Astra 2F Satellite Specifications:
Satellite Name: Astra 2F
Status: planned
Position: 28° E (28.2° E)
Norad:
Cospar number:
Operator: SES Astra (part of SES Global)
Launch date : 28 September 28, 2012
Launch site: Initally Baikonur Cosmodrome then moved to Kourou in French Guiana (Europes Spaceport)
Launch vehicle:
Launch mass (kg):
Dry mass (kg):
Manufacturer: EADS Astrium
Model (bus): Eurostar-E3000
Orbit: GEO
Operational Date : 21 November 2012.
Expected lifetime: 15 yrs.
Astra 2F Satellite Signal Footprint Maps
Astra 2F Satellite Reception Reports for Spain
Astra 2F Satellite News Updates
Astra 2F Satellite Picture Gallery
The Astra 2F satellite is a commercial communications satellite built by Astrium, France. Astra 2F will be operated by by SES, Luxembourg.
Astra 2F 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 2F 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 2F to contribute to the SES broadcasting concept from the important orbital slots at 28.2 and 31.5 degrees East. Astra 2F 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 2F.
Astra 2F, along with two other new Astra 2 satellites, Astra 2E, and Astra 2G, will be replacing Astra 2A, Astra 2B Astra 2C, Astra 2D and Eurobird 1 / Eutelsat 28A satellites at 28.2° E.
The Making of the Astra 2F Satellite
Astra 2F Satellite Launch Details
To deliver the Astra 2F 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 2F 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 2F 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 2F 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 2F Satellite will be launched using a Proton Rocket.
Total 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 2F was successfully launched from Kourou in French Guiana on September 28, 2012. The launch was moved to Kourou after a Protom rocket crashed at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, causing a delay in rocket launches.
Astra 2E Satellite Launch Date News
Launch date: Quarter 4 2012
Updated launch date : Astra 2F will be launched on the 14th September 2012 – Ariane-5 flight VA209 carrying the Astra 2F satellite is scheduled to be launched on the 14th September 2012.
Updated launch date : Astra 2F will be launched on the 21st September 2012 – Launch window between 21:20 and 22.09 GMT/UT on 21st September 2012.
Launch Update : 19 Sept 2012: The new Astra 2F was scheduled to be launched on Friday. However, in order to perform additional checks on the Ariane 5 ECA launch system, Arianespace has decided to postpone the launch VA 209. A new launch date will be announced shortly.
Launch Update: Astra 2F satellite was successfully launched on Friday 28th September.
Lifting off in late afternoon sunlight at 6:18 p.m. from the Spaceport in French Guiana, Ariane 5 deployed its ASTRA 2F and GSAT-10 satellite passengers during a flight lasting approximately 30 minutes. This timing prior to sunset provided a clear view of Ariane 5 trajectory as it cleared a low cloud deck and continued the ascent, enabling tracking cameras to view the solid propellant boosters separation at an altitude of 67.5 km., as well as the payload fairings jettison at nearly 110 km. above French Guiana.
Astra 2F Update 28/09/2012: Launch Successful
Astra 2F Satellite Launch Video