Eutelsat 12 West B Explained

Eutelsat 12 West B
Names List:Atlantic Bird 2 (2001–2012)
Eutelsat 8 West A (2012–2015)
Mission Type:Communications
Operator:Eutelsat
Cospar Id:2001-042A
Satcat:26927
Mission Duration:12 years (planned)
19 years (achieved)
Spacecraft:Atlantic Bird 2
Spacecraft Type:Spacebus
Spacecraft Bus:Spacebus-3000B2
Manufacturer:Alcatel Space
Launch Date:21 September 2001, 23:21 UTC
Launch Rocket:Ariane 44P H10-3 (V144)
Launch Site:Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Launch Contractor:Arianespace
Entered Service:November 2001
Disposal Type:Graveyard orbit
Deactivated:October 2020
Orbit Reference:Geocentric orbit
Orbit Regime:Geostationary orbit
Orbit Longitude:8° West (2001–2015)
12.5° West (2015–2020)
Apsis:gee
Trans Band:26 Ku-band
Trans Coverage:Americas, Europe
Programme:Eutelsat constellation

Eutelsat 12 West B, known as Atlantic Bird 2 prior to 2012 and Eutelsat 8 West A from 2012 to 2015, was a geostationary communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services from geostationary orbit. The satellite is part of Eutelsat constellation at a longitude of 8° West, then 12.5° West. Eutelsat announced the order of a new Spacebus-3000B2 satellite bus from Alcatel Space in October 2012.

Satellite description

Atlantic Bird 2 was a 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 26 Ku-band transponders.[2]

Launch

Atlantic Bird 2 was launched on the Ariane 44P launch vehicles from Centre Spatial Guyanais at the Kourou in French Guiana. Liftoff occurred at 23:21 UTC on 21 September 2001,[3] with the launch vehicle successfully injecting its payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch was conducted by Arianespace.

Mission

Following launch, the satellite Atlantic Bird 2 used its apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit, positioning itself at a longitude of 8° West. In December 2011, Eutelsat announced, that their satellite assets will be renamed under a unified brand name effective from March 2012. This satellite became Eutelsat 8 West A at 8° West. In 2015, it was moved to 12.5° West and named Eutelsat 12 West B. It has been moved to a graveyard orbit in October 2020.[2]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hot Bird 6 / 2002 – 038A. Spacecraft Propulsion Heritage. EADS Astrium. 4 October 2013. 4 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131004233026/http://cs.astrium.eads.net/sp/spacecraft-propulsion/heritage/page-126.html. dead.
  2. Web site: Atlantic Bird 2 → Eutelsat 8 West A → Eutelsat 12 West B. Gunter. Krebs. Gunter's Space Page. 22 October 2020. 16 April 2021.
  3. Web site: Launch Log. Jonathan. McDowell. Jonathan's Space Page. 14 March 2021. 16 April 2021.