EUTELSAT 70B satellite to launch today

[mmadhankumar]

The EUTELSAT 70B satellite built by Astrium has now reached its launch location in the Pacific Ocean, ready for launch by a Zenit-3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch on Monday 3 December 2012.

The satellite left the Astrium facilities in Toulouse, France, on 16 October 2012 and was transported by air to Long Beach, CA, where it has been fuelled and encapsulated in the Zenit-3SL fairing before the launch platform departed on 17 November for the equatorial launch site at 154°W longitude.

Astrium, Europe's leading space technology company, is prime contractor for the Eurostar E3000-based satellite, which will operate up to 48 active transponders in Ku-band. Astrium will also be in charge of flight operations and specialised support during the Launch and Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) operations.

Once in geostationary orbit and upon completion of in-orbit tests, EUTELSAT 70B will be positioned at 70.5°E where it will more than double current capacity for data and government services, broadband access, GSM backhauling and professional video exchanges.

Its four high-performance fixed beams focus over a zone which covers: Europe, Africa, Central Asia and South-East Asia reaching as far as Australia. Through a high degree of on-board connectivity, clients will be able to use the beams either for regional coverage or to interconnect continents.

The EUTELSAT 70B satellite is based on Astrium's highly reliable Eurostar E3000 product line, with a launch mass of 5200 kg and a spacecraft power of 12 kW at the end of its 15 year design lifetime.

EUTELSAT 70B is the 29th Eurostar E3000 satellite, and the seventh for Eutelsat fleet.


EUTELSAT 70B satellite to launch today

 

[mmadhankumar]

Offcial Press Release​

Successful launch of EUTELSAT 70B satellite by Sea Launch​

Paris, 4 December 2012 – Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) announces that its EUTELSAT 70B satellite has been successfully delivered into orbit by a Zenit-3SL rocket operated by Sea Launch AG from the ocean-based Odyssey Launch Platform in international waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Lift-off of the rocket carrying the 5.2 tonne satellite took place on Monday 3 December at 20.44 GMT/UTC. After a 1-hour 6-minute flight, the Zenit-3SL booster released EUTELSAT 70B into geosynchronous transfer orbit. Partial deployment of the solar array was carried out successfully approximately two hours after spacecraft separation.

Following early orbit operations managed by Eutelsat and Astrium engineers and which include circularising the satellite’s orbit, fully extending the solar arrays and deploying the antennas, EUTELSAT 70B will undergo a full series of in-orbit tests. The latest satellite to Eutelsat’s fleet is expected to enter full commercial service in mid January 2013.

Commenting after launch and the first manoeuvres, Eutelsat CEO, Michel de Rosen said: “We are delighted to announce that EUTELSAT 70B is on its way to 70.5 degrees East and thank Sea Launch, Energia Logistics and RSC Energia for this flawless launch. With a footprint connecting Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, EUTELSAT 70B will be a powerful asset to our in-orbit resources. Its reach into Asia will also be a strong complement to the EUTELSAT 172A satellite integrated into our fleet in September following the acquisition of this satellite from GE Capital.”

Built for Eutelsat by Astrium using its E3000 platform, EUTELSAT 70B is designed to optimise resources from the 70.5° East orbital slot. With high frequency reuse, four powerful regional beams connected to 48 Ku-band transponders are located on a single platform, more than doubling current capacity at 70.5° East for data and government services, broadband access, GSM backhauling and professional video exchanges.

EUTELSAT 70B will replace the EUTELSAT 70A satellite which will subsequently be redeployed to another location for continued commercial service.

Sea Launch Zenit-3SL rocket heading into space​

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