Astra 2E

Astra 2E is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES S.A., launched to the Astra 28.2°E orbital position on 30 September 2013 [2] after a 10-week delay caused by launcher problems. The satellite provides free-to-air and encrypted direct-to-home (DTH) digital television and satellite broadband services for Europe and the Middle East.[3]

Astra 2E
NamesEutelsat 28E
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorSES S.A.
COSPAR ID2013-056A
SATCAT no.39285
Websitehttps://www.ses.com/
Mission duration15 years (planned)
10 years, 26 days (elapsed)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeEurostar
BusEurostar-3000
ManufacturerAstrium
(now Airbus Defence and Space)
Launch mass6,020 kg (13,270 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date29 September 2013, 21:38 UTC
RocketProton-M / Briz-M
Launch siteBaikonur, Site 200/39
ContractorKhrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
Entered serviceFebruary 2014
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit[1]
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude28.2° East
Transponders
Band63 transponders:
60 Ku-band
3 Ka-band
Coverage areaEurope, Middle East, Africa
 

After launch, Astra 2E underwent in-orbit testing at 43.5° East [4] and began commercial operations at 28.2° East in February 2014.[5] At that time, channels broadcast via Astra 1N (temporarily located at 28.2° East pending Astra 1E's launch) were transferred to Astra 2E and Astra 1N relocated to its design position at 19.2° East.[6]

Astra 2E is the second of three "second generation" satellites for the 28.2° East position to replace the first generation Astra 2A, Astra 2B, Astra 2C and Astra 2D craft originally positioned there between 1998 and 2001.[7] The first, Astra 2F, was launched in 2012,[8] and the third, Astra 2G, was launched on 27 December 2014.[9])

Unlike other SES/Astra satellites, the launch order of Astra 2E and Astra 2F is not reflected in their alphabetical names, with Astra 2F launched 10 months before Astra 2E.

Market

The Astra 28.2° East orbital position was established in 1998 to provide digital television, digital radio and multimedia services to the United Kingdom and Ireland, and Astra 2E's primary mission is to continue this provision as replacement and follow-on capacity to the Astra 2A, Astra 2D and Astra 1N satellites. Along with Astra 2F it delivers programming to almost 13 million satellite homes, over 3 million cable homes, and 700,000 Internet Protocol television (IPTV) homes in the United Kingdom and Ireland, in particular for channels from the major United Kingdom digital satellite television satellite bus, BSkyB and Freesat.[10]

ASTRA 2E also delivers broadcast and Very-small-aperture terminal (VSAT) services in Europe, Middle East and Africa in Ku-band.[11] and Ka-band capacity will provide internet via satellite with download speeds of up to 20 Mbit/s to Germany.[12]

Broadcasting footprint

Astra 2E has three Ku-band downlink beams covering Europe and the Middle East:

  • The European Beam is centred on the English Channel with maximum signal over the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Benelux, and parts of Germany, Austria, and Spain (including a "lobe" specifically designed to serve the Canary Islands), and reception on a larger dish extending to Italy, Poland, North Africa, and the Balkans.
  • The UK Beam provides maximum signal (for 45 cm dishes) over the United Kingdom, Ireland, Benelux and Northern France with a sharp roll-off of signal level outside this region, in close approximation of the UK Beam of Astra 2D. This enables channels to be broadcast free-to-air but with reception effectively constrained to the British Isles, and has been the basis for the Freesat free-to-air United Kingdom platform.[13]
  • The Middle East beam is centred on the Arabian Peninsula and extends to Turkey and into East Africa, to provide for reception with 50 cm dishes.

The Ka-band footprint for satellite broadband provides full service coverage centred on central Europe and extending to France, Italy, the Balkans, the United Kingdom, and southern Sweden and Norway.[11]

The satellite is fitted with 60 Ku-band transponders.[12]

Launch delay

The launch of Astra 2E was intended to be by International Launch Services (ILS) Proton-M launch vehicle on 21 July 2013,[14] but the previous launch of this launch vehicle on 2 July 2013, carrying three Russian GLONASS navigation satellites, ended with the exploding shortly after lift off and the Proton launch programme was postponed.[15] The fault with the failed rocket was found to be the incorrect installation of three angular rate sensors, Roscosmos reported,[16] and the launch programme was recommenced in September 2013.

Television channels on Astra 2E

Below is a list, as of October 2022, of the TV channels broadcast from Astra 2E on its UK Beam and European Beam (the UK Beam is the most difficult to receive outside Britain and its islands):[17]

In the list, television channels broadcast with a one-hour delay are shown Channel +1hr. Where both the original and the delayed channel are broadcast from the same transponder, this is shown in one entry as Channel [also +1hr].

