Astra 1N

Astra 1N is a commercial communications satellite, the Luxembourg SES Astra.

He was placed in a geostationary orbit on August 6, 2011 at 22:54 UTC clock by an Ariane 5 ECA from the Guiana Space Centre together with BSAT 3C. This was the 203rd launch of an Ariane rocket, the 59th Ariane 5 and the 32th of the ECA version. The launch was initially planned for July 1, 2011, but had to because of an icy and then exchanged valve in the system for the liquid hydrogen and it moved again shortly due to bad weather.

The three -axis stabilized satellite is equipped with 55 Ku- band transponders and will provide from the position at 19.2 degrees East, Germany, France and Spain with television programs. Before that, he will act as a replacement for Astra 2D at 28.2 ° East, Astra 2F to take over his place from winter 2012. But he has three extendable antennas with a diameter of up to 2.6 m and a controllable top-floor- antenna with 1.3 m diameter. It was built on the basis of the satellite bus Euro Star 3000 Astrium and has a design life of 15 years. The satellite was ordered from Astrium on 15 July 2008.

Many British television channels, including the BBC, under Freesat ( brand name protected for application packages from BBC and ITV) on this satellite are free to receive since 24 February 2012.

Until 24 February 2012, the programs have been spread over the which have reached the end of its life Astra 2D.

Reception

The satellite can be received in the British Isles, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.

The transmission is in the Ku- band.