DFS Kopernikus

A DFS-Kopernikus satellite on a German 100Pf stamp (with Footprint)

DFS-Kopernikus meaning Deutscher Fernmeldesatellit Kopernikus) was the name of three geostationary satellite of Deutsche Bundespost and later Deutsche Telekom AG. They are no longer in use.

When DFS-Kopernikus 3 was nearing the end of its life, SES Astra reached agreement with Deutsche Telekom to use the 23.5°East position and frequencies, and in August 2001, Astra 1D was moved there.^[1] The Astra 23.5°E position was officially opened in March 2002 with the launch and positioning there of Astra 3A. Deutsche Telekom contracted for 10 transponders on that craft and shortly switched over all traffic from DFS-Kopernikus 3.^[2]

Station Keeping

The orbital station keeping manoeuvres of the satellites were conducted by the Flight Dynamics Group of the German Aerospace Center (German Space Operations Center) in Oberpfaffenhofen, Bavaria. The satellites were located at the following positions.

• DFS-Kopernikus 1: 23,5° East, later 33,5° East (1989–1994?)
• DFS-Kopernikus 2: 28,5° East (1990–2000?)
• DFS-Kopernikus 3: 23,5° East (1992–2002)

German satellite TV market share in 1990

• SES Astra: ca. 80%
• Kopernikus: ca. 20%
• TV-SAT 2: under 1%

References

1. ^ "New position for ASTRA 1D" Advanced-Television.com (August 21, 2001). Retrieved on November 19, 2008
2. ^ "ASTRA 3A fully operational at 23.5° East" (Press release). SES ASTRA. May 30, 2002. http://www.ses-astra.com/business/en/news-events/press-archive/2002/30-05-03/index.php. 

• DFS-Kopernikus 1, 2, 3 / HellasSat 1

See also

• Nicolaus Copernicus
• Astra 23.5°East
• Astra 3A

External links

• DFS-Kopernikus in GSOC
• DFS-Kopernikus
• ASTRA 3A
• SES Astra interactive fleet map
• SES Astra website