| Names | Astra 1P (2024- ) SES-24 (2024- ) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | SES |
| COSPAR ID | 2024-115A |
| SATCATno. | 60086 |
| Website | https://www.ses.com/ |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Spacebus |
| Bus | Spacebus NEO-200 |
| Manufacturer | Thales Alenia Space |
| Launch mass | ~5000 kg |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 June 2024 |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral |
| Contractor | SpaceX |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 9.5°W (2024 testing) 19.2°E (2025-) |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 80Ku-band |
| Coverage area | Europe |
← Astra 2G Astra 1Q → | |
Astra 1P (also known asSES-24) is anAstracommunications satellite, built byThales Alenia Space for owner/operatorSES. Launched bySpaceX on 20 June 2024, the satellite is positioned ingeostationary orbit, in SES's primary European broadcasting slot at19.2° East, to provide broadcast TV to Europe and is the most powerful satellite at that position.[1][2]
Designed and built byThales Alenia Space, Astra 1P is a classic wide-beam broadcasting satellite based on the all-electricSpacebus NEO-200satellite bus. The satellite has 80 physicalKu-bandtransponders with bandwidth filters, capable of broadcasting up to 500 HDTV channels. It has a dry mass of 3,780kg (5,000kg at launch, fueled) and two solar array 'wings', each of six panels providing 25kW.[3][2][4][5]
Astra 1P is a third generation satellite at SES's original orbital position of19.2° East to provide continuedfree-to-air and pay-TVdirect-to-home broadcasting services to all of Europe, with an identical coverage and frequency plan to the second generation of satellites at this orbital position that were reaching the end of their operational life at the time of its launch.[6][2]In particular, the satellite serves private and public broadcasters in the following regions of Europe:
In addition, Astra 19.2° East is the home of the ASTRA 1 Sports satellite distribution platform delivering sports coverage, major events and significant breaking news to millions of TV households in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.[7]
In November 2021, SES ordered two replacement satellites fromThales Alenia Space, a joint venture betweenThales (67%) andLeonardo (33%). Astra 1P and Astra 1Q were to be launched in 2024 to the19.2°E orbital slot to take over from theAstra 1KR,Astra 1L,Astra 1M, andAstra 1N satellites positioned there (all launched 10–15 years previously, with the older two at the end of their planned life). The new satellites would provide providedirect-to-home broadcast TV to Europe (especially Germany, France and Spain) andhigh-throughput data traffic well into the 2040s.[3][8]
In May 2024, the completed satellite produced at theCannes Mandelieu Space Center in France, arrived in Florida for launch fromCape Canaveral[9]
In June 2024, the launch of Astra 1P by SpaceX, originally scheduled for 17 June, was delayed twice by unfavourable weather conditions at theCape Canaveral launch site.[10][11]
On 20 June 2024, Astra 1P was successfully launched fromCape Canaveral on aFalcon 9 Block 5 rocket, the first Astra satellite to be launched bySpaceX.[12][13]
For the second half of 2024, using itsall-electric thrusters, Astra 1P took several months to reach geostationary orbit.[14]
In December 2024 the satellite completed testing at 9.5° West and was then moved to 19.2° East to begin service in January 2025.[15][16]
Starting in February 2025, all broadcast channels were moved offAstra 1KR andAstra 1L to Astra 1P in preparation for the older satellites' retirement, and Astra 1L was moved from the 19.2°E orbital slot to 19.4° East in March 2025.[17][18]
