ASTRA 1H LAUNCH SUCCESS ON PROTON World's first commercial Ka-band payload in orbit

The ASTRA 1H satellite of Luxembourg-based Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) was successfully launched with a Russian Proton D-1-e rocket from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur (Kazakhstan) in the early morning hours of June 18th, 1999 (07.49.30 a.m. Baikonur time; 03.49.30 a.m. CET; 01.49.30 a.m. GMT). ASTRA 1H is the ninth SES satellite in the ASTRA series and the eighth to be co-located at the orbital position of 19.2° East. In addition to 30 transponders in the Ku-band, ASTRA 1H carries the world's first commercial Ka-band payload for use over Europe. This payload is the first of its type to offer broadband interactive applications to low-cost user terminals.

Explains Romain Bausch, Director General and Chairman of the Management Committee of SES: "The ASTRA 1H ka-band payload will enable exciting interactive enhancements to today's services. By adding wide-band satellite return path capabilities, the ASTRA system is embarking on providing services comparable to emerging terrestrial infrastructures like X-DSL and cable modems. The launch of Europe's first commercial Ka-band payload is also another important element in the establishment of SES' global satellite broadband network."

Built by Hughes Space & Communications...

The spacecraft was built by Hughes Space and Communications of El Segundo (California). ASTRA 1H is an HS 601 HP type spacecraft (HP = High Power), carrying up to 30 active transponders (for the first five years, 28 thereafter) with a TWTA (Travelling Wave Tube Amplifier) output power of 98.5 Watts in Ku-band and 70 Watts in Ka-band. The satellite is equipped with XIPS (Xenon Ion Propulsion System) for in-orbit station keeping manoeuvres as well as conventional bi-propellant thrusters. Gallium arsenide solar cells provide ASTRA 1H with 6.6 kilowatts of electrical power. The satellite also has an advanced antenna design, using two large lightweight reflectors featuring Hughes contoured-surface technology. The spacecraft weighed 3.700 kilograms at launch and is designed for 15 years of lifetime.

... launched by International Launch Services (ILS)

The launch services for ASTRA 1H onboard Proton were provided by International Launch Services (ILS), the joint venture between Lockheed-Martin of the United States, and Khrunichev and RSC Energia of Russia.

The first three stages of the Proton D-1-e launch vehicle carried ASTRA 1H into a support orbit at a perigee altitude of 179 kilometres and an apogee altitude of 215 kilometres with an inclination of 51.6°, which the satellite reached approximately ten minutes after lift-off from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur.

One hour and fourteen minutes after lift-off the fourth stage of the Proton launcher (Block DM) was ignited for the first time to raise the apogee altitude to 35.840 kilometres.

The fourth stage was fired for the second time six hours and twenty minutes after lift-off to inject the space head into transfer orbit. The perigee altitude was raised to 7.450 km. At the same time the inclination of the orbit was reduced from 51.6° to 16.35°.

Separation of the ASTRA 1H satellite from the fourth stage of the Proton rocket took place 20 minutes after the second ignition. The satellite was first acquired by a tracking station in Australia.

Within the next few days, five activations of ASTRA 1H's apogee motor will propel the satellite into geostationary orbit. The on-board apogee motor will be activated during the 5th, 8th, 10th, 12th and the 13th revolution around the earth.

The satellite's solar panels and its communications antennas will be deployed approximately 11 days into the mission. After thorough testing of all the on-board systems, ASTRA 1H will be positioned at the orbital location of 19.2° East. The satellite will be operational in approximately five weeks.

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