SATCAT № 29055 Manufacturer Lockheed Martin Contractor ILS Inclination 0.06° Launch mass 4,332 kg | Mission duration 15 years Launch site Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Reference system Geocentric Period 24 hours Launch date 20 April 2006 | |
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Similar Astra 1M, Astra 1N, Astra 3B, Eutelsat 33C, Astra 4A | ||
Atlas 5 launch carrying astra 1kr into orbit
Astra 1KR is one of the Astra geostationary satellites owned by SES. It was launched in April 2006 as a replacement for Astra 1K, which failed to reach orbit on launch in 2002. The launch of Astra 1KR was the first attempted by SES since the Astra 1K failure.
Contents
- Atlas 5 launch carrying astra 1kr into orbit
- Atlas v rocket launches the astra 1kr satellite from cape canaveral
- References
The craft launched to 3.4° east for testing, before moving to Astra 19.2°E, where it replaced Astra 1B, which was effectively decommissioned, and Astra 1C, which was then elderly and running beneath full capacity. It was expected to also replace Astra 2C, which was under-utilised, and to allow that satellite to return to Astra 28.2°E to join 2A/2B/2D to provide additional capacity. However, SES stated that Astra 1L would replace Astra 2C.
The first signals from the craft at 19.2° east were direct replacements for four transponders on the failing Astra 1E.