: 2138 GMT Sunday / 22.38 UK and 23.36 Central Europe

The launch will also be shown live on Astra 19 East, frequency 11.023MHz SR 22000, FEC 5/6. The live stream will begin half an hour before the satellite launch.

Astra 2E is a communications satellite owned and operated by SES S.A. To be positioned at 28.2° East, it provides digital TV, radio, and broadband services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Built by Airbus Defence and Space, Astra 2E supports the transmission of HD and 3D TV channels.

The Proton-M rocket is a Russian heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. It was first launched in 2001 and is known for its reliability in delivering payloads to orbit, including satellites and space station modules. It uses hypergolic propellants and can carry large payloads.

Baikonur Cosmodrome, located in Kazakhstan, is the world’s oldest and largest spaceport. Established by the Soviet Union in 1955, it played a pivotal role in the early space race. Baikonur launched the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, in 1957. It also launched the first human, Yuri Gagarin, into space in 1961. The site remains a crucial launch facility for Russia’s space missions, including Soyuz spacecraft. Although originally part of the Soviet Union, Baikonur is now leased by Russia from Kazakhstan. Its vast, historic complex continues to be a cornerstone of global space exploration efforts.

More Astra 2E Satellite news and updates here