Spacetrack Directory Name | ASTRA 2F |
Follow ASTRA 2F | ASTRA 2F Tracker |
Pass predictions ASTRA 2F | Pass predictions ASTRA 2F |
Orbit launches | 2012-09-28 (12 years ago) |
Days in orbit | 4424 |
Country/organisation of origin | SES |
Starting point | FRGUI (Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana) |
Categories | |
Perigee | 35768 km/h |
Apogee | 35806 km |
Orbit slope (inclination) | 0.04° |
Laps per day | 1 |
Orbit | GEO |
Height ASTRA 2F | 35785.89 km |
Astra 2F is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES, launched in September 2012 to the Astra 28.2°E orbital slot. The satellite provides free-to-air and encrypted direct-to-home (DTH) digital TV and satellite broadband services for Europe and Africa.
Astra 2F is the first of three ?second generation? satellites for the 28.2°E position which replace the first generation Astra 2A, Astra 2B and Astra 2D craft previously there. The second, Astra 2E, was launched in 2013 and the third, Astra 2G, was launched in 2014 (launched on December 27, 2014). Some parts of the construction of Astra 2F by Astrium (now Airbus Defence and Space) in Stevenage, UK could be seen in the BBC2 documentary programme, How To Build? A Satellite broadcast on November 27, 2011.
Astra 2F was successfully launched from Kourou in French Guiana on September 28, 2012. and underwent in-orbit testing at 43.5°E. Commercial operations at 28.2°E began on November 21, 2012.