Upcoming Launches: 2011-2014

  • SES-3

    1
    Expected launch date Q1 2011
    Orbital position n/a
    Launch vehicle and site ARIANE 5, Koruou, Guiana
    Payload 24 C-band & 24 Ku-band
    Expected lifetime 15+ years
    Type of satellite Enhanced STAR 2.4, 3-axis stabilized
    Manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation
    Propulsion Monopropellant (hydrazine) on-orbit system
    Links link_extern SES WORLD SKIES
    link_extern Orbital Sciences
    pdf_small SES 123 factsheet
    The SES-1, -2 & -3 satellites are being built for SES WORLD SKIES under a contract for up to five virtually identical satellites. The spacecraft are hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft that will serve the Continental United States and portions of the Caribbean, and will replace satellites currently in orbit.

    The SES satellites are based on Orbital’s Enhanced STAR™ 2.4 bus, the largest and most powerful GEO communications satellite the company builds. The spacecraft will each carry 24 active C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders of 36 MHz capacity each. Six of the channels in each band can be cross-strapped to the opposite band, enabling new service capability. The spacecraft will generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power and will have two 2.3 meter deployable reflectors.

  • SES-4

    1
    Expected launch date Q2 2011
    Orbital position 338° East
    Launch vehicle and site PROTON M Breeze, Baikonour, Kazakhstan
    Payload 52 C-band transponders, 72 Ku-band transponders
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite LS-1300
    Manufacturer Space Systems/Loral
    Propulsion R-4D, 4 SPT-100 plasma thrusters
    Links link_extern SES-4, press release
    link_extern SES-4 technical data
    SES WORLD SKIES will deploy SES-4 (formerly NSS-14) over the Atlantic Ocean region at 338° East, enhancing SES WORLD SKIES' ability to support its customers’ global satellite requirements. 338° East is one of the most highly demanded orbital locations for trans-Atlantic traffic serving the Americas, Europe and Africa.

    SES-4 will be a hybrid satellite featuring 52 x 36 MHz equivalent C-band transponders and 72 x 36 MHz equivalent Ku-band transponders, a substantial increase in the total capacity available at 338° East The state-of-the-art spacecraft has been designed for its orbital location, with C-Band beams serving the eastern hemisphere of Europe/Africa, full America’s coverage as well as a global beam to support mobile and maritime customers. Four high power, regional Ku-Band beams will provide service to Europe/Middle East, West Africa, North America and South America with extensive cross-strapping between C- and Ku-band transponders providing enhanced connectivity.

  • ASTRA 1N

    1
    Expected launch date Q2 2011
    Orbital position 19.2° East
    Launch vehicle and site ARIANE 5, Kourou, Guyana
    Payload 55 Ku-band transponders
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite Eurostar-3000, 3-axis stabilized
    Manufacturer EADS ASTRIUM
    Links link_extern ASTRA 1N press release
    SES ASTRA currently operates five satellites at 19.2 degrees East (ASTRA 1F, 1G, 1H, 1KR and 1L), operating the 120 Ku-band frequencies which are available at this orbital position. ASTRA 1KR and ASTRA 1L were launched in the last two years. With the arrival of ASTRA 1N, SES ASTRA will continue to operate all 120 frequencies and transponders at 19.2 degrees East on four satellites (ASTRA 1KR, 1L, 1M, 1N), while offering inter-satellite back up capacity. ASTRA 1N will initially replace ASTRA 1G, which will become available for use at other orbital positions within the fleet. ASTRA 1N will be built on a Eurostar E3000 platform, the latest version of Astrium’s Eurostar series which has proven to be highly reliable in commercial service.

  • QuetzSat-1

    1
    Expected launch date Q3 2011
    Orbital position 77° West
    Launch vehicle and site PROTON M Breeze, Baikonour
    Payload 32 Ku-band transponders
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite LS-1300, 3-axis stabilized
    Manufacturer Space Systems/Loral
    Propulsion R-4D, 4 SPT-100 plasma thrusters
    Links link_extern QuetzSat
    QuetzSat-1, is a high power Ku-band satellite that will be located at 77° West. QuetzSat-1 will provide coverage over Mexico, North America and Central America. The satellite is fully contracted to a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ: SATS) and will be used in part by Dish Mexico, an EchoStar joint venture, for DTH services in Mexico. It is further expected that EchoStar and its Satellite Services division will provide capacity on QuetzSat-1 to a subsidiary of DISH Network Corporation (NASDAQ: DISH) for use in connection with its U.S. DTH business.

  • SES-2

    1
    Expected launch date Q3 2011
    Orbital position n/a
    Launch vehicle and site PROTON M Breeze, Baikonour
    Payload 24 C-band & 24 Ku-band
    Expected lifetime 17+ years
    Type of satellite Enhanced STAR 2.4, 3-axis stabilized
    Manufacturer Orbital Sciences Corporation
    Propulsion Monopropellant (hydrazine) on-orbit system
    Links link_extern SES WORLD SKIES
    link_extern Orbital Sciences
    pdf_small SES 123 factsheet
    The SES-1, -2 & -3 satellites are being built for SES WORLD SKIES under a contract for up to five virtually identical satellites. The spacecraft are hybrid C- and Ku-band spacecraft that will serve the Continental United States and portions of the Caribbean, and will replace satellites currently in orbit.The SES-2 satellite will feature the Commercially Hosted InfraRed Payload (CHIRP) for the U.S. Air Force.

