Astra 2E Satellite News Updates.

The Astra 2E satellite is a commercial communications satellite built by Astrium, France. Astra 2E will be operated by by SES, Luxembourg.

Astra 2E, along with two other new Astra 2 satellites, Astra 2F, and Astra 2G, will be replacing Astra 2A, Astra 2B Astra 2C, Astra 2D and Eurobird 1 / Eutelsat 28A satellites at 28.2° E.

(Latest Astra 2E Satellite News Updates at the top)

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : March 14 : Astra 2E currently operational, carrying channels from BBC, ITV Channel Four and Sky TV. Astra 2F reception in Spain varies a lot, but without the “total loss of all UK TV” that some people selling Internet TV / IPTV / Android / Brit TV boxes in Spain said would happen

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 15/02/14 : According to reports, now that the old “temporary satellite” has been cleared of UK TV channels, and is now on its ways to its correct position, the new Astra 2E satellite is being moved in the position vacated by 1N. This has resulted in a small improvement in its reception in the last day or so.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 15/02/14 : Some people, particularly in Barcelona, Tarragona, Murcia, Almeria, Costa del Sol, and Portugal, who lost their BBC and ITV channels in the recent satellite swap from from Astra 1N to Astra 2E have noticed some improvement in their reception in the last few days on their current dishes. Some have noticed that some of the lost channels are starting to reappear.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 11/02/14 : ITV and Channel 4 move to the new Astra 2 satellite – Reception reports – some areas notice little change. Some people loss BBC channels on their current dishes in Barcelona, Tarragona, Murcia, Almeria, Costa del Sol, and Portugal. https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/astra-2e-loss-bbc-channel-spain-reception-reports/

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 06/02/14 : BBC Channels (and Irish RTEs) move to the new Astra 2 satellite – Reception reports – some areas notice little change. Some people loss BBC channels on their current dishes in Barcelona, Tarragona, Murcia, Almeria, Costa del Sol, and Portugal. https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/astra-2e-loss-bbc-channel-spain-reception-reports/

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 06/02/14 : BBC Channels move to the new Astra 2 satellite – https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/bbc-spain-satellite-move-changes-reception-details/

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 04/02/14 : BBC channels to move from Astra 1N to Astra 2E in the “early hours” of Thursday, 6th February 2014. https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2014/02/bbc-channel-move-astra-1n-astra-2n-week/

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 04/02/14 : A list of what we think re the frequencies and channel affected by this morings satellite changeover from Astra 2A to Astra 2E
11.720 H : MTV Live HD, Sky Sports 2 HD, Lifetime HD
11.758 H : Disney XD HD, Animal Planet HD, ITV 2 HD, ITV 3 HD, ITV 4 HD
11.778 v : Sky Guide / EPG
11.798 H : Sky Sports HD 1, Sky Sports News HD, Sky Living HD, Sky Sports 1 HD, Sky Sp NewsHD, Channel 5 HD
11.836 H : Sky Action, Sky Comedy, Sky SciFi / Horror, Sky Select, Sky Disney, Sky Family, Sky Movies Premier, Sky Movies Premier +1, Sky Thriller, Sky Valentine, Sky Modern Greats
11.856 H : Eurosport HD, Fox HD U.K., E4 HD, Eurosport 2 HD
11.914 H : Sky Atlantic +1
11.934 V : Sky intro, Sky Box Office
12.012 H : Sky Family HD, Sky Movies Premiere HD, Sky Thriller HD, Sky Select HD UK
12.344 H : Sky Sports HD 4, Sky Atlantic HD, Sky1 HD, Sky Sports 2 HD,
12.383 H : Sky Insider HD, Universal HD UK, Dave HD, E! HD, Alibi HD
12.460 H : Sky 3D, Sky News HD, Sky Arts 1 HD, Sky Showcase HD

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 04/02/14 : UK TV Satellite Update: It looks, note looks, like some channels from Astra 2A (north and south beams) have been moved to 2E.
So for some sky channels reception in some areas may have changed. In Spain for the better. It looks like 11778 – the sky epg frequency on 11778 has also moved – which is good news for Spain, as there is no need to change the “default transponder frequency” as it is now on a stronger beams! We shall be confirming this during the day, but o far no changes to BBC or ITV channels.

Some channels that used to be hard to receive in the middle of the afternoon even on 2,.4m dishes, because they were on the Astra 2A north beam, are now located on the Astra 2E European beam. Meaning reception of channel like Sky Movies, and some HD channels reception should be better…even on smaller dishes.

