- Astra 2A
Astra 2A is a
communications satellite owned bySES Astra . Launched in 1998, half its expected end-of-life capacity of 28 transponders were pre-booked byBSkyB , who utilised it and a re-positionedAstra 1D to launch their new Sky Digital service. 21 transponders are active,as of 2006 , with two of these active but unused.The satellite suffered pre-launch technical issues with its apogee motors and was moved to a launch by the
Proton rocket rather than theAriane V , as the Proton was deemed more suitable considering the craft's precarious state. [ [http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_astra_2a.html The Satellite Encyclopaedia] ]When positioned at 28E, it joined
DFS Kopernikus 1, which served mainlyEastern Europe . The satellite was the first of Astra's craft to never carry analogue television services (with the exception of a solitary test card in 1999 [ [http://web.archive.org/web/19991008165609/www.lyngsat.com/astra2a.shtml LyngSat (archived)] ] ), and as of 2006, carries standard definition digital television, digital radio, and high-definition digital television, as well as Sky Interactive streams and theAVC Broadband andSilvermead satellite internet services. Two beams, both of which transmit on horizontal and vertical polarisation, exist - "2A North" and "2A South". The South beam covers almost all of Europe, with the North beam covering only Northern Europe at a high power.References
ee Also
*
Astra 2B co-located satellite
*Astra 2C co-located satellite
*Astra 2D co-located satellite
*Astra 28.2°E orbital position
*SES Astra satellite ownerExternal links
*satbeams footprint|5595|Astra 2A Ku-band North Beam
*satbeams footprint|5596|Astra 2A Ku-band South Beam
* [http://www.ses-astra.com/consumer/en/how-to-receive-astra/index.php SES Astra guide to receiving Astra satellites]
* [http://www.ses-astra.com/consumer/en/channel-guide/index.php SES Astra guide to channels broadcasting on Astra satellites]
* [http://www.ses-astra.com SES Astra Website]
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