Astra 2D screams into space

(Satellite Broadband) The Astra 2D satellite of Luxembourg-based Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) roared into space onboard a European Ariane 5 booster from the European Space Port in Kourou (French Guyana) in the evening hours of December 19th.

Astra 2D, the 11th satellite in the Astra fleet, will be the third SES spacecraft to be permanently co-positioned at the company’s second orbital position of 28.2 degrees east.

The satellite features 16 transponders, each with a bandwidth of 26 MHz, in the Ku-band frequency range of 10.70 – 10.95 GHz. Boeing Space Systems Inc. (formerly Hughes Space and Communications)built Astra 2D, the first spinner satellite in the Astra fleet. It has a design life of 12 years.

Once co-positioned with Astra 2A and Astra 2B at 28.2 degrees east, Astra 2D will enable SES to activate up to 56 transponders (in the frequency range between 10.70 and 12.50 GHz) for digital services targeting the British Isles.

“The successful launch of Astra 2D enables SES to activate additional capacity to meet the continuing strong demand for digital services in the UK and Eire," said Romain Bausch, director general and chairman of the management committee of SES. "Once Astra 2D enters operational service at 28.2 degrees east, the Astra 1D spacecraft can be re-deployed, again demonstrating the unique operational flexibility of the Astra constellation.”