Reports are that the following frequencies have moved to the new satellite : 11856V, 11.934V, 11.914H, 12.012V, 11.720H,11.739V, 11.758H, 11.778V, 11.798H, 11.836H. None of these carry BBC or ITV or C4.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 31/01/14 : New UK TV Satellite Update : SES (who own the satellite) announces that the ASTRA 2E satellite enters into commercial service at 28.2/28.5 degrees East on February 1, 2014. ASTRA 2E has now been deployed at its final destination in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East, where it is co-positioned with ASTRA 2A, ASTRA 2F and ASTRA 1N. Over the coming weeks, BSkyB, Channel4, ITV and BBC programming in this arc will be transitioned to the new satellite with its powerful footprint over the British Isles. Note that this does not mean that channels will start to move to the new satellite immediately, but rather the satellite will be in position and ready for operation.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 30/01/14 : The latest update is the Astra 2E is currently at 29 east. So it will be at the UK TV slot of 28 east in the next few days.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 27/01/14 : The latest update is the Astra 2E is currently at 31.6 east. So it will be at the UK TV slot of 28 east in the next few days.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 18/01/14 : Astra 2E is moving towards the UK TV location of 28 east. At the time of writing, it is at 39 east and moving slowly. It is expected to be at the UK TV location of 28 east around the 31st January 2014.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 14/01/14 : According to various satellite tracking websites, Astra 2E is finally on its way from its test location of 43 east, towards the UK TV location of 28 east. At the time of writing, it is at 42 east and moving slowly. So it will take several days for it to move into location, and then it is expected a few test frequencies will be fired up, and only then can we start to work out its reception in Spain.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 12/12/13 : SES have confirmed that they expect channels to be moved from Astra 1N to Astra 2E in “early February 2014”.

Latest from SES:
“As part of SES’ ongoing fleet renewal programme, we will be transferring all the UK Spot Beam transponders currently operating on ASTRA 1N across to ASTRA 2E. This move at the 28.2/28.5ºEast orbital location will take place over several weeks beginning early February 2014. The transfer will have no adverse implications for viewers in the UK and Ireland as the affected channels will continue to operate on the same frequencies and will be broadcast at the same, or slightly improved power levels, across the UK and Ireland. TV viewers outside the UK and Ireland may see an impact and may not be able to receive channels from ASTRA 2E UK Spot Beam, which has a smaller footprint than ASTRA 1N. The new footprint on SES’ replacement fleet has been designed to meet the requirements of UK and Irish broadcasters who target their channels for distribution in the UK and/or Ireland. UK and Irish broadcasters hold broadcasting rights only for the UK and/or Ireland but not for other countries.”

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 03/12/13 :Astra 2E is still located at 43east. Current telemetry from tracking sites suggests Astra 2E has still not started its move to 28 east, the UK TV satellite slot. This means that it is increasingly unlikely that any changes to UK TV reception in Spain will happen before Christmas,
despite what some “scaremongering IPTV” retailers say… Why? Well it will take 10-14 days to move Astra 2E from 32 east to 28 east. And Sky place a “freeze” on their Sky Guide EPG around Christmas time, when they do not make any changes to their EPG so as not to disrupt viewing over Christmas. However, as channels will simply be moving from one
satellite (1N) to another (2E), and will probably be using the same frequencies, this should, as far as we know, not require any changes to any Sky data, so perhaps this “Sky Guide EPG close out” may not apply?.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 28/11/13 :Astra 2E is still located at 43east. But at the moment it is unknown as to why it has not yet started to move to the UK TV Astra slot at 28 east. This means that is it still unclear as to when UK TV transmissions from the likes of BBC ITV C4 will commence from Astra 2E. Will it start before Christmas or in the New Year? We simply do not know at the moment…

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 18/11/13 :Astra 2E is still located at 43east. But from lack of activity today, perhaps the test phase is over. So now we have to wait for Astra 2E to move locations, from 43 east to 28 east, a process that takes about 10-12 days.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update : 15/11/13 :Astra 2E is still located at 43east undergoing tests. These tests should be by now in their final stages, so hopefully in the next week or so it will start to be moved to 28 east, prior to a late November . December start of UK TV transmissions.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 01/11/13 : Astra 2E satellite is still performing tests at the test location of 43 east. It has been suggested that Astra 2E will be moved to the UK TV / Sky TV position of 28 east, and be operational and transmitting UK TV channels from late November 2013 or early December 2013.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 10/10/13 : Astra 2E has now reached the testing position. Astra 2E is now located at 43.5 east, the test location.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 06/10/13 : Astra 2E satellite is slowly moving to 43 east, its its test location. It is expected to be there around the 10th October, after which testing will commence for several weeks.

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, in preparation for its launch on Sunday night.

