Astra 2B
| Major contractors | Astrium |
|---|---|
| Bus | Eurostar E2000+ |
| Launch date | September 14, 2000 |
| Carrier rocket | Ariane 5 V130 |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Mass | 3,315 kilograms (7,310 lb) |
| Power | 7,800 W |
| Orbital elements | |
| Longitude | 27° East (testing) 28.2° East |
| Transponders | |
| Capacity | 30 Ku band (to be reduced to 28 by end of life) |
| EIRP | 51 dBW |
| Bandwidth | 33 MHz |
Astra 2B is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES, launched in 2000 to join Astra 2A at the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio broadcast services to the UK and Republic of Ireland.
The satellite provides two broadcast beams, each with horizontal and vertical polarisation, across two footprints - 2B North (covering central Europe and Scandinavia) and 2B South (covering Central Europe and the Iberian peninsula and Canary Islands) [1].
TV signals can be received with a 43 cm dish across the majority of the British Isles with a 60 cm dish required in the extreme north and west. 17 transponders on Astra 2B are used by BSkyB to provide the Sky Digital TV services of standard and high definition TV and digital radio[2].
Astra 2B can also provide backup capacity, substituting for one or more transponders across the whole 10.70-12.75 GHz range used by Astra satellites in the Astra 19.2°E and Astra 28.2°E orbital positions.
A third, steerable beam provides 8 transponders in the 12.50-12.75 GHz range for Internet and telecommunications services in West Africa. This aspect of the satellite is the commercial responsibility of SES New Skies.
By 2014, following the launches of Astra 2E, Astra 2F, and Astra 2G to 28.2°E, Astra 2B is expected to be moved to Astra 19.2°E, alongside Astra 1KR, Astra 1L, Astra 1M, and Astra 1N.[3]
[edit] See also
- Astra 2A co-located satellite
- Astra 2D co-located satellite
- Astra 1N co-located satellite
- Astra 28.2°E orbital position
- SES satellite owner
- Astra satellite family
[edit] References
- ^ "Astra 2B Footprints". SES. http://www.ses.com/4627942/astra-2b. Retrieved January 26, 2011.
- ^ "Astra 2B at 28.2°E". LyngSat. http://www.lyngsat.com/astra2b.html. Retrieved August 12, 2008.
- ^ Where markets grow via satellite: Our global satellite fleet SES January 2012
[edit] External links
- SES guide to receiving Astra satellites
- SES guide to channels broadcasting on Astra satellites
- OnAstra - Official consumers/viewers' site
- SES - Official trade/industry site
- Astra 2B North beam footprint on SatBeams
- Astra 2B South beam footprint on SatBeams
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