ASTRA 1D TO OPEN SES SECOND ORBITAL POSITION AT 28.2° EAST AHEAD OF ASTRA 2A Confirmed SES customers include: BSkyB, BBC, Flextech, Discovery, UKTV, Viacom and Turner Broadcasting

Société Européenne des Satellites (SES) announces that it is in the process of re-locating its ASTRA 1D satellite from the orbital location of 19.2° East to the second orbital position at 28.2° East. The in-orbit manoeuvre will ensure that digital transmission capacity is available at SES' second orbital position in time for the planned launch of digital services by various broadcasters targeting the UK/Eire markets. The temporary re-location of an existing ASTRA satellite, which will have no repercussions on existing analogue or digital traffic at 19.2° East, is possible through SES' comprehensive intersatellite back-up scheme and the built-in flexibility of ASTRA spacecraft to operate in different frequency bands.

Confirmed private and public SES customers for ASTRA 2A
digital transmission capacity include:

	BSkyB:		14	transponders
	BBC:		2	transponders
	Flextech:		2	transponders
	Discovery:		1	transponder
	UKTV:		1	transponder
	Viacom:		1	transponder
	Turner Broadcasting:		0.5	transponder

Furthermore, at least 2.5 transponders will be used for the multiplexing of TV, radio and multimedia services of several other UK-targeting broadcasters.

SES will permanently operate two ASTRA satellites at 28.2° East. ASTRA 2A is scheduled for launch onboard a Russian Proton rocket in May 1998. ASTRA 2B will use an Ariane 4 launch vehicle towards the end of the year. Together, both spacecraft will provide 56 active transponders.

The procedures to re-locate ASTRA 1D using the satellites on-board thrusters will be done in a way to minimise fuel consumption as well as to maintain a safe radial separation with other geostationary satellites. The drift of the spacecraft towards 28.2° East will take 3 weeks. ASTRA 1D will be available for first digital test transmissions in mid March. ASTRA 1D will provide 18 transponders for digital transmissions in the frequency range 11.70 - 12.10 GHz, with transmission characteristics identical to the ones on the upcoming ASTRA 2A.

States Romain Bausch, Director General of SES: "The built-in capability of the ASTRA satellites to operate in different frequency bands provides SES with an operational flexibility unmatched by any other satellite operator. SES can ensure that digital transmission capacity is available at the second orbital position by mid March, thus allowing private and public UK broadcasters to start testing for a timely launch of their planned services."

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