Astra 2E Satellite News Updatev: 26/09/13 : You can watch the launch of Astra 2E live Astra 19 East, frequency 11.023MHz SR 22000, FEC 5/6, and will begin half an hour before the satellite launch.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 23/09/13 : According to reports a launch time has now been confirmed for 21:38 (GMT) on the 29th of September or 05:38 local on the 30th of September.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 11/09/13 : Astra 2E Launch Date Update : “The Astra 2E mission team is preparing for the launch on September 30. While ILS and Khrunichev did address a technical issue during this delay, the primary purpose of the delay was to accommodate a joint review by the Russian and Kazakhstan government to address environmental and safety concerns. ” – from : spacenews.com/article/launch-report/37316delayed-proton-mission-now-scheduled-for-sept-30

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 11/09/13 : Rumours that the new launch date for Astra 2E is the 30th September, but nothing from official sources.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 10/09/13 : Reports from Ukraine are saying that the launch of Astra 2E on the 16th / 17th September has again been delayed. “A technical problem was found during the final inspection of the rocket Proton carrying the satellite Astra 2E on the cosmodrome Baikonur, a source in the cosmodrome said. No new launch date has been mentioned. Source: voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_09_11/Proton-M-launch-from-Baikonur-cosmodrome-postponed-due-to-technical-problem-2724

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 06/09/13 : ILS, the International Launch Service, who will be launching the Astra 2E satellite, have updated their website to say that the Astra 2E will launch on the 17th September 2013. This is Baikonur Cosmodrome time, which may be on the 16th September 2013 for those in the European timezone.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 04/09/13 : Astra 2E and the Proton rocket are currently being assembled in their hanger at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, in readiness for its launch on the 16th September 2013.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 31/08/13 : Reports that the Russian Proton rocket launch for Astra 2E will be on 16 September at 21:41 UTC / GMT. – Or 22:41 BST – or 23:41 for Europe. Although this has not been confirmed by ILS, the International Launch Service, webpage, that is still showing the 15th!

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 20/08/13 : ILS, the International Launch Service, have updated their website, confirming the 15th September at the new launch date for Astra 2E. One should note that the 15th September launch time is local time for the launch site in Ukraine – so for Europe, this could mean a launch on the night of the 14th September 2013.

Astra 2F was launched on the September 28, 2012 – and the first channels moved from Astra 1N to Astra 2F around the 3rd and 5th December 2012 …so going by that timescale, it could be late November 2013 before any channel reception changes….

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 14/08/13 : New launch date for Astra 2E : September 15, 2013. Quote from “ILS” – International Launch Services: The ILS Proton return to flight mission will be the Astra 2E satellite for SES on September 15, 2013. The scheduling of the remainder of the ILS Proton near term manifest for 2013 is currently being determined

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 13/08/13 : Further rumours of a September launch date for Astra 2E satellite. “The launch of ASTRA 2E, a replacement satellite at the 28.2°E orbital position, also carrying 12 incremental transponders, was due in July, but following the failure of the preceding Proton launch, will be rescheduled to later in the year on a date yet to be set, and currently assumed in September 2013.”

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 08/08/13 : Rumours of a new launch date for Astra 2E being around late September 2013. Anytime from the 20th September, if these rumours are to be believed.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 03/08/13 : SES Astra have updated the launch date of Astra 2E to “Q3” on their website.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 02/08/13 : The schedule for the return to flight of the Proton rockets, will be determined once the Russian State Commission and ILS FROB complete their findings and the required corrective actions have been implemented as to what caused the rocket failure in early July, which delayed the launch date of the Astra 2E satellite. https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/08/some-proton-rocket-failure-astra-2e-launch-news/

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 01/08/13 : UKS (the launch services) had said it is too soon to determine when the Proton rockets will return to flight, but that the next launch is a commercial mission carrying the Astra 2E satellite for SES of Luxembourg. SES officials said July 26 that they were cautiously optimistic that a launch could occur in September.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 29/07/13 : According to a document from SES Astra released today “The launch of ASTRA 2E, a replacement satellite at the 28.2°E orbital position, also carrying 12 incremental transponders, was due in July, but following the failure of the preceding Proton launch, will be rescheduled to later in the year on a date yet to be set, and currently assumed in September 2013”

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 26/07/13 : According to one report SES Astra are expecting Astra 2E to be launched in September. “The new launch dates are: Astra 2E Was June, now September on Proton”. Although this odes depend on when the Russian FROB (Failure Review Oversight Board) site and present their report (end of August) and implement any recommendations

