Eutelsat 8 West C
| Names |
Hot Bird 6 (2002-12) Hot Bird 13C (2012-13) Eutelsat 8 West C (2013—) |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communication |
| Operator | Eutelsat |
| COSPAR ID | 2002-038A |
| SATCAT № | 27499 |
| Website |
www |
| Mission duration | 12 years |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Spacebus-3000B3 |
| Manufacturer | Alcatel Space |
| Launch mass | 3,905 kilograms (8,609 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 21 August 2002, 22:05:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 401 AV-001 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
| Contractor | International Launch Services |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric |
| Regime | Geostationary |
| Longitude |
13° east (2002-13) 8° west (2013—) |
| Slot | Hot Bird (2002-13) |
| Transponders | |
| Band |
28 Ku-band 4 Ka-band |
Eutelsat 8 West C, known as Hot Bird 6 prior to 2012 and Hot Bird 13A from 2012 to 2013, is a French communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct to home broadcasting services from geostationary orbit. The satellite was part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird constellation at a longitude of 13 degrees east, until it was relocated to 8 degrees east between July and August 2013.
Constructed by Alcatel Space based on the Spacebus-3000B3 satellite bus, Eutelsat 8 West C is a 3,905-kilogram (8,609 lb) satellite with a design life of 12 years. It is equipped with an S400-12 apogee motor which was used for initial orbit-raising manoeuvres and an S10-18 engine for station keeping burns.[1] The spacecraft has 28 Ku-band and four Ka-band transponders.[2]
Hot Bird 6, as it was then named, was launched on the maiden flight of the Atlas V rocket, tail number AV-001, flying in the 401 configuration from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Liftoff occurred at 22:05:00 on 21 August 2002,[3] with the carrier rocket successfully injecting its payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The launch was conducted by International Launch Services.[4]
Following launch, the satellite used its apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit, positioning itself at a longitude of 13 degrees east. It operated at this position for almost eleven years before being removed from the slot in July 2013. In August it arrived at 8 degrees west, where it has entered service as Eutelsat 8 West C, to support the Eutelsat 8 West A satellite until the planned 2015 launch of the Eutelsat 8 West B satellite. It provides coverage of the Middle East, North Africa and eastern Europe.[5]
References
- ↑ "Hot Bird 6 / 2002 - 038A". Spacecraft Propulsion Heritage. EADS Astrium. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ Krebs, Gunter. "Hot Bird 6 → Eutelsat Hot Bird 13A → Eutelsat 8 West C". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ↑ McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ↑ "Atlas Launch Archives". International Launch Services. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ↑ "Eutelsat 8 West C - Downlink Coverage". Eutelsat. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
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