Eutelsat 33B

Eutelsat 33B, formerly known as Eutelsat W5, Eutelsat 3F1, Eutelsat W1, Eutelsat 70A and Eutelsat 25C, 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 70A was used to provide video distribution and contribution links, occasional-use video as well as Internet backbone connections.^[2]

Eutelsat 70A 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.

Specifications

Eutelsat 70A 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 70A features 3 axis stabilization to help keep it stable and pointed at the earth at all times. It features 24 K_u band transponders.

Problems

Eutelsat 70A 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 70A 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]

In 2013 it was replaced by Eutelsat 70B at 70E ^[2] and was then moved to 25E where it was renamed to Eutelsat 25C.^[4]

In October 2015, Eutelsat 33B was desactivated because of the loss of its second solar panel.^[5]

References