    The SES satellites are based on Orbital’s Enhanced STAR™ 2.4 bus, the largest and most powerful GEO communications satellite the company builds. The spacecraft will each carry 24 active C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders of 36 MHz capacity each. Six of the channels in each band can be cross-strapped to the opposite band, enabling new service capability. The spacecraft will generate approximately five kilowatts of payload power and will have two 2.3 meter deployable reflectors.

  • ASTRA 4B

    1
    Expected launch date Q4 2011
    Orbital position 5° East
    Launch vehicle and site PROTON M Breeze, Baikonour
    Payload 36 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite LS-1300, 3-axis stabilized
    Manufacturer Space Systems/Loral
    Propulsion R-4D, 4 SPT-100 plasma thrusters
    Links link_extern ASTRA 4B
    link_extern EGNOS
    link_extern Case study: EGNOS
    ASTRA 4B (formerly 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.

    ASTRA 4B will also carry an L-band payload for EGNOS (European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service). EGNOS supplements the primary GPS - and in the future also the GLONASS and GALILEO - navigation systems by reporting and improving the reliability and accuracy of the signals. It will also provide European navigation services ahead of the deployment of GALILEO. The EGNOS service is available over Europe and northern Africa and will be fully compatible with GALILEO.

    The Ku-band transponders will be 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 WORLD SKIES offering and will operate under the name SES-5.

  • ASTRA 2F

    2
    Expected launch date Q4 2012
    Orbital position 28.2° East
    Launch vehicle and site TBC
    Payload Ku- and Ka-band
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite Eurostar E3000
    Manufacturer EADS ASTRIUM
    Links link_extern Press release
    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° 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. SES ASTRA customers in this region include BSkyB, BBC, ITV, Freesat, Channel Four, UK TV, Virgin Media, Five, MTV and Discovery. The Ka-band payload will allow SES ASTRA to develop next generation broadband services in Europe, including its growing ASTRA2Connect product. 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. The new capacity will provide continuity of service and expansion opportunities for customers that are today already using the ASTRA 2B steerable beam over West Africa, as well as for new customers.

  • ASTRA 2E

    3
    Expected launch date Q1 2013
    Orbital position 28.2° East
    Launch vehicle and site TBC
    Payload Ku- and Ka-band
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite Eurostar E3000
    Manufacturer EADS ASTRIUM
    Links link_extern Press release
    ASTRA 2E 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° 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. SES ASTRA customers in this region include BSkyB, BBC, ITV, Freesat, Channel Four, UK TV, Virgin Media, Five, MTV and Discovery. The Ka-band payload will allow SES ASTRA to develop next generation broadband services in Europe, including its growing ASTRA2Connect product. ASTRA 2E 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. The new capacity will provide continuity of service and expansion opportunities for customers that are today already using the ASTRA 2B steerable beam over West Africa, as well as for new customers.

  • SES-6

    3
    Expected launch date Q1 2013
    Orbital position 319.5° East
    Launch vehicle and site tbc
    Payload 43 C-Band and 48 Ku-Band 36 MHz equivalent transponders
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite Eurostar E3000 platform
    Manufacturer EADS Astrium
    Links link_extern Press release
    The 319.5 degrees East slot is home to one of the largest cable communities in Latin America, supporting video distribution including HD content to more than 5,000 cable head-ends serving some 18 million homes for key broadcasters such as Fox, Disney ESPN, MGM among many others.

    SES-6 will offer 50 percent more C-Band capacity for the cable community, and retain the unique capability to distribute content between the Americas and Europe on the same high powered beam. In addition SES-6 will offer a substantial upgrade to Ku-Band capacity in the region with dedicated high power beams over Brazil, South cone, the Andean region, North America, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, while also offering an innovative payload to support mobile maritime and aeronautical services on the highly demanded routes from North America, the Gulf of Mexico, across the north Atlantic and to Europe.

  • ASTRA 5B

    3
    Expected launch date Q3 2013
    Orbital position 31.5° East
    Launch vehicle and site TBC
    Payload Ku-band
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite Eurostar E3000
    Manufacturer EADS ASTRIUM
    Links link_extern ASTRA 5B press release
    link_extern EGNOS contract awarded
    link_extern Case study: EGNOS
    ASTRA 5B will be deployed at the orbital position 31.5° East, extending SES ASTRA's transponder capacity and geographical reach over Eastern European and neighboring markets for DTH, Direct-to-Cable (DTC) and contribution feeds to Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) networks. ASTRA 5B will also carry a hosted L-band payload for the European Commission's (EC) European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS). EGNOS is a satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) that is intended to supplement the GPS, GLONASS and Galileo systems by reporting on the reliability and accuracy of satellite navigation signals over Europe.

    31.5° East is currently served by ASTRA 2C.

  • ASTRA 2G

    4
    Expected launch date Q1 2014
    Orbital position 28.2° East
    Launch vehicle and site TBC
    Payload Ku- and Ka-band
    Expected lifetime 15 years
    Type of satellite Eurostar E3000
    Manufacturer EADS ASTRIUM
    Links link_extern Press release
    ASTRA 2G 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° 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. SES ASTRA customers in this region include BSkyB, BBC, ITV, Freesat, Channel Four, UK TV, Virgin Media, Five, MTV and Discovery. The Ka-band payload will allow SES ASTRA to develop next generation broadband services in Europe, including its growing ASTRA2Connect product. ASTRA 2G 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. The new capacity will provide continuity of service and expansion opportunities for customers that are today already using the ASTRA 2B steerable beam over West Africa, as well as for new customers.