Comparison of the
series 1
Astra satellites.
Updated 24 / 4 / 2007 for final missing details of 1L
Updated 21 / 7 / 2005 for technical details of Astra 1M
Table updated 17th April 2005 to add in the provisional details of Astra 1M - announced 8 / 4 / 2005
The main satellite comparison index
| Satellite: | 1A | 1B | 1C | 1D | 1E |
| . | (note 1) | (note 6) | (note 8). | .(note 5) | . |
| Launch | 11 / 12 / 1988 | 2 / 3 / 1991 | 12 / 5 / 1993 | 1 / 11 / 1994 | 19 / 10 / 1995 |
| Launch Location | Kourou | Kourou | Kourou | Kourou | Kourou |
| Launch Mass (kg) | 1768 | 2617 | 2790 | 2924 | 3014 |
| Expected Lifetime (years) | 12+ | 12+ | 15 | 12 | 14 |
| Power Consumption (watts) | 2600 | 3400 | 3300 | 3300 | 4150 |
| Transponder Capacity at launch | 16 (+6 spare) | 16 (+6 spare) | 18 (+6 spare) | 18 (+6 spare) | 18 (+6 spare) |
| TWTA Output (watts) | 45 | 60 | 63 | 63 | 85 |
| Transponder Bandwidth (MHz) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 / 33 | 26 / 33 |
| Channels (MHz) | 11200-11450 | 11450-11700 | 10900-10950 10950-11200 11200-11450 |
10700-10950 11700-12100 |
10700-10950 10950-11200 11450-11700 11700-12100 |
| Current Location | junk orbit | junk orbit | 4.6°E | 31.2°E | 23.5°E |
| Possible Decommission Date | 12 / 2004 | 2003 | 2008 | 2006 | 2009 |
| Manufacturer / Spacecraft type | GE Astrospace GE-4000 | GE Astrospace GE-5000 | Hughes HS60 | Hughes HS60 | Hughes HS60 |
| Stabilisation type | 3 axis | 3 axis | 3 axis | 3 axis | 3 axis |
| Satellite: | 1F | 1G | 1H | 1K | 1KR |
| . | . | . | . | (note 2) | (note 3) |
| Launch | 8 / 4 / 1996 | 2 / 12 / 1997 | 18 / 6 / 1999 | 25 / 11 / 2002 | 20 / 4 / 2006 |
| Launch Location | Baikonur | Baikonur | Baikonur | Baikonur | Cape Canveral |
| Launch Mass (kg) | 3010 | 3379 | 3700 | 5250 | 4200 |
| Expected Lifetime (years) | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15+ |
| Power Consumption (watts) | 4400 | 6600 | 6600 | 12400 | 8600 |
| Transponder Capacity at launch | 22 (+8 spare) | 30 | 32 | 52
Ku (+7 spare) 2 Ka |
32 / 28 |
| TWTA Output (watts) | 82 | 98 | 98 | 105
Ku 66 Ka |
140 |
| Transponder Bandwidth (MHz) | 26 / 33 | 26 / 33 | 26 / 33 | 26
Ku 500 Ka |
26 |
| Channels (MHz) | 11200-11450 11700-12100 12100-12500 |
11700-12100 12100-12500 12500-12750 |
11700-12100 12100-12500 12500-12750 29500-30000 |
10714 - 11700? | 10700-11700 |
| Current Location | 19.2°E | 19.2°E | 19.2°E | was to be 19.2°E | 19.2E |
| Possible Decommission Date | 2011 | 2015 | 2014 | deorbited 10 / 12 / 2002 | 2020 |
| Manufacturer / Spacecraft type | Hughes HS60 | Hughes HS601HP | Hughes HS601HP | Alcatel
Space Spacebus 3000B3S |
Lockheed Martin A2100AX |
| Stabilisation type | 3 axis | 3 axis | 3 axis | 3 axis | 3-axis |
| Satellite: | 1L | 1M | 1N |
| . | (note 4) | (note 7) | (note 9) |
| Launch | 4 / 5 / 2007 | 2008 | 2011 |
| Launch Location | Kourou | tbc | tbc |
| Launch Mass (kg) | 4300 | 5300 | ? |
| Expected Lifetime (years) | 15+ | 15+ | 15+ |
| Power Consumption (watts) | 13,074 | 10,000+ | ? |
| Transponder Capacity at launch | 29
/ 25 Ku 2Ka |
36 | 55 |
| TWTA Output (watts) | 140
Ku 128 Ka |
150 | ? |
| Transponder Bandwidth (MHz) | 26/33
Ku 500 Ka |
26/33 | ? |
| Channels (MHz) | 10700-12750 | 10700-10950 11450-11700 11700-12500 |
? |
| Current Location | 19.2E | will be 19.2E | will be 19.2E |
| Possible Decommission Date | 2021 | 2023? | 2026+ |
| Manufacturer / Spacecraft type | Lockheed
Martin A2100AX |
EADS Astrium Eurostar E3000 | EADS Astrium Eurostar E3000 |
| Stabilisation type | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis |
Notes:
1 Astra 1A retired from front line service at 19.2E during July 2001. Later moved to 5E and put back into service. Operated in an inclined orbit until Autumn 2004. 1A sent to junk orbit beginning of Dec 2004.
2 Launch failed due to launcher final stage ignition problems. Satellite was stranded in 109 mile high parking orbit. 1K was brought down for safety reasons on 10th December 2002, and the remains crashed into the Pacific.. :-(
3 Designated 1KR as "1K-replacement" Primary mission to replace Astra's 1B and 1C. On 9th September 2003 it was announced that the satellite will be lifted by an Ariane 5 launched form Kourou. (Update 21/12/05 - launch will be on an Atlas from Cape Canaveral)
4 Primary mission is backup to 1KR launch.
If 1KR is a success, the satellite will be orbited to replace 1E. May also allow Astra 2C
to be released away from 19.2E, and finally sent to its original home at 28E..
Astra 1L expected to run 29 Ku / 2 Ka tps for first 5 years then 25 Ku / 2 ka band
tp's afterwards. 26 Mhz bandwidth in bands A, B, C, and G, and 33 Mhz in band F
5 After spending a long time at 24.2E, Astra 1D was moved to 23.5E during November 2003.
6 1B turned off at 19E mid Nov 2004. Future uncertain. Update - sent to junk orbit summer 2006.
7 1M was announced on 8 / 4 / 2005. Technical details updated on 21 / 7 / 2005
8 Astra 1 C left 19E mid October 2006, and was redeployed to 4.8E
9 Will replace Astra 1G at 19E.
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