Astra 1N
Encyclopedia
Astra 1N is a communications satellite
owned and operated by SES Astra
, launched in 2011 to join Astra 2A
, Astra 2B
Astra 2D
at the Astra 28.2°E
orbital slot. The satellite was originally designed to provide digital television and radio broadcast services across Europe from the Astra 19.2°E
position, in particular the German, French and Spanish markets, alongside the Astra 1KR
, Astra 1L, and Astra 1M
satellites already operating there.
However, Astra 1N will initially be positioned at 28.2°E to provide capacity for the UK and Republic of Ireland, including the Sky and Freesat
DTH platforms prior to the launch of Astra 2E and Astra 2F to this position in 2012 and 2013.
Astra 1N is the fourth satellite to be built for Astra by Astrium and the 46th SES satellite in orbit. On 24 October 2011, Astra 1N entered commercial service at 28.2°E.
s. The UK spot beam covers the UK and Republic of Ireland with reception on dishes of 45 cm diameter across the whole of the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands with the exception of the extreme north east of Scotland, where a 60 cm dish is required.
The Pan-European Beam 1 provides reception on a 60 cm dish across Western and Central Europe including Sardinia in the south but excluding Finland in the North. Pan-European Beam 2 provides 60 cm dish reception over substantially the same area reaching further north into Scandinavia and east as far as the Baltic States, Russia and the Black Sea but excluding more of the Iberian peninsular, Italy and the Mediterranean.
Communications satellite
A communications satellite is an artificial satellite stationed in space for the purpose of telecommunications...
owned and operated by SES Astra
SES Astra
Astra is the name for the geostationary communication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated by SES S.A., a global satellite operator based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. The name is sometimes also used to describe the channels broadcasting from these...
, launched in 2011 to join Astra 2A
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 to launch their new Sky Digital service...
, Astra 2B
Astra 2B
Astra 2B is a communications satellite owned and operated by SES Astra, launched in 2000 to join Astra 2A at the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio broadcast services to the UK and Republic of Ireland....
Astra 2D
Astra 2D
Astra 2D is one of a group of Astra communications satellites operated by SES, located at 28.2° east in the Clarke Belt. It is a Hughes HS-376 craft, and was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in December 2000....
at the Astra 28.2°E
Astra 28.2°E
Astra 28.2°E is the name for the group of Astra communications satellites co-located at the 28.2° East position in the Clarke Belt that are owned and operated by SES based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg...
orbital slot. The satellite was originally designed to provide digital television and radio broadcast services across Europe from the Astra 19.2°E
Astra 19.2°E
Astra 19.2°E is the name for the group of communications satellites co-located at the 19.2°East orbital position in the Clarke Belt that are owned and operated by SES Astra, a subsidiary of SES based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg....
position, in particular the German, French and Spanish markets, alongside the Astra 1KR
Astra 1KR
Astra 1KR is a geostationary satellite owned by SES Astra. It was launched in April 2006 as a replacement for Astra 1K, which failed to reach orbit on launch in 2002...
, Astra 1L, and Astra 1M
Astra 1M
Astra 1M is a Luxembourgian geostationary communications satellite which is operated by SES Astra. It is positioned in geostationary orbit at a longitude of 19.2 degrees East, from where it is used to provide direct-to-home broadcasting to Europe....
satellites already operating there.
However, Astra 1N will initially be positioned at 28.2°E to provide capacity for the UK and Republic of Ireland, including the Sky and Freesat
Freesat
Freesat is a free-to-air digital satellite television joint venture between the BBC and ITV plc, serving the United Kingdom. The service was formed as a memorandum in 2007 and has been marketed since 6 May 2008...
DTH platforms prior to the launch of Astra 2E and Astra 2F to this position in 2012 and 2013.
Astra 1N is the fourth satellite to be built for Astra by Astrium and the 46th SES satellite in orbit. On 24 October 2011, Astra 1N entered commercial service at 28.2°E.
Broadcasting footprint
The Astra 1N satellite provides three broadcast beams, each with horizontal and vertical polarisation, across three footprintFootprint (satellite)
The footprint of a communications satellite is the ground area that its transponders offer coverage, and determines the satellite dish diameter required to receive each transponder's signal...
s. The UK spot beam covers the UK and Republic of Ireland with reception on dishes of 45 cm diameter across the whole of the UK, Ireland and Channel Islands with the exception of the extreme north east of Scotland, where a 60 cm dish is required.
The Pan-European Beam 1 provides reception on a 60 cm dish across Western and Central Europe including Sardinia in the south but excluding Finland in the North. Pan-European Beam 2 provides 60 cm dish reception over substantially the same area reaching further north into Scandinavia and east as far as the Baltic States, Russia and the Black Sea but excluding more of the Iberian peninsular, Italy and the Mediterranean.
See also
- Astra 2AAstra 2AAstra 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 to launch their new Sky Digital service...
co-located satellite - Astra 2BAstra 2BAstra 2B is a communications satellite owned and operated by SES Astra, launched in 2000 to join Astra 2A at the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio broadcast services to the UK and Republic of Ireland....
co-located satellite - Astra 2DAstra 2DAstra 2D is one of a group of Astra communications satellites operated by SES, located at 28.2° east in the Clarke Belt. It is a Hughes HS-376 craft, and was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in December 2000....
co-located satellite - Astra 28.2°EAstra 28.2°EAstra 28.2°E is the name for the group of Astra communications satellites co-located at the 28.2° East position in the Clarke Belt that are owned and operated by SES based in Betzdorf, Luxembourg...
orbital position - SES AstraSES AstraAstra is the name for the geostationary communication satellites, both individually and as a group, which are owned and operated by SES S.A., a global satellite operator based in Betzdorf, in eastern Luxembourg. The name is sometimes also used to describe the channels broadcasting from these...
satellite owner
External links
- SES guide to receiving Astra satellites
- SES guide to channels broadcasting on Astra satellites
- OnAstra - Official consumers/viewers' site
- SES - Official trade/industry site
- SES page for Astra 1N