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 22/07/13 : A few days ago it was apparently ‘confirmed’ that the incorrect fitting of key attitude velocity sensors was the “most likely” cause of the failed Proton-M rocket on July 2nd. Now it appears that is not the case. A statement from Russian deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who is in charge of Russia’s space industry, says that theory is a “red herring”, and that the sensors could not have been inserted wrongly. He said the devices were colour-coded and of different lengths and specifically designed so that they could not be inserted incorrectly. Roscosmos spokeswoman Anna Vedishcheva had said on July 19th that at least three of six angular rate sensors had been incorrectly fitted. Russia’s space agency Roscosmos is investigating the incident and has yet to formally publish its report. A separate study is being undertaken by International Launch Services (ILS) which takes care of ‘Western’ rocket launches on behalf of commercial satellite operators. However, the July 2nd incident, and subsequent investigations, will mean that it is unlikely that more than five Proton missions will launch this year. Most officials are anticipating a restart in September, but this will be for government as well as ILS work. Some of these launches will be to the International Space Station, as well as Russian military missions. SES’ Astra 2E is the first commercial launch standing in line, and it was due for launch on July 21st. Most industry observers now expect a ‘proving’ launch for Proton prior to any commercial activity.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 20/07/13 : The Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) will, after the official public release of the Russian State Commission findings, begin their work no earlier than the end of the week of 5 August. The schedule for the return to flight and subsequent missions will be determined once the Russian State Commission and FROB complete their efforts and the required corrective actions have been implemented. The Astra 2E team will resume campaign operations after the Russian State Commission and ILS Failure Review Oversight Board complete their work on root cause and required corrective actions and all parties agree to re-start the campaign.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 20/07/13 : Russian Proton rockets should return to flight in September with government payload, after the recent “malfunction” of a Proton rocket in early July, according to reports. Interfax reported news stating September as earliest date for return to flight date for Proton M rocket. According to sources from Baikonur the first return to flight mission may carry a governmental payload (either a military satellite or EXPRESS AM5 comsat) if customers demand a test flight. If this is the case, then you can expect Astra 2E to be launched on the next available flight slot after any test flight. This would mean Astra 2E would be launched from mid September, and after testing at 43 east and positioning at 28 east could be operational early November. Alternatively, Astra 2E may be sent up on the “test” flight, with SES Astra engineers crossing their fingers that no sensors have been installed upside down on the Proton rocket, then Astra 2E would be operational sooner.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 10/7/13 : On their webpage SES have updated Astra 2Es launch date… to….TBD – ie to be determined – and thus confirming a delay in the launch.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 02/7/13 : An unmanned Russian Proton-M rocket has crashed just seconds after its launch from the Russian Baikonur facility in Kazakhstan. This is the same launch facility that will be launching Astra 2E, which is scheduled for launch on the 20th / 21st July. More information at: https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/07/astra-2e-could-the-launch-be-delayed-after-rocket-launch-failure-at-baikonur/

Astra 2E Satellite News Updatev: 29/6/13 : Sources reporting that Astra 2E will be launched from Baikonur on a Proton launch vehicle PU number 39 Proton-M at 1:43:57 on 21st July 2013 “Astra 2E”. This is “Russian” time. So Astra 2E will launch at 21:43:57 UTC, 22:43:57 UK time, or 23:43:57 Spanish time on the 20th July. But the launch is on the 21st July local time (DS / satellites.co.uk)

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 18/6/13 : SES Press Release: Astra 2E “will now be processed for a July 21st launch”.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 14/6/13 : Astra 2E has arrived at the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan. There it will under go various checks and preps, before its scheduled launch on the 19th July 2013. (Image : SES)

Astra 2E Satellite News Update 11/6/13 : SES Astra have confirmed that Astra 2E is expected to be launched on the 19th July 2013. It will then be positioned at 43.5 degrees east for a period of testing (as per this document). Once the tests have been completed, Astra 2E will be positioned at 28.2 east ready for UK TV. It is expected that the first transmissions from Astra 2E will be early September, as per the image above. Channels including BBC ITV C4s will be moved from Astra 1N over to Astra 2E – in what order or when is unknown.

ASTRA 2E RECEPTION IN SPAIN : Until Astra 2E is positioned at 28 east, and transmitting UK TV channels and signals, reception in Spain and satellite dish sized required will be unknown. It may mean your current satellite dish may be the correct size, or you may have to invest in a larger dish. Until it happens no-one will know what Astra 2E’s reception in Spain will be like, not even those IPTV sellers who say they know. The testing at 43 east will be of little use to actual reception in Spain.

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 22/03/13 : Astra 2E still scheduled for launch in Q2 2013, and SES Astra are expecting Astra 2E to be operational September 2013, according to a SES Astra Presentation. Although things are a bit uncertain with exact dates, the 19th July 2013 has been mentioned a few times as a launch date for Astra 2E. This is assuming the Russian rockets that will deliver the satellite to orbit are experiencing some “issues”

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 21/12/12 7.36pm Update on Launch date: 13 June 2013

Astra 2E Satellite News Update: 12/12/2012 : BBC services will move from 1N to 2E in the second half of 2013 – confirmation from the BBC! “SES expects Astra 2E to launch in Q2 2013, so we currently expect to transition BBC services to it during summer 2013.” – say the BBC. So no BBC channel or reception changes until then – so much for all the rumours about loss of BBC on the 16th and 18th December!!