Astra is the brand name for a number ofgeostationarycommunication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated bySES, a global satellite operator based inBetzdorf, in easternLuxembourg. The name is also used to describe the pan-European broadcasting system provided by these satellites, thechannels carried on them, and even the reception equipment.
At the time of the launch of the first Astra satellite,Astra 1A in 1988, the satellite's operator was known asSociété Européenne des Satellites ("European Satellite Company"). In 2001SES Astra, a newly formed subsidiary ofSES, operated the Astra satellites and in September 2011, SES Astra was consolidated back into the parent company, which by this time also operated other satellite families such asAMC, andNSS.[1][2]
Astra satellites broadcast 2,600digitaltelevision channels (675 inhigh definition) via five main satellite orbital positions tohouseholds acrossAsia,Australia,Africa,Americas,Europe,New Zealand,Middle East andNorth Africa.[3] The satellites have been instrumental in the establishment of satellite TV and the introduction ofdigital TV,HDTV,3D TV, andHybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) in Europe.
A book,High Above, telling the story of the creation and development of the Astra satellites and their contribution to developments in the European TV and media industry, was published in April 2010 to mark the 25th anniversary ofSES.
There are 10 fully-operational Astra satellites and another 3 as backup/reserve, the majority in four orbital locations -Astra 19.2°E,Astra 28.2°E,Astra 23.5°E,Astra 5°E. Astra's principle of "co-location" (several satellites are maintained close to each other, all within a cube with a size of 150 km (93 mi).[4]) increases flexibility and redundancy. Orbital data for the active satellites can be accessedhere
| Satellite | Launch Date | Manufacturer | Model | Launch vehicle | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Astra 19.2°E | 147 transponders broadcasting to 118.4 million households[5] | ||||
| 1N | 6 August 2011 | Astrium (nowAirbus D&S) | Eurostar E3000 | Ariane 5 ECA | Started commercial service 24 October 2011.[6] Broadcast 30 transponders. |
| 1P | 20 June 2024 | Thales Alenia Space | Spacebus NEO 200 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Started commercial service 13 January 2025. Broadcast 59 transponders. |
| 1Q | 2027 | Thales Alenia Space | Spacebus NEO 200 | Falcon 9 Block 5 | Planned |
| Astra 28.2°E | 305 transponders broadcasting to 419 million households[7] | ||||
| 2E | 30 September 2013[8] | Astrium (nowAirbus D&S) | Eurostar E3000 | Proton Breeze M | Started commercial service on 1 February 2014.[9] Broadcast 15 transponders on UK spot beam and 8 transponders on European beam. |
| 2F | 28 September 2012[10] | Astrium (nowAirbus D&S) | Eurostar E3000 | Ariane 5 ECA | Rolling capacity replacement at 28.2°E.[11] and provision of Ku-band DTH inWest Africa and Ka-band inWestern Europe[12] Started commercial service on 21 November 2012.[13] Broadcast 6 transponders on UK spot beam, 8 transponders on European beam and 9 transponders on West Africa spot beam. |
| 2G | 27 December 2014[14] | Airbus D&S | Eurostar E3000 | Proton Breeze M | Rolling capacity replacement at 28.2°E.[11] Tested at 21.0°E and 43.5°E before moving to 28.2°E in June 2015.[15] Started commercial service on 1 June 2015. Broadcast 1 transponder on UK spot beam, 20 transponders on European beam and 2 transponder on West Africa spot beam. |
| Astra 23.5°E | 64 transponders broadcasting to 415 million households[16] | ||||
| 3B | 21 May 2010 | Astrium (nowAirbus D&S) | Eurostar E3000 | Ariane 5 ECA | Launch delayed for nearly two months due to launcher problems.[17] Broadcast 28 transponders. |