UK Beam

Tp41 10.714 GHz H 22000 5/6:

  • Channel 4 Ireland +1hr (encrypted in VideoGuard)
  • Channel 4 London
  • Channel 4 Midlands
  • Channel 4 North
  • Channel 4 Scotland
  • Channel 4 South & East
  • E4 Ireland +1hr (encrypted in VideoGuard)
  • E4 UK
  • Film4 UK
  • More4 UK +1hr
  • More4 Ireland (encrypted in VideoGuard)

Tp45 10.773 GHz H 22000 5/6:

  • BBC One Channel Islands
  • BBC One East West
  • BBC One London
  • BBC One West
  • BBC Two England
  • BBC Four
  • CBeebies UK

Tp46 10.788 GHz V 22000 5/6:

  • BBC One E. Yorks & Lincs
  • BBC One East East
  • BBC One East Midlands
  • BBC One West Midlands
  • BBC One Wales
  • BBC Two Wales
  • BBC Parliament

Tp47 10.803 GHz H 22000 5/6:

  • BBC Alba
  • BBC One Scotland
  • BBC One North East & Cumbria
  • BBC One North West
  • BBC One South East
  • BBC One Yorkshire & North Midlands
  • BBC Scotland

Tp48 10.818 GHz V 22000 5/6:

  • BBC News
  • BBC One Northern Ireland
  • BBC One Oxford
  • BBC One South
  • BBC One South West
  • BBC Two Northern Ireland
  • BBC Three
  • CBBC

Tp50 10.847 GHz V 23000 3/4 DVB-S2:

  • BBC One HD
  • BBC One Northern Ireland HD
  • BBC Two HD
  • BBC Two Wales HD
  • BBC Three HD
  • CBBC HD

Tp53 10.891 GHz H 22000 5/6:

  • CITV
  • ITV 2 +1hr
  • ITV 3
  • ITV 4
  • ITV 1 Border Scotland
  • ITV 1 Central West +1hr
  • ITV 1 Granada
  • ITV 1 London [also +1hr]
  • ITV 1 Meridian East
  • ITV 1 Wales
  • UTV

Tp54 10.906 GHz V 22000 5/6:

  • ITV 2
  • ITV 3 +1hr
  • ITV 4 +1hr
  • ITVBe
  • ITV 1 Central West
  • ITV 1 Channel Television
  • ITV 1 Granada +1hr
  • ITV 1 Meridian East +1hr
  • STV East
  • STV North
  • STV Tayside
  • STV West

Tp56 10.936 GHz V 22000 5/6:

  • Channel 4 Ireland (encrypted in VideoGuard)
  • Channel 4 London +1hr
  • Channel 4 North +1hr
  • Channel 4 Northern Ireland
  • Channel 4 Scotland +1hr
  • Channel 4 South & East +1hr
  • E4 Ireland (encrypted in VideoGuard)
  • E4 Extra
  • E4 UK +1hr
  • Film 4 UK +1hr
  • More 4 UK

Tp113 11.386 GHz H 29500 8/9 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • BT Sport 2 HD
  • BT Sport 4 HD
  • BT Sport 8 HD
  • BT Sport 9 HD
  • BT Sport 10 HD
  • BT Sport Box Office UK HD
  • NBC News Now

Tp114 11.386 GHz V 29500 8/9 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • BT Sport 1 HD
  • BT Sport 3 HD
  • BT Sport 5 HD
  • BT Sport 6 HD
  • BT Sport 7 HD

Tp115 11.426 GHz H 27500 2/3 (encrypted in Conax):

  • The Racing Partnership

Tp116 11.426 GHz V 29500 8/9 DVB-S2:

  • Quest UK HD
  • S4C HD
  • Talk TV
  • TLC UK HD (encrypted in VideoGuard)
  • Viaplay Xtra HD

European Beam

Tp3 11.758 GHz H 27500 2/3 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Sky Documentaries HD
  • Sky Sports Main Event UK UHD
  • Utsav Gold HD

Tp7 11.836 GHz H 27500 5/6 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Challenge UK (unencrypted)
  • Crime + Investigation [also +1hr]
  • E! UK
  • National Geographic UK [also +1hr]
  • Nat Geo Wild UK
  • Sky Crime UK +1hr
  • Sky Crime Ireland
  • Sky Documentaries UK
  • Sky Max UK
  • Sky News Ireland (unencrypted)
  • Sky Witness Ireland
  • Sky Witness UK
  • Sky Sci-fi
  • Sky Sports Mix
  • Together TV (unencrypted)
  • Virgin Media One
  • Virgin Media Three

