Astra 2E Satellite Specifications:

Satellite Name: Astra 2E
Status: planned
Position: 28° E (28.2° E)
Norad:
Cospar number:
Operator: SES Astra (part of SES Global)
Launch date: 30th September 2013
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Launch vehicle:
Launch mass (kg):
Dry mass (kg):
Manufacturer: EADS Astrium
Model (bus): Eurostar-E3000
Orbit: GEO
Operational Date : 4th February 2014.
Expected lifetime: 15 yrs.

Astra 2E Satellite Signal Footprint Maps

Astra 2E Satellite Reception Reports for Spain

Astra 2E Satellite News Updates

Astra 2E Satellite Picture Gallery

 

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

Astra 2E has a launch mass of 6,020 Kilograms being based on Astrium’s flight-proven Eurostar E-3000 platform that is capable of hosting powerful communications payloads.

The satellite features two deployable solar arrays for power generation and associated batteries and avionics for power storage and distribution. A dedicated bi-propellant propulsion system will be used for apogee manoeuvres and stationkeeping manoeuvres in Geostationary Orbit. Astra 2E is three-axis stabilized featuring a state of the art navigation system.

The payload of the vehicle consists of 60 Ku-Band transponders and 3 Ka-Band transponders. The powerful Ku-payload enables Astra 2E to contribute to the SES broadcasting concept from the important orbital slots at 28.2 and 31.5 degrees East. Astra 2E will be stationed at 28.2 degrees covering Europe and Africa to deliver Direct-to-Home (DTH) services via spot-beams and pan-European beams.

Both, pay-TV and free-to-air TV broadcasters will be provided by Astra 2E.

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.

 

Astra 2E Satellite Launch Details

To deliver the Astra 2E Satellite to an optimized Geostationary Transfer Orbit, the Proton-M Rocket will perform a nominal ascent mission and deliver the Orbital Unit consisting of a Briz-M Upper Stage and the Payload to a sub-orbital trajectory. The large Proton-M Rocket will launch from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan. Separating after 9 Minutes and 42 Seconds, the Orbital Unit will start powered flight by igniting the Briz-M Main Engine to place itself in a Low-Earth Parking Orbit. In total, the Briz-M Upper Stage will make five Main Engine Burns separated by coast phases to increase its orbital altitude. After all burns are complete, the Satellite will be separated 9 Hours and 12 Minutes after Liftoff and start its own mission lasting for at least 15 years.

•Parking Orbit: 175 by 175 Kilometers – Inclination: 51.5°
•Intermediate Orbit: 270 by 5,000 Kilometers – Inclination: 50.3°
•Transfer Orbit: 435 by 35,757 Kilometers – Inclination: 49.1°
•Injection Orbit – GTO: 4,202 by 35,736 Kilometers – Inclination: 23.0°

Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the Astra 2E Satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M Upper Stage and the ASTRA 2E satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission manoeuvres to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the Astra 2E Satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff.

Target Orbit at Separation:
Perigee: 4,202 km
Apogee: 35,736 km
Inclination: 23.0 degrees
Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff

 

Proton Rocket

The Astra 2E Satellite will be launched using a Proton Rocket.
Astra 2E Satellite proton rocketTotal Height – 58.2 m (191 ft)
Gross Lift-off Weight – 705,000 kg (1,554,000 lb)
Propellant – UDMH and NTO
Initial Launch – 16 July 1965

Breeze M Upper Stage
The Breeze M is powered by one pump-fed gimballed main engine that develops thrust of 20 kN (4,500 lbf). It is composed of a central core and an auxiliary propellant tank which is jettisoned in flight following depletion. The Breeze M control system includes an on-board computer, a three-axis gyro stabilized platform, and a navigation system. The quantity of propellant carried is dependent on specific mission requirements and is varied to maximize mission performance.

Proton Booster
The Proton booster is 4.1 m (13.5 ft) in diameter along its second and third stages, with a first stage diameter of 7.4 m (24.3 ft). Overall height of the three stages of the Proton booster is 42.3 m (138.8 ft).

Third Stage
Powered by one RD-0213 engine, this stage develops thrust of 583 kN (131,000 lbf), and a four-nozzle vernier engine that produces thrust of 31 kN (7,000 lbf). Guidance, navigation, and control of the Proton M during operation of the first three stages is carried out by a triple redundant closed-loop digital avionics system mounted in the Proton’s third stage.

Second Stage
Of conventional cylindrical design, this stage is powered by three RD-0210 engines plus one RD-0211 engine and develops a vacuum thrust of 2.4 MN (540,000 lbf).

First Stage
The first stage consists of a central tank containing the oxidizer surrounded by six outboard fuel tanks. Each fuel tank also carries one of the six RD-276 engines that provide first stage power. Total first stage vacuum-rated level thrust is 11.0 MN (2,500,000 lbf).

 

Astra 2E Satellite Launch Date News

Expected Launch date: Quarter 3 2013

21/12/12 7.36pm Update on Launch date: June 2013

22/03/13 Update on Launch date: 19 July 2013

02/07/13 Update on Launch date: Astra 2E Launch delayed due to another rocket crash at Baikonur https://www.satandpcguy.com/blog/2013/07/astra-2e-could-the-launch-be-delayed-after-rocket-launch-failure-at-baikonur/

Astra 2E 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 2E 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 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 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 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 News Update: 30/09/13 : Astra 2E successfully launched.

 

Astra 2E Satellite Launch Video