Astra 2C

Astra 2C is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES. Designed to join Astra 2A and Astra 2B at the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio broadcast services to the UK and Republic of Ireland, the satellite was first used after launch in 2001 at 19.2°E for pan-European coverage.

The satellite provides one broadcast beam with horizontal and vertical polarisation, across a single footprint covering the areas of Central and Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Iberian peninsula and Canary Islands.^[2]

TV signals can be received with a 50 cm dish across the majority of the British Isles with a 60 cm dish required in the extreme north and west. Astra 2C can also provide backup capacity, substituting for one or more transponders across the 10.70 GHz-12.20 GHz broadcast range used by Astra satellites in the Astra 19.2°E and Astra 28.2°E orbital positions.

History

Although originally intended for Astra 28.2°E, the satellite has spent little of its life in that orbital position, stationed at Astra 19.2°E and Astra 31.5°E for some 11 years for pan-European coverage (see below). Positioned at 28.2°E for just 19 months from August 2007 and for 16 months from March 2014, Astra 2C was then moved to 60.5°E in August 2015^[3]

Temporary use at 19.2°E

Astra 2C was first positioned at 19.2°E after launch in 2001, to provide pan-European capacity at the primary Astra position pending the launch of Astra 1L (in May 2007) and was moved to 28.2°E in August 2007, transmitting digital TV and interactive services for Sky Digital and Freesat.^[4] Only two transponders were active during this time.

The satellite was returned to 19.2°E in September 2010 while Astra 1N, which was intended for positioning at Astra 19.2°E, was used at Astra 28.2°E. As of July 2012, there are 16 transponders active, in particular six for the Spanish Canal+ pay-TV platform and five for Sky Deutschland.^[5]

Astra 2C was returned to its originally intended position at Astra 28.2°E after the relocation of Astra 1N from 28.2°E to 19.2°E in March 2014.

Temporary use at 31.5°E

In March 2009, SES announced that in April, Astra 2C was to be moved from 28.2° east to Astra 31.5°E to temporarily replace the failed Astra 5A until Astra 3B was launched to Astra 23.5°E, when another craft currently there could be released to Astra 31.5°E.^[6] The move of Astra 2C was started in early May 2009 and completed on 11 May,^[7] with the first transponders coming into use at the new position in the subsequent two weeks.

In June 2010, Astra 3B (launched May 2010) came into operation at Astra 23.5°E and Astra 1G was moved from that position to Astra 31.5°E, where it could release take over all broadcasting activity from Astra 2C. Astra 2C left 31.5°E in September 2010.

See also

• Astra 28.2°E – previous orbital position
• Astra 19.2°E – previous orbital position
• Astra 31.5°E – previous orbital position
• Astra 2A
• Astra 2B
• Astra 2D
• Astra 2E
• Astra 2F
• Astra 2G
• SES satellite operator
• Astra satellite family

References

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
• Astra 2C North beam footprint on SatBeams
• Astra 2C South beam footprint on SatBeams
• IMS Official provider's site