Tp8 11.856 GHz V 27500 2/3 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • E4 HD
  • Eurosport 1 UK HD
  • Eurosport 2 UK HD
  • Sky Sports Arena HD
  • Sky Sports Main Event Ireland HD
  • Virgin Media One HD
  • Virgin Media Two HD

Tp11 11.914 GHz H 27500 5/6 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Baby TV
  • Colors Gujarati
  • E! Ireland
  • MUTV
  • Oireachtas TV
  • RTÉ 2 [also +1hr]
  • RTÉ Jr
  • RTÉ News
  • RTÉ One [also +1hr]
  • TG4
  • Sky Arts Ireland (unencrypted)
  • Sky Documentaries Ireland
  • Sky Nature Ireland
  • Sky Replay UK
  • Sky Showcase UK [also +1hr]

Tp12 11.934 GHz V 27500 5/6 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Challenge Ireland (unencrypted)
  • Ginx eSports TV
  • Sky Cinema Action
  • Sky Cinema Family
  • Sky Cinema Greats
  • Sky Cinema Premiere [also +1hr]
  • Sky Crime UK
  • Sky Intro (unencrypted)
  • Sky Max Ireland
  • Sky Sports Arena
  • Sky Sports F1
  • Sky Sports Main Event UK
  • Sky Sports NFL
  • Sky Sports Premier League Ireland
  • Sky Showcase Ireland

Tp16 12.012 GHz V 27500 2/3 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Sky Nature UK HD
  • Sky News UK HD
  • Sky Showcase UK HD
  • Sky Sports Football UK HD
  • Sky Sports Golf UK HD
  • Sky Sports Main Event UK HD
  • Sky Sports News UK HD
  • Sky Sports Premier League Ireland HD

Tp19 12.070 GHz H 27500 5/6 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Christmas 24
  • Pick UK (unencrypted)
  • Sky Arts UK (unencrypted)
  • Sky Comedy UK
  • Sky Nature UK
  • Sky News UK (unencrypted)
  • Sky Sports Active 1-9
  • Virgin Media One +1hr
  • Virgin Media Two

Tp20 12.090 GHz V 27500 2/3 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Sky Comedy UK HD
  • Sky Crime HD
  • Sky News Ireland HD
  • Sky Sports Cricket HD
  • Sky Sports F1 HD
  • Sky Sports Mix
  • Sky Sports News Ireland HD
  • Sky Sports NFL HD

Tp34 12.363 GHz V 27500 2/3 DVB-S2 (encrypted in VideoGuard):

  • Alibi UK HD
  • Channel 4 Scotland (unencrypted)
  • Channel 4 South & East (unencrypted)
  • Gold UK HD
  • ITV 1 London HD (unencrypted)
  • Nickelodeon UK HD
  • RTÉ 2 HD
  • STV East HD

Tp38 12.441 GHz V 29500 8/9 DVB-S2:

  • Astra promo HD
  • SES Ultra HD Demo

See also

References
  1. "ASTRA 2E". N2YO.com. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
  2. "ASTRA 2E successfully launched" (Press release). SES. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  3. Astra 2E Footprints SES Accessed 17 September 2018
  4. "Astra 2E at Real Time Satellite Tracking And Predictions". Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  5. "SES's ASTRA 2E SATELLITE GOES LIVE at 28.2/28.5 DEGREES EAST OVER EMEA" (Press release). SES. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  6. Changes to BBC satellite transponders in 2013 12 December 2012 BBC Distribution blog Accessed 16 July 2013
  7. "SES Orders Four New Satellites From ASTRIUM" (Press release). SES. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  8. "SES SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ASTRA 2F SATELLITE" (Press release). SES. 1 October 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  9. "ASTRA 2G SATELLITE ROARS INTO ORBIT" (Press release). SES. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  10. ASTRA 2F arrives at the Guiana Space Centre, Kourou August 23, 2012 SES blog Accessed August 26, 2012
  11. Astra 2E factsheet on www.ses.com Accessed October 30, 2013
  12. Ten things about ASTRA 2E Archived 2013-07-22 at the Wayback Machine 1 July 2013 SES blog Accessed 16 July 2013
  13. Bains, Geoff "Flight of the Big Birds" What Satellite & Digital TV February 2012 pp.29
  14. "SES' ASTRA 2E SATELLITE SHIPPED TO BAIKONUR COSMODROME FOR JULY 21 LAUNCH" (Press release). SES. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  15. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Report. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 10 April 2021.
  16. Incorrect installation of angular rate sensors behind July 2 Proton-M crash commission findings 18 July 2013 Interfax Accessed September 30, 2013
  17. "Astra 2E at 28.2°E". LyngSat. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
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