Mission type | Communications |
---|---|
Operator | SES |
COSPAR ID | 2002-053A |
SATCAT no. | 27557 |
Website | https://www.ses.com/ |
Mission duration | 15 years (planned) Failed on orbit (DM03 failure) |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft type | Spacebus |
Bus | Spacebus-3000B3S |
Manufacturer | Alcatel Space |
Launch mass | 5,250 kg (11,570 lb) |
Power | 13 kW |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 25 November 2002, 23:04:23 UTC |
Rocket | Proton-K / DM03 |
Launch site | Baikonur, Site 81/23 |
Contractor | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
Entered service | Failed on orbit (DM03 failure) |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Deorbited |
Decay date | 10 December 2002 |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
Regime | Low Earth orbit Geostationary orbit (planned) |
Longitude | 19.2° East (planned) |
Perigee altitude | 142 km (88 mi) |
Apogee altitude | 288 km (179 mi) |
Inclination | 51.5° |
Period | 88.79 minutes |
Transponders | |
Band | 54 transponders: 52 Ku-band 2 Ka-band |
Coverage area | Europe |
Astra 1K was a communications satellite manufactured by Alcatel Space for SES. When it was launched on 25 November 2002, it was the largest civilian communications satellite ever launched, with a mass of 5,250 kg (11,570 lb).[2] Intended to replace the Astra 1B satellite and provide backup for 1A, 1C and 1D at the Astra 19.2°E orbital position,[3] the Blok DM3 upper stage of the Proton-K launch vehicle failed to function properly, leaving the satellite in an unusable parking orbit.