Astra 2E

Astra 2E is a commercial communications satellite built by Astrium, France, for operation by SES, Luxembourg. Astra 2E has a launch mass of 6,020 Kilograms being based on Astrium’s flight-proven Eurostar E-3000 platform that is capable of hosting powerful communications payloads.

The satellite features two deployable solar arrays for power generation and associated batteries and avionics for power storage and distribution. A dedicated bi-propellant propulsion system will be used for apogee maneuvers and stationkeeping maneuvers in Geostationary Orbit. Astra 2E is three-axis stabilized featuring a state of the art navigation system.

The payload of the vehicle consists of 60 Ku-Band transponders and 3 Ka-Band transponders. The powerful Ku-payload enables Astra 2E to contribute to the SES broadcasting concept from the important orbital slots at 28.2 and 31.5 degrees East. Astra 2E will be stationed at 28.2 degrees covering Europe and Africa to deliver Direct-to-Home (DTH) services via spot-beams and pan-European beams.

Both, pay-TV and free-to-air TV broadcasters will be provided with increased functionality by the next generation of SES satellites that are being launched from 2012 to 2014.

The Ka-Band payload will allow SES ASTRA to develop next generation broadband services covering high-demand regions such as Europe.

Astra 2E will operate for at least 15 years.