Upcoming launches: 2010-2014

The SES companies plan to launch 12 satellites between 2010 and 2014, in order to replace existing satellites and to add incremental capacity.

 

Future launches in chronological order:

 

ASTRA 3B

Expected launch date: Q1 2010

ASTRA 3B is planned to deliver additional capacity at the orbital position 23.5° East.

 

SES-1,2,3

SES-1 is set for launch in the spring of 2010 and will replace AMC-2 and AMC-4 at the 101° West orbital slot. Further information on launch dates and slots for SES-2 and SES-3 will be published shortly.

 

SES-4

Expected launch date: Q1 2011

The former NSS-14, SES-4 is a satellite with extensive C-band coverage and regional Ku-band coverage, will operate at 338° East.

 

ASTRA 1N

Expected launch date: Q2 2011

ASTRA 1N will initially replace ASTRA 1G at the orbital position 19.2° East. ASTRA 1N will have 55 transponders with pan-European coverage, and will operate in the Ku frequency band. Its expected lifetime is 15 years.

 

SIRIUS 5

Expected launch date: Q4 2011

SIRIUS 5 will have 36 Ku-band transponders serving Northern Europe and the Baltic region as well as the African markets with Direct-to-Home (DTH) services. It will also have 24 C-band transponders (36 MegaHertz each) for global and hemispheric coverage, delivering broadband, point-to-point and VSAT capacities. The Ku-band transponders will be designated SIRIUS 5 and commercialised by SES ASTRA in the African DTH market and by SES SIRIUS in the Nordic markets, whereas the C-band transponders will become part of the SES NEW SKIES offering, and be designated SES-5. See visual rendering of SIRIUS 5 (pdf 250kb)

 

QuetzSat-1

Expected launch date:  Q3 2011

QuetzSat-1, which is scheduled for launch in 2011, is a high powered Ku-band satellite designed to provide service for 15 years or more, and is based on the flight-proven SS/L 1300 satellite platform which provides flexibility for a broad range of applications. The satellite will be located at 77 degrees West. QuetzSat-1 is fully contracted to a subsidiary of EchoStar and will be used in part by Dish Mexico, an EchoStar joint venture, for DTH services in Mexico.

 

ASTRA 2F

Expected launch date: Q4 2012

ASTRA 2F will serve to deliver next generation broadcast, VSAT and broadband services in Europe and Africa, and will carry Ku-and Ka-band payloads at 28.2 degrees East. The Ku-band capacity will allow SES ASTRA to enhance and secure its existing offering to major Direct-to-Home (DTH) markets in the UK and Ireland. With a Ku-band payload specifically designed to meet the requirements of some of Europe’s largest DTH broadcasters, the satellites will have spot beam and pan-European beam switching capabilities to accommodate both pay-TV and free-to-air broadcasters, and to provide these customers with increased functionality. ASTRA 2F will also include replacement and new capacity for the SES WORLD SKIES division, serving the African and the Middle Eastern markets with Ku-and Ka-band capacity. 

 

ASTRA 2E/2G

Expected launch dates: Q1/Q3 2013

ASTRA 2E and 2G have virtually identical construction and mission specifications as ASTRA 2F, see above.

 

ASTRA 5B

Expected launch date: Q1 2014

ASTRA 5B will be deployed at the orbital position 31.5 degrees East, extending SES ASTRA's transponder capacity and geographical reach over Eastern European and neighbouring markets for DTH, Direct-to-Cable (DTC) and contribution feeds to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) networks.