Comparison of the
Eutelsat
W series satellites.
W1 is the THIRD satellite to carry this designation! More info on the complicated history of Eutelsat W1.
W2M was ordered Feb 2006. and was added to the table 5th February. Further details will be added as they become available.
W2A was ordered 1/9/2006, and its provisional details added to the table. As usual missing details will be added as they are published.
W7 ordered 21/12/2006, and provisional details added to table.
W3B ordered 2/2008 and provisional details added to table
The main satellite comparison index
| Satellite: | W 1 | W 2 | W 3 A | W 4 | W 5 |
| . | (note 1) | . | . | . | (note 3) |
| Launch | 6 / 9 / 2000 | 5 / 10 / 1998 | 16 / 3 / 2004 | 24 / 5 / 2000 | 20 / 11 / 2002 |
| Launch Location | Kourou | Kourou | Baikonur | Cape Canaveral | Cape Canaveral |
| Launch Mass (kg) | 3250 | 2950 | 4250 | 2950 (note 2) |
3170 |
| Expected Lifetime (years) | 12+ | 12+ | 15 | 12+ | 12 |
| Power Consumption (watts) | 5900 | 5900 | 9600 | 5900 | 5900 |
| Transponder Capacity at launch | 28 | 24 (+10 spare) | 40 | 31 | 24 |
| TWTA Output (watts) | 90 | 90 | ? | 90 ? | 90 |
| Transponder Bandwidth (MHz) | 4 @
40MHz 8 @ 54MHz 4 @ 62MHz 12 @ 72MHz |
21 @
36MHz 13 @ 72 MHz |
36
MHz 1 @ 54 MHz 15 @ 72 MHz 2 @ 108 MHz (Ka band) |
all 33Mhz | all 72Mhz |
| Channels (MHz) | 10950-11200 11450-11700 12500-12750 |
10950-11700 12500-12750 |
10700-11700 12500-12750 |
11700-12500 | 10950-11700 12500-12750 |
| Current Location | 10°E | 16°E | 7°E | 36°E | 70.5°E |
| Possible Decommission Date | 2012 | 2010 | 2018 | 2012 | 2014 |
| Manufacturer / Spacecraft type | Matra Marconi Eurostar 2000+ | Aerospatiale Spacebus-3000B2 |
Astrium Eurostar 3000 | Aerospatiale Spacebus-3000B2 |
Aerospatiale Spacebus-3000B2 |
| Stabilisation type | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis |
| Satellite: | W6 | W2M | W2A | .W7 | W3B |
| . | .(note 4) | (note 5) | (note 6) | .ordered 12/2006 | ordered 2/2008 |
| Launch | 12 / 4 / 1999 | 20 / 12 / 2008 | 3 / 4 / 2009 | Q2 2009 | Q2 2010 |
| Launch Location | Cape Canaveral | Kourou | Baikonur | will be Sea Launch | tbc |
| Launch Mass (kg) | 3183 | 3460 | 5900 | .about 5600 | 5400 |
| Expected Lifetime (years) | 12+ | 15 | 15+ | ? | 15+ |
| Power Consumption (watts) | 5900 | 7000 | 15400 | 12000 | 12000 |
| Transponder Capacity at launch | 24 (+10 spare) | 32 | 37Ku-band
Europe 12Ku-band Africa 10C-band 12 S-band |
around 70 | 56 |
| TWTA Output (watts) | 90 | ? | ? | ? | ? |
| Transponder Bandwidth (MHz) | 21 @
36MHz 13 @ 72 MHz |
36MHz 54MHz 72MHz |
36MHz 72MHz |
? | ? |
| Channels (MHz) | 10950-11700 12500-12750 |
10950-11700 12500-12750 |
10700-11700 12500-12750 |
? | ? |
| Current Location | 21.5°E | ~4°E | 10°E | will be 36°E | will be 7°E |
| Possible Decommission Date | 2011 | 2023 | 2024 | ? | 2025 |
| Manufacturer / Spacecraft type | Aerospatiale Spacebus-3000B2 |
EADS/
ISRO IK3 |
Alcatel Alena Spacebus-4000C4 | Alcatel Alena Spacebus-4000 | Thales Alenia Space Spacebus4000 |
| Stabilisation type | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis | 3-axis |
Notes
1 W1 is also known as W1R and Eutelsat Ressat
2 also quoted as 3190 kg.
3 the original W1 - refurbished after being damaged during construction- full story here
4 W6 is the original W3. W3 was sent to 48°E to replace the ailing Eutelsat 2F2 after W3A was commissioned Spring 2004. Moved again to 21.5E to replace 2F3 end November 2004. Renamed to W6 for its new mission Dec 2004.
5 W2M suffered a power systems related failure during the drift from its In Orbit Testing location before it reached its new home at 16E. Eutelsat declined delivery and its currently dumped on the arc at around 4E
6 The W2A S-band payload seems to have suffered a failure and it is uncertein if it will be activated.
A picture of W2 in orbit. Eutelsat's W3 and W5 are very similar.
Launch of W1R, 6 / 9 / 2000.
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