.jpg) Hot Bird official logo | |
| Country of origin | France |
|---|---|
| Operator | Eutelsat |
| Applications | Communications |
| Specifications | |
| Regime | Geostationary, 13° East |
| Production | |
| Status | Operational |
| On order | 0 |
| Built | 13 |
| Launched | 13 |
| Operational | 3 |
| Retired | 9 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Maiden launch | Hot Bird 1 28 March 1995 |
| Last launch | Hot Bird 13G 3 November 2022 |
Hot Bird (also styled Hotbird[1]) is a group ofsatellites operated byEutelsat, located at 13°E over theequator (orbital position) and with a transmittingfootprint overAsia,Europe,North Africa,Americas and theMiddle East.
Onlydigitalradio andtelevision channels are transmitted by the Hot Birdconstellation, bothfree-to-air andencrypted. In addition there are a fewinteractive andIP services. The satellites currently operate at 13° East and are numbered 13B, 13E and 13G. The satellites have been broadcasting digital-only sinceTV5Monde switched off its analogue signal in 2010.[2]
| Name[3] | Launch location | Current location | Launch date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot Bird 1 | Kourou | Junk orbit | 28 March 1995 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 2 (Eurobird 9, Eutelsat 48A) | Cape Canaveral | Junk orbit | 21 November 1996 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 3 (Eurobird 4) | Kourou | Junk orbit | 2 September 1997 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 4 (Atlantic Bird 4) | Kourou | Junk orbit | 27 February 1998 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 5 (Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail)[4] | Cape Canaveral | Junk orbit | 9 October 1998 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 6 (Eutelsat 70D) | Cape Canaveral | Junk orbit | 21 August 2002 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 7 | Kourou | Launch failure | 11 December 2002 | Failed |
| Hot Bird 7A (Hot Bird 13E) | Kourou | 13°E | 12 March 2006 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 8 (Hot Bird 13B) | Baikonur | 13°E | 4 August 2006 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 9 (Hot Bird 13C) | Kourou | 12.5°W | 20 December 2008 | Inactive |
| Hot Bird 10 (Eutelsat 33E) | Kourou | 33°E | 12 February 2009 | Active |
| Hot Bird 13F | Cape Canaveral | 13°E | 15 October 2022 | Active |
| Hot Bird 13G | Cape Canaveral | 13°E | 3 November 2022 | Active |
Hot Bird 1 was launched byAriane 44LP on 28 March 1995. The 13° east slot predates the launch, withEutelsat I F-1 having been located there as early as 1983, andEutelsat II F-1 having also served time at the location. It has reached end-of-life.
Hot Bird 3 was launched byAriane 44LP on 2 September 1997 and intended to be moved to 10°E to becomeEurobird 10. During the drift from 13°E to 10°E, the satellite suffered loss of power from one solar array. It was nevertheless successfully moved to 10°E, but could only operate at a reduced capacity. Since then, it is operating at 4°E under the name Eurobird 4. At last it was moved to 75°E and renamed to ABS_1B. It has reached end-of-life.
Hot Bird 4 was launched byAriane 42P on 27 February 1998 and redeployed to 7°W in July 2006, becomingAtlantic Bird 4 /Nilesat 103.
Hot Bird 5 was launched byAtlas-2A on 9 October 1998 and re-located to 25.5°E and renamedEurobird 2. Six transponders are leased toArabsat under the nameBadr 2, after having been calledArabsat 2D.
Hot Bird 6 was launched byAtlas V 401 on 21 August 2002. Starting on 12 June 2009, theday of Iranian elections, deliberate interference affecting this satellite was traced toIran. Hot Bird 6 is the primary carrier forBBC Persian Television.[5] As of 2013, it was replaced by Hot Bird 10 (Hot Bird 13D).
Hot Bird 7 was lost in December 2002 during theAriane 5 ECA launch. Its replacement,Hot Bird 7A (aSpacebus 3000B3) was successfully launched on 11 March 2006. Hot Bird 7A was renamed Eurobird 9A in February 2009.
In December 2011, Eutelsat announced, that their satellite assets will be renamed under a unified brand name effective from March 2012. This satellite became Eutelsat 9A. In 2016 it was renamed Hot Bird 13E.[6]
Hot Bird 8 was launched byProton on 5 August 2006. With a launch mass of 4.9 tonnes, Hot Bird 8 is the largest and the most powerful broadcast satellite servingEurope.
Hot Bird 9 was launched byAriane 5 ECA in December 2008. Its entry into service enabled the Hot Bird 7A satellite to be redeployed to 9° East and rebranded Eurobird 9A, increasing capacity to 38Ku bandtransponders at this orbital position. From March 2012, Hot Bird 9 became Eutelsat Hot Bird 13C and during the second quarter of 2023 Hot Bird 13G replace Hot Bird 9 at Eutelsats's 13° East position.[7]
This satellite renamed Eutelsat 10A now is located at 10.5° East for occasional feeds, data or inactive frequency[8]
Hot Bird 10 was launched byAriane 5 ECA in February 2009 withNSS-9,Spirale A and Spirale B. It was initially commissioned as Atlantic Bird 4A at 7°W. When Atlantic Bird 7 became operational, it was renamed Eutelsat 3C and was colocated with Eutelsat 3A at 3° East. Later it became Hot Bird 13D and in 2016 Eutelsat 33E. This satellite is located at 33° East.[9]
Hot Bird 13F was launched byFalcon 9 Block 5 in October 2022.[10] The launch mass of the satellite is 4,476 kg (9,868 lb). The satellite has been produced byAirbus Defence and Space and it's based onEurostar Neo bus. The satellite is designed to use PPS5000plasma propulsion engine (developed bySafran and usingxenon) to get to geostationary orbit.[11]
Hot Bird 13G was launched byFalcon 9 Block 5 in November 2022. The satellite is very similar to Hot Bird 13F. Hot Bird 13G is active and replaces satellite 13C at orbital position 13°E.[11]
Bis TV [fr]EurosportGlobecast
Kabelio
Platforma Canal+Polsat Box
NOVA GreeceOrange Polska
Sky Italia
TéléSATTivùsat
Viasat Ukraine
Vivacom
CNBC EuropeUp to 300 television and radio channels are availablefree-to-air.