Eutelsat 3B

The Eutelsat 3B spacecraft is a commercial communications satellite built by Airbus Defence & Space (Astrium) for operation by Eutelsat, France. The satellite is based on the flight-proven Eurostar-3000 spacecraft platform that capable of hosting powerful communications payloads with a payload power exceeding 10,000 Watts. Eutelsat 3B has a launch mass of about 5,967 Kilograms carrying a tri-band communications payload.

The satellite is 7.5 meters high and has a span of 31 meters with its solar arrays deployed. The satellite features two deployable solar arrays for power generation and associated batteries and avionics for power storage and distribution. The vehicle’s solar arrays deliver 12,000 Watts of electrical power. A dedicated bi-propellant propulsion system will be used for apogee maneuvers and stationkeeping maneuvers in Geostationary Orbit. Eutelsat 3B is three-axis stabilized featuring a state of the art navigation system. The satellite provides precise Earth-pointing capabilities.

Eutelsat 3B carries a powerful communications payload consisting of 51 transponders covering the C-, Ka- and Ku-Band frequencies. 30 Ku-Band transponders provide coverage to Europe and surrounding regions as well as northern Africa into the Middle East and east Asia. A steerable Ku-Band beam will provide coverage to South America in particular Brazil. The Ku-Band capacity of the satellite will be primarily used for video, data and telecom services for government and commercial customers.

Nine Ka-Band transponders support steerable communication beams that will cover Africa and South America to meet expanding connectivity needs for corporate access and Internet services. 12 C-Band transponders create a global downlink coverage. A pan-African beam will provide additional capacity for telecom services.

Eutelsat 3B is set for a mission of at least 15 years stationed at 3 degrees East in Geostationary Orbit.