Astra 2A

Astra 2A is a communications satellite owned by SES Astra. Launched in 1998, half its expected end-of-life capacity of 28 transponders were pre-booked by BSkyB, who utilised it and a re-positioned Astra 1D to launch their new Sky Digital service. 21 transponders are active, as of 2006, with two of these active but unused.

The satellite suffered pre-launch technical issues with its apogee motors and was moved to a launch by the Proton rocket rather than the Ariane V, as the Proton was deemed more suitable considering the craft's precarious state. [ [http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_astra_2a.html The Satellite Encyclopaedia] ]

When positioned at 28E, it joined DFS Kopernikus 1, which served mainly Eastern Europe. The satellite was the first of Astra's craft to never carry analogue television services (with the exception of a solitary test card in 1999 [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19991008165609/www.lyngsat.com/astra2a.shtml LyngSat (archived)] ] ), and as of 2006, carries standard definition digital television, digital radio, and high-definition digital television, as well as Sky Interactive streams and the AVC Broadband and Silvermead satellite internet services. Two beams, both of which transmit on horizontal and vertical polarisation, exist - "2A North" and "2A South". The South beam covers almost all of Europe, with the North beam covering only Northern Europe at a high power.

References

ee Also

*Astra 2B co-located satellite
*Astra 2C co-located satellite
*Astra 2D co-located satellite
*Astra 28.2°E orbital position
*SES Astra satellite owner

External links

*satbeams footprint|5595|Astra 2A Ku-band North Beam
*satbeams footprint|5596|Astra 2A Ku-band South Beam
* [http://www.ses-astra.com/consumer/en/how-to-receive-astra/index.php SES Astra guide to receiving Astra satellites]
* [http://www.ses-astra.com/consumer/en/channel-guide/index.php SES Astra guide to channels broadcasting on Astra satellites]
* [http://www.ses-astra.com SES Astra Website]