| 3C (was 5B) | 22 March 2014[18] | Airbus D&S | Eurostar E3000 | Ariane 5 ECA | Launched asAstra 5B to add new capacity and replace existing craft at 31.5°E.[11] Entered commercial service on 2 June 2014.[18] In July 2023, moved to23.5° East[19] and renamed Astra 3C.[20][21] Broadcast 3 transponders. |
| Astra 5°E | 121 transponders broadcasting to 51.5 million households[22] | ||||
| 4A | 18 November 2007 | Lockheed Martin | A2100AX | Proton-M | Originally calledSirius 4. |
| 4B (now SES-5) | 10 July 2012 | Space Systems/Loral | LS-1300 | Proton-M | OriginallySirius 5, renamed toAstra 4B in 2010 and to SES-5 in 2011. Provides globalC-band capacity and Ku-band forSub-Saharan Africa andNordic regions. |
| Not in regular use | |||||
| 1KR | 20 April 2006 | Lockheed Martin | A2100 | Atlas V (411) | Positioned at 19.2°E. Launched to 19.2°E as replacement for the failedAstra 1K. All channels vacated toAstra 1P by March 2025[23] |
| 1L | 4 May 2007 | Lockheed Martin | A2100 | Ariane 5 ECA | Positioned at 19.4°E. Launched to 19.2°E as replacement forAstra 1E/Astra 2C. Moved to 19.4°E in March 2025 after all channels vacated toAstra 1P[24][25] |
| 1M | 6 November 2008 | Astrium (nowAirbus D&S) | Eurostar E3000 | Proton-M | Started commercial service 20 January 2009.[26] Emptied after the arrival of Astra 1P in June 2025. |
| No longer operational | |||||
| 1A | 11 December 1988 | GE AstroSpace | GE-4000 | Ariane 44LP | The first Astra satellite. Now retired ingraveyard orbit. |
| 1B | 2 March 1991 | GE AstroSpace | GE-5000 | Ariane 44LP | Acquired fromGE Americom (Satcom K3). Now retired ingraveyard orbit. |
| 1C | 12 May 1993 | Hughes | HS-601 | Ariane 42L | Originally launched to 19.2°E. Used at 5°E. Unused and ininclined orbit at 72°W in summer 2014,[27] 1.2°W in September 2014,[28] 40°W in November 2014.[29] From February 2015, continuously moving West at approx. 5.2°/day.[30] |
| 1D | 1 November 1994 | Hughes | HS-601 | Ariane 42P | Originally at 19.2°E. Used at 28.2°E, 23.5°E, 31.5°E, 1.8°E and 52.2°E. Started moving west in February 2014 to arrive at 67.5°W in June 2014.[27] In summer 2015 moved to 47.2°W, nearNSS-806.[31] In 2017, moved to 73°W.[32] From November 2021, continuously moving West at approx 4.8°/day.[33] |
| 1E | 19 October 1995 | Hughes | HS-601 | Ariane 42L | Originally at 19.2°E. Used at 23.5°E pending launch ofAstra 3B. Used at 5°E in September 2010, pending launch ofAstra 4B/SES-4, then moved April 2012 to 108.2°E where, as of November 2013, in inclined orbit.[34] Moved in February 2014 to 31.5°E pending launch ofAstra 5B.[35] Returned to 23.5°E in February 2015. From June 2015, continuously moving West at approx 5.4°/day.[30] |
| 1F | 8 April 1996 | Hughes | HS-601 | Proton-K | Originally launched to 19.2°E. Moved in August 2009 to 51°E. Moved in May 2010 to 55°E. Moved in March 2015 to 44.5°E.[36] From November 2020, continuously moving west at approx. 4.2°/day.[37] |
| 1G | 2 December 1997 | Hughes | HS-601HP | Proton-K | Originally launched to 19.2°E. Moved to 23.5°E in February 2009 following launch ofAstra 1M. Then to 31.5°E in July 2010, following launch ofAstra 3B. Moved east in summer 2014 to 60°E, then to 63°E in November 2016,[38] to 51°E in August 2017,[39] to 57°E in August 2018.[40] and back to 63°E in August 2019.[41] Moved back to 19.2°E in February 2021.[42] Retired tograveyard orbit in June 2023.[43] |
