Astra 1A

Astra 1A is a television satellite of SES Global ( formerly SES Astra - Société Européenne des Satellites - Astra ), headquartered in Betz village in Luxembourg, which was set for TV reception in Europe.

History

In October 1985, the U.S. RCA Astro Space Division (later GE Astro Space) (now SES Global) commissioned by the Luxembourg investment company SES Astra with the production of a satellite with a focus on direct TV reception. The launch of Astra 1A was scheduled for mid-year 1987. However, this deadline could not be met, the delivery was only in March 1988 as the first Astra 1A customer signed Rupert Murdoch -. Against the then digitization efforts of the public service broadcasters - June 7, 1988 a license agreement for four analog PAL transponder. This was later seen as a landmark decision for the future and the success of SES Astra, because there was a shortage of cheap digital satellite receivers at the time.

Astra 1A was promoted with a day's delay in December 1988 from the Guiana Space Centre in French Guiana into orbit and brought in the following weeks in its geostationary orbit.

After the satellite on January 7, 1989 achieved his position and had carried out successful transponder tests on 22 and 23 January, the first television program was launched on 1 February 1989 with FilmNet. On February 5, 1989 he was followed by the television channels of the former group Sky Television (now BSkyB) Sky One, Sky News and Sky Movies. Two days later the Scandinavian TV3 and on 10 February 1989 MTV Europe was launched. In March of the same year was followed by the sports channel, lifestyle and The Children 's Channel, the latter used in the time-sharing method a transponder.

It was only on 10 July 1989, again, with the intrusion of Euro Sport, commissioning another transponder. Also, started on August 27, 1989 TV1000 and on 1 September 1989 RTL 4 - at that time still under the name RTL Veronique - their program on Astra. As the first German programs were held on December 8, 1989 Sat.1, Pro 7 and RTLplus. 3sat occupied on 30 March 1990 and Tele Club on June 30, 1990, the last two transponders. Since January 25, 1993 VOX used the transponder of the former lifestyle, which set began broadcasting in early 1993. The Children 's Channel was initially on this transponder, but he finally changed on 12 July 1993 Astra 1B - so initially remained only the home shopping channel sell- A- Vision.

Since March 6, 1993 took RTL2 the transponder of the sports channel, which went up in Sports euro in February of the same year. In January 1995, joined RTL 4 on Astra 1D, so that could perform first test broadcasts since March 16, 1995 year, Super RTL on this transponder. Telecommuting Club changed the transponder so that here on 7 April 1995 cable 1, which was previously only available through Eutelsat II -F1 (13 ° East ) encrypted receivable, could go on the air. In July 1996, TV 3 left Sweden and TV 1000 Astra 1A, the vacated transponder used since BSkyB, for example, Fox Kids, Sky Two ( from 1 September 1996 ) Adult Channel and from 1 October 1996 for programs in Granada Gold and Granada Men and Motors. The end of 1996 ended FilmNet its emission via Astra, until the end of July 1997, the transponder with Bloomberg Germany was occupied. After BSkyB the Astra 19.2 ° East gradually abandoned since 1998, now could RTL Shop, XXP (now DMAX ), and VIVA Two (later VIVA Plus) use the vacated transponder.

From 7 January 1989 to the end of 2001, Astra 1A was at 19.2 ° East for the transmission of television programs. In early 2002, the satellite was moved to the position of 5.2 ° East in an inclined orbit and used from December 2002 overdubs. Since 10 December 2004, he is off and is located in a graveyard orbit. His successor is the Astra 1F.

Reception

The satellite could be received in Europe with a 60 -cm satellite antenna, especially in Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, in the south of the UK and western Poland. With great effort was the reception even in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Estonia in the southern, western Finland, in northern Serbia and northern Spain possible.