Astra 2F

Astra 2F
Name	Astra 2F
Mission type	Communications
Operator	SES S.A.
Cospar id	2012-061A
Satcat	38927
Spacecraft	Eurostar E3000
Manufacturer	EADS Astrium
Launch date	2012-09-28
Launch rocket	Proton-M / Briz-M
Launch site	Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200/39
Orbit	Geostationary
Longitude	28.2° East
Transponders	64 Ku-band

Astra 2F Astra 2F is a geostationary communications satellite operated by SES S.A., designed to provide broadcast and data services across Europe, the British Isles, and the Middle East. Built by EADS Astrium on the Eurostar E3000 platform, Astra 2F forms part of the Astra constellation and supports direct-to-home television, broadband, and other payloads. The satellite entered service after a Proton-M/Briz-M launch from Baikonur and has worked alongside satellites at the 28.2° East slot to serve major broadcasters and service providers.

Overview

Astra 2F joined SES S.A.'s fleet alongside sister spacecraft and contributes to capacity used by broadcasters such as Sky UK, Freesat, and international broadcasters. Its role at the 28.2° East orbital position complements earlier satellites used by companies including Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Telesat to deliver channels and data links for providers like BT, Virgin Media, and Arqiva. The spacecraft supports regional distribution for media groups such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and public service operators in countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, and the Netherlands.

Design and Specifications

Astra 2F is based on the Eurostar E3000 bus developed by EADS Astrium, featuring electric and chemical propulsion subsystems derived from technologies used in spacecraft for operators like Inmarsat, Hispasat, and SES. Its payload comprises 64 Ku-band transponders and a shaped reflector antenna assembly similar to those on satellites manufactured for operators such as Telesat and Arabsat. The satellite's mass and power systems reflect heritage from platforms used by operators including DirecTV, Intelsat, and Eutelsat, and it carries attitude control equipment comparable to instruments on craft built by Thales Alenia Space and Boeing Satellite Systems.

Launch and Deployment

Astra 2F was launched on a Proton-M rocket with a Briz-M upper stage from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200/39 alongside launch service practices used by international agencies including Roscosmos and Arianespace. The launch profile resembled missions flown for organizations such as NASA, ESA, and JAXA when inserting geostationary satellites for operators including SES, Intelsat, and Eutelsat. After separation, orbit-raising maneuvers similar to those executed by satellites for operators like DirecTV and Telesat placed the spacecraft into its operational geostationary slot at 28.2° East, adjacent to positions occupied historically by Astra siblings and competitors such as Hispasat and Arabsat.

Payload and Coverage

The Ku-band payload provides direct-to-home television and data distribution to regions served by broadcasters and platforms like Sky UK, Freesat, BBC, and ITV, and supports capacity used by telecommunications providers including BT and Vodafone. Coverage beams are engineered to serve regions comparable to footprints used by Eutelsat and Intelsat craft, with focused UK spot beams and wider European beams enabling distribution to countries including Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, and the Middle East. The payload architecture supports multicast and point-to-point services used by broadcasters like Channel 4 and media groups such as ITV plc, enabling retransmission chains involving uplink facilities operated by Arqiva and satellite teleport operators used by Sky and other broadcasters.

Operations and Mission History

Since entering service, Astra 2F has carried programming for major broadcasters including BBC and Sky, and has been involved in traffic handovers and fleet reshuffles alongside Astra siblings and SES satellites relocated from positions used by operators including Intelsat and Eutelsat. Operational control has coordinated slot management and interference mitigation in line with practices overseen by agencies such as the International Telecommunication Union and regulatory bodies in the United Kingdom and European Union. The satellite's mission lifetime planning paralleled strategies applied by operators such as Hispasat and Telesat for fleet longevity and replacement scheduling.

Ground Control and Communications

SES operates Astra 2F from its network of mission control centers and teleports that interface with ground stations and uplink facilities used by broadcasters and service providers including Sky, BBC, Arqiva, and BT. Command and telemetry operations use infrastructure and standards shared with operators like Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Telesat, and engage frequency coordination procedures involving national regulators and international organizations such as the ITU. Customer interface and capacity leasing are managed through SES commercial teams that work with media groups, telecommunication companies, and network operators including Virgin Media and Vodafone.

Incidents and Anomalies

Astra 2F's in-orbit operations have been subject to routine anomaly management and degradation monitoring similar to incidents reported for satellites operated by Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Inmarsat; SES has applied contingency procedures used across the industry and coordinated with partners and regulators. Any service impacts have been addressed through traffic rerouting and capacity adjustments involving other fleet assets, including relocated Astra satellites and leased transponders from operators such as Telesat and Hispasat.

Category:Communications satellites Category:SES satellites