Launch site Kourou launch site | ||
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Similar Eutelsat 70B, INSAT‑4A, INSAT‑4B, NSS‑6, Apstar‑7 | ||
ABS-2 (also known as ST 3 or Koreasat 8) is an Indian free-to-air digital direct-broadcast television satellite owned and operated by the Asia Broadcast Satellite. It provides the Second free-to-air satellite television service in India. Initially, ABS-2 satellite at 75° was used to broadcast channels. ABS-2 75° was used to broadcast 97 FTA MPEG-2 Channels, and one MPEG4 channel. It was the fifth satellite operated by ABS.
ABS-2 is built on SSL 1300 satellite bus and equipped with up to 32 C-band, 51 Ku-band and 6 Ka-band transponders. Total mass at lift off was 6,330 kilograms (13,960 lb), with the size of 8.3 by 3.5 by 3.5 metres (27 ft × 11 ft × 11 ft) and 26 metres (85 ft) span when in orbit.
On 17 June 2009 ABS announced that ABS-2 will be built by Space Systems/Loral, with a launch initially planned for 2012. Due to financial delays it wasn't until 14 October 2010 that contract was signed, pushing launch to 2013. Eventually it was scheduled for 23 January 2014, however the need to change an unspecified equipment in the launcher delayed it further. Eventually Ariane 5 ECA flight VA 217 successfully launched on 6 February 2014 at 21:30 UT taking Athena-Fidus in the lower slot and ABS-2 in upper.
In August 2014, an anomaly occurred on the satellite, which caused the loss of the beam over Russia. The rest of the satellite continued to operate normally. ABS filed a $214 Million insurance claim for the loss of the beam.