Artist rendering of the Eutelsat satellite |
|
| Operator | Eutelsat |
|---|---|
| Major contractors | Aérospatiale (with DASA, Alenia & SS/L) |
| Bus | Spacebus-3000B2 |
| Mission type | Telecommunications |
| Launch date | 20 Nov 2002 |
| Launch vehicle | Delta IV |
| Launch site | CCAFS SLC37B |
| Mission duration | 12 years |
| COSPAR ID | 2002-051A |
| Homepage | http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/705e_w5.html |
| Mass |
|
| Power | End Of Life: 5900 W |
| Orbital elements | |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Apoapsis | 22,245 miles (35,800 km) |
| Periapsis | 22,237 miles (35,787 km) |
| Orbital period | 1,436.50 min |
| Longitude | 70.5° E |
| Transponders | |
| Transponders | 24 Ku band |
| Coverage area | Western Europe, Central Asia and India |
| References: [1][2][3] | |
Eutelsat W5 (also known as Eutelsat 3F1 or Eutelsat W1) is a telecommunications satellite owned by Eutelsat Consortium.[1] Eutelsat W5 provides coverage to Western Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East. The satellite can use either 6 steerable beams or 2 fixed beams to provide the coverage. Eutelsat W5 was used to provide video distribution and contribution links, occasional-use video as well as Internet backbone connections.[2]
Eutelsat W5 was the first satellite to be launched by a Delta IV rocket. The launch was originally scheduled for January 2001, but was delayed several times due to developmental problems with the Delta IV rocket.
Eutelsat W5 was built by Aérospatiale and is a spacebus 3000 satellite.[1] The satellite measures 4.6 m (15 ft) x 2.5 m (8.2 ft) x 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and has a span of 29 m (95 ft) on orbit. Eutelsat W5 features 3 axis stabilization to help keep it stable and pointed at the earth at all times. It features 24 Ku band transponders.
Eutelsat W5 has suffered numerous problems. The first was during testing, when the factory where it was being built caught fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be a carbon fiber wall which got too hot when the antennas were pointed at it and turned up on full power. The satellite was covered in water causing extensive damage.[1]
On 27 March 2007, Eutelsat W5 began drifting west at a rate of 0.004° per day. It is not known why this began to happen.[3]
On 16 June 2008, a power generation anomaly occurred and 4 transponders were permanently lost. It was later revealed that 1 of the 2 solar panels was lost (the array's drive motor failed).[1]
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