SES Astra
Introduction
SES-Astra (Société Européenne des Satellites-Astra) is a Luxembourg-based corporation which owns and operates the
Astra series of geostationary satellites, which
transmit some 1100 analogue and
digital television and radio channels via 176 transponders to 91 million households across Europe. Formed in 1985 as SES, it was Europe's first
private satellite operator.
Its slogan in 1997 was "Astra: The Satellite
System". Nowadays it is "Your Satellite Connection to the World".
Orbital Positions
There are currently 13 Astra satellites in orbit, not all currently in service, located at the following positions in geosynchronous orbit:
- 5.2°E: Astra 1A. Originally sited at
19.2°E and used to broadcast the first European analogue direct-to-home TV services, this satellite is well past its expected
lifetime and now in inclined orbit. Its last feed, RTL, terminates a few days prior to the 16th anniversary of its first broadcast, and it is now being moved out of
orbit.
- 19.2°E degrees east: 1C, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 2C. This is the most common orbital position for direct-to-home satellite TV and
radio transmission in Germany and Central Europe. 1G is also used for home satellite internet (with DVB
modems) and the free-to-air TV and radio channels (Astra-Mosaic). Astra 1B is
also stationed here, but currently transmitting no signals.
- 23.5°E and 24.2 degrees east: Astra 1D, 3A.
- 28.2°E degrees east: Astra 2A, 2B, 2D. BSkyB broadcast their Sky Digital direct-to-home television service to the United Kingdom and Republic of
Ireland from this satellite constellation. Eutelsat's Eurobird satellite also
operates close to this position.
See also
External link
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