SES successfully launches Astra 2E satellite

The satellite, number 54 in its fleet, carries 60 Ku-band transponders, including 12 additional transponders to provide services outside Europe, as well as four Ka-band transponders.

Astra 2E was successfully launched into orbit aboard the ILS ProtonBreeze M at 3:38 am last morning (Baikonur time) after a mission lasting 9 hours and 12 minutes.

The satellite has been built for SES by Astrium in France. Based on the highly reliable Eurostars E3000 platform, the satellite carries 60 Ku-band transponders, including 12 additional transponders to provide services outside Europe, as well as four Ka-band transponders. This composition allows us to offer next generation broadcast services and satellite broadband services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The Astra 2E has a useful life of 15 years.

Romain Bausch, president and CEO of SES, wanted to thank "Astrium and ILS for the success of the Astra 2E mission. SES satellite 54 provides significant expansion capacity to a strategic orbital position over Europe. In combination with Astra 2F, launched in September 2012, and the addition of Astra 2G, scheduled for launch next year, Astra 2E is part of the fleet renewal plan of SES in position 28.2/28.5. The new satellites, with cutting-edge technology, offer greater power based on the broadcast needs of our customers, while the Ka band offers new generation satellite broadband services.”

A new SES launch is scheduled to take place next October. The SES-8, manufactured by Orbital, will be sent into space by the SpaceX Falcon9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.