| 1H | 18 June 1999 | Hughes | HS-601HP | Proton | Originally launched to 19.2°E. Moved in June 2013 to 52.2°E,[44] to establishSES' commercialisation of theMonacoSat position.[45] Returned in 2014 to 19.2°E.[46] Started moving west in May 2014 arriving at 67.5°W in mid-August 2014.[47] Moved in May 2015 to 47.5°W,[48] in September 2016 to 55.2° E,[49] in January 2017 to 43.5° E,[50] in February 2018 to 67°W[32] and in October 2018 to 81°W.[51] In January 2019, Astra 1H was returned to 67°W.[52] From October 2019, continuously moving West at approx. 4.8°/day.[53] |
| 1K | 26 November 2002 | Alcatel Space | Spacebus 3000B3S | Proton | Launched to 19.2°E but failed to reachgeostationary orbit, and intentionally deorbited on 10 December 2002. |
| 2A | 30 August 1998 | Hughes | HS-601HP | Proton | Originally launched to 28.2°E. Inactive at 28.2°E from March 2015. Moved to 113.5°E in summer 2016.[54] and to 100°E in August 2018.[55] In May 2020, Astra 2A started moving west at approx 0.8°/day.[56] In autumn 2020, it was positioned back at 28.2°E.[57] Moved to 57.2°E in 2022[58] From May 2025, continuously moving west at approx. 5.8°/day.[59] |
| 2B | 14 September 2000 | Astrium (nowAirbus D&S) | Eurostar E2000+ | Ariane 5G | Originally launched to 28.2°E. Relocated to 19.2°E in February 2013,[60] following launch ofAstra 2F to 28.2°E. Moved to 31.5°E in February 2014. Returned to 19.2°E as backup in December 2016.[61] Started moving west in June 2017 to arrive alongsideNSS-7 at 20°W in August 2017.[62] Started moving East in April 2018 to arrive atAstra 19.2°E in July 2018.[63] From June 2021, continuously moving west at approx. 4.9°/day.[64] |
| 2C | 16 June 2001 | Hughes | HS-601HP | Proton | Initially deployed at 19.2°E pending launch ofAstra 1L, then at originally intended position of 28.2°E. Moved to 31.5°E in May 2009) to temporarily replace the failedAstra 5A, then back to 19.2°E in September 2010. Returned to 28.2°E in April 2014 and then in August 2015 moved to 60.5°E.[65] In April 2018, it moved west arriving at 23.5°E in May 2018.[66] Moved to 72.5°W in 2021.[67] From June 2024, moving west at approx. 4.5°/day.[68] |
| 2D | 19 December 2000 | Hughes | HS-376HP | Ariane 5G | Originally launched to 28.2°E. Ceased regular use in February 2013 and positioned, inactive, at 28.0°E[69] until June 2015. Then moved West to be stationed atAstra 5°E in July 2015.[70] In October 2015, moved to 57°E.[71] In December 2017, moved to 60°E.[72] Started moving west at 0.65°/day in May 2018 to arrive atAstra 5°E in July 2018.[73] Started moving East at 0.9°/day in January 2020 to arrive at 57.2°E in March 2020.[74] Started moving West in August 2021 to arrive at 23.5°E in November 2021.[75] The satellite was retired on 26 January 2023.[76][77] |
| 3A | 29 March 2002 | Boeing | HS-376HP | Ariane 4L | Originally launched to 23.5°E. Moved to 177°W in November 2013, unused and in inclined orbit alongsideNSS-9.[78] Then continuously moving East at approximately 1.5°/day,[79] until positioned at 86.5°W in summer 2016.[80] In November 2016, started moving East at approx 0.5°/day until positioned at 47°W in mid-February 2017.[81] In October 2019, Astra 3A started moving West at approx 0.8°/day until returned to 86.5°W in December 2019.[82] Retired tograveyard orbit in January 2023[83] |
| 5A | 12 November 1997 | Alcatel Space | Spacebus 3000B2 | Ariane 44L | Formerly known asSirius 2. Moved to 31.5°E and renamed Astra 5A on 29 April 2008. Failed in-orbit on 16 January 2009. |
Astra satellites have been designed byBoeing Satellite Systems (formerlyHughes Space and Communications),Airbus Defence and Space (formerlyAstrium),Alcatel Space,Lockheed Martin andThales Alenia Space. The Astra satellites within a family are not necessarily identical. For example, of the Astra 2 satellites;Astra 2A andAstra 2C were BSS601HPs,Astra 2B anAstrium Eurostar E2000+,Astra 2D aBSS 376 andAstra 2E,Astra 2F andAstra 2G are allEurostar E3000s.
