| Major contractors | Hughes |
|---|---|
| Bus | HS 601 |
| Launch date | May 12, 1993 |
| Carrier rocket | Ariane 42 L V56 |
| Mission duration | 15 years |
| Mass | 2,790 kilograms (6,200 lb) |
| Power | 3,300 W |
| Orbital elements | |
| Longitude | 19.2°E 5°E 2°E |
| Transponders | |
| Capacity | 24 (18 main, 6 backup) |
| EIRP | 51 dBW |
| Bandwidth | 26 MHz |
Astra 1C was the third communications satellite launched by the Société Européenne des Satellites (SES), now SES Astra. It is the oldest Astra satellite still in operation, although it currently carries few services. originally deployed at the Astra 19.2°E orbital position, it carried almost entirely analogue television services for its operational life, aimed mainly to the UK and Irish market in its early life, and Germany for the remainder.
The satellite was intended to be replaced in 2002, along with Astra 1B, by Astra 1K but this satellite failed to reach its intended orbit. It was eventually relieved of its remaining television/radio payloads by Astra 1KR in 2006.[1]
In November 2006, prior to the launch of Astra 1L to the 19.2°E position, Astra 1C was placed in an inclined orbit and moved first to 2.0°E for tests, and then in February 2007 to 4.6°E, notionally part of the Astra 5°E cluster of satellites[2] but largely unused.
Since November 2008, the satellite has operated back at 2.0°E, still in inclined orbit, and is used for occasional traffic, mainly UK outside broadcast feeds.
On November 2nd 2011 the satellite was taken out of use as Eutelsat the rightholder for the 3° allocation came on air with Eutelsat 3A and current rules ask for a minimum of 2° separation. As far as known this will be the end of this satellite.
Contents |
At Astra 19.2°E
| Transponder | Frequency | Channels carried |
|---|---|---|
| 33 | 10,964 H | ZDF (1993-) |
| 34 | 10,979 V | UK Living (1993–2001), Chinese Channel (1994–1995), Televison X- The Fantasy Channel (1995-2001) |
| 35 | 10,994 H | The Children's Channel (1993–1998), The Family Channel (1993–1997), China News and Entertainment (1993–1994), Challenge (1997–2001), TV Travel Shop (1998-2001), CNBC Europe (1998-2001) |
| 36 | 11,009 V | Minimax (1993–1997), Documanía (-1997), Phoenix (1997-)[3] |
| 37 | 11,023 H | Cartoon Network Europe (1993-1999), Cartoon Network UK (1999-2001), TNT Classic Movies Europe (1993-1999), TNT UK (1999-2000), TCM UK (2000-2001) |
| 38 | 11,038 V | QVC UK (1993-) |
| 39 | 11,053 H | WDR Fernsehen (1993-) |
| 40 | 11,068 V | Cineclassics (1993–1997), Hessen Fernsehen |
| 41 | 11,082 H | Discovery Channel UK (1993–2001), CMT Europe (1993–1994), TLC UK (-1997), Discovery Home & Leisure UK (1997–2001), BR-alpha |
| 42 | 11,097 V | Bravo (1993–2001), EBN (1995-1998), The Adult Channel (1993-1995) Trouble (1997–2001), CNBC Europe (1998), Playboy Channel (1995-1997) |
| 43 | 11,112 H | MDR Fernsehen (1993-) |
| 44 | 11,127 V | Galavision (1993–1997), Sky Travel (1997-2001), Sky Movies Gold (1997-1998), VIVA, Sky Cinema (1998-2001) |
| 45 | 11,141 H | Bayerisches Fernsehen (1993-) |
| 46 | 11,156 V | Nickelodeon UK (1993–2001), TV Asia (1993-1994), The Paramount Channel (1995-1997), Paramount Comedy Channel (1997-2001) |
| 47 | 11,171 H | Sky Sports 2 (1994-2001), Sci-fi Channel UK (1995-1997), Sky Soap (1994-1997), Sky Sports Gold (1995-1996), Sky Travel (1994-1997), The History Channel UK (1995-1997), RBB Berlin, 1-2-3 TV |
| 48 | 11,186 V | Südwest 3 (1993-) |
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