| Names | Hot Bird 10 (2009) Atlantic Bird 4A (2009–2011) Eutelsat 3C (2011–2013) Hot Bird 13D (2013–2016) Eutelsat 33E (2016–present) Leased capacity: Nilesat 104 (2009–2012) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communication |
| Operator | Eutelsat |
| COSPAR ID | 2009-008B |
| SATCATno. | 33750 |
| Website | www |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Eurostar-3000 |
| Manufacturer | Astrium |
| Launch mass | 4,892 kilograms (10,785 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 12 February 2009, 22:09 (2009-02-12UTC22:09Z) UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 5ECA |
| Launch site | KourouELA-3 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude | 7° West (2009–2011) 3° East (2011–2013) 13° East (2013–2016) 33° East (2016–present) |
| Slot | Hot Bird (2013–2016) |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 64 Ku-band |
| Coverage area | Europe North Africa Middle East |
Eutelsat 33E, previously known asHot Bird 10,Atlantic Bird 4A,Eutelsat 3B andNilesat 104,Hot Bird 13D is a Frenchcommunications satellite. Operated byEutelsat, it providesdirect to home broadcasting services fromgeostationary orbit as part of Eutelsat'sHot Bird constellation at a longitude of 13 degrees east.
Eutelsat 33E was constructed byAstrium, and is based on theEurostar-3000satellite bus. It has a mass of 4,892 kilograms (10,785 lb) and is expected to operate for 15 years. The spacecraft has 64 Ku-bandtransponders,[1] broadcastingsatellite television andradio to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.[2]
Hot Bird 10, as it was then named, was launched byArianespace using anAriane 5ECA carrier rocket, as part of a dual launch with theNSS-9 spacecraft. Two French military satellites,Spirale-A andSpirale-B were also carried, as secondary payloads.[3] The launch took place fromELA-3 atKourou,French Guiana, at 22:09 UTC on 12 February 2009.[4] The spacecraft was deployed intogeosynchronous transfer orbit,raising itself to its operationalgeostationary orbit by means of itsapogee motor.
Upon its entry into service, prior to becoming part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird fleet, the Hot Bird 10 satellite was used to cover two orbital positions for satellites still awaiting launch. In 2009 it was temporarily renamed Atlantic Bird 4A, and placed at a longitude of 7 degrees west ahead of the September 2011 launch ofAtlantic Bird 7. During this time, some of the transponders aboard the satellite were leased byNilesat and operated as Nilesat 104. Atlantic Bird 7 entered service in October 2011; on 1 November Atlantic Bird 4A was moved to 3 degrees east as Eutelsat 3C, to cover forEutelsat 3B.[5] It was moved to 13 degrees east in July 2013 and renamed Hot Bird 13D under the new designation system Eutelsat had introduced in 2012. The spacecraft is co-located withHot Bird 13B andHot Bird 13C.