The satellites have been launched byArianespace byAriane launch vehicles fromKourou,French Guiana,International Launch Services (ILS)Proton launch vehicles fromBaikonur,Kazakhstan, ILSAtlas launch vehicles fromCape Canaveral,Florida,United States andSpaceXFalcon 9 Block 5 rockets also fromCape Canaveral. The satellites are launched into an elliptical "temporary transfer orbit" from where they use onboard propulsion to reach their final circulargeostationary orbits, at nearly 36,000 km (22,000 mi) altitude. Proton launch vehicles fitted with a fourth stage propulsion unit are capable of launching the satellites several thousand kilometres higher (at the closest point of the elliptical orbit) than Ariane launch vehicles, and so most satellites launched in this way use less fuel to reach their geostationary orbit. More recent Astra satellites are built with anall-electric propulsion system for orbit raising and in-orbit manoeuvres to save weight.
TheSirius series of satellites (not connected with the North AmericanSirius Satellite Radio service) was started in 1993 with the purchase of theBSBMarcopolo 1 satellite (renamed Sirius 1) byNordic Satellite AB (NSAB) fordirect to home broadcasts to the Nordic andBaltic regions from the 5°Eastorbital position. Subsequent satellites launched to this location includeSirius 2 (1997),Sirius 3 (1998) andSirius 4 (2007) and the position's coverage has been expanded to includeEastern Europe andAfrica.
In 2000,SES (thenSES Astra) bought the 50% shareholding in NSAB owned byTeracom andTele Danmark and in 2003 increased that holding to 75%, renaming the company SES Sirius AB. In 2008, Astra acquired further shares to take its shareholding in SES Sirius to 90% and in March 2010 took full control of the company.[84] In June 2010, the affiliate company was renamedSES Astra and theSirius 4 satellite renamedAstra 4A.[85]
TheAstra 4A designation was originally given in 2005 to part of theNSS-10 craft (33 transponders) owned by another subsidiary ofSES,SES New Skies, and positioned at 37.5°W for broadcast, data, and telecommunications into Africa,[86] and in 2007 to part of theSirius 4 satellite (six transponders of the FSS Africa beam) owned and operated bySES Sirius. From June 2010, the Astra 4A designation has applied to the entire satellite previously known as Sirius 4.
Astra 1K, the largest commercial communications satellite ever built at the time, was ordered bySES in 1997. It was launched by Proton rocket on 26 November 2002. The launch vehicle lifted off as planned and reached itsparking orbit at which point the final stage of the launch vehicle was to initiate a second burn to transfer the satellite to its geostationary orbit. This did not occur and the satellite was released into the parking orbit, making it unusable. The only way to recover the satellite would have been the use of aSpace Shuttle, however this was rejected. On 10 December 2002,SES instructedAlcatel Space (the manufacturer) and the French Space AgencyCNES to deorbit the satellite, it broke up onre-entry over thePacific Ocean.
On 16 January 2009,Astra 5A atAstra 31.5°E "experienced a technical anomaly leading to the end of the spacecraft's mission",[87] some four years ahead of the spacecraft's expected end of life. Traffic carried by the satellite (especially channels for German cable service,Kabel Deutschland) was transferred toAstra 23.5°E. In March 2009,SES (thenSES Astra) announced that in April, theAstra 2C satellite was to be moved from theAstra 28.2°E position to 31.5°E to temporarily take over Astra 5A's mission untilAstra 3B is launched toAstra 23.5°E, when another craft currently there can be released to 31.5°E.[88] The move ofAstra 2C was started in May 2009 and completed on 11 May 2009,[89] with the first transponders coming into use at the new position in the subsequent two weeks.
At the end of 2021, Astra satellite broadcasts were received in 170 million households in Europe.[90] In Germany, the largest market for Astra broadcasts, 17 million households receive TV via satellite (15.93 million receiving satellite channels in HD) out of 37.22 million TV households (33.76 million HD TV households) in the country with take-up of other TV delivery methods as follows:[91]
| Delivery method | TV Households | HD TV households |
|---|---|---|
| Satellite | 17.00 million | 15.93 million |
| Cable | 15.58 million | 13.24 million |
| IPTV | 3.31 million | 3.26 million |
| Terrestrial | 1.33 million |
