The final launch of a series of Russian rocket launches was conducted last night with the delivery of the ASTRA 2G satellite to geostationary orbit.
Lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 21:37 UTC, the satellite was taken to orbit by a Proton rocket with a Briz-M upper stage. Separation of the ASTRA 2G satellite took place approximately 9 hours after launch.
ASTRA 2G is the third spacecraft of a three satellite investment program (ASTRA 2E, 2F, and 2G) that SES contracted with Airbus Defence and Space in order to provide replacement as well as incremental satellite capacity in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East. ASTRA 2G carries 62 Ku-band transponders as well as 4 Ka-band transponders. The different beams aim to provide wide coverage over the UK and Ireland, Europe and West Africa.
The ASTRA 2G satellite will also support SATMED, an e-health platform conceived by SES. SATMED is a satellite based communication solution aimed to improve public health in emerging and developing countries.
The launch had originally been planned for late November, but due to on-pad problems with regard to the rocket, the launch had to be pushed back to late December instead.
Lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 21:37 UTC, the satellite was taken to orbit by a Proton rocket with a Briz-M upper stage. Separation of the ASTRA 2G satellite took place approximately 9 hours after launch.
ASTRA 2G is the third spacecraft of a three satellite investment program (ASTRA 2E, 2F, and 2G) that SES contracted with Airbus Defence and Space in order to provide replacement as well as incremental satellite capacity in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East. ASTRA 2G carries 62 Ku-band transponders as well as 4 Ka-band transponders. The different beams aim to provide wide coverage over the UK and Ireland, Europe and West Africa.
The ASTRA 2G satellite will also support SATMED, an e-health platform conceived by SES. SATMED is a satellite based communication solution aimed to improve public health in emerging and developing countries.
The launch had originally been planned for late November, but due to on-pad problems with regard to the rocket, the launch had to be pushed back to late December instead.