| Eutelsat 33B | |
| Names List: | Eutelsat 3 F-1 Eutelsat W1 (pre-launch) Eutelsat W5 (2002-2012) Eutelsat 70A (2012-2013) Eutelsat 25C (2013-2014) Eutelsat 33B (2014-2015) |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | Eutelsat S.A. |
| Cospar Id: | 2002-051A |
| Satcat: | 27554 |
| Website: | https://www.eutelsat.com/en/home.html |
| Mission Duration: | 12 years (planned) 13 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft: | Eutelsat W5 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Spacebus |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Spacebus-3000B2 |
| Manufacturer: | Alcatel Space |
| Dimensions: | Span on orbit: |
| Power: | 5.9 kW |
| Launch Date: | 20 November 2002, 22:39:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Delta 4M+(4,2) (s/n D293) |
| Launch Site: | Cape Canaveral, SLC-37B |
| Launch Contractor: | Boeing |
| Entered Service: | January 2003 |
| Disposal Type: | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated: | October 2015 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 24 Ku-band |
| Trans Bandwidth: | 72 MHz |
| Trans Coverage: | Europe, Middle East, Asia |
| Programme: | Eutelsat constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Hot Bird 6 |
| Next Mission: | Eutelsat W3A |
Eutelsat 33B, formerly known as Eutelsat 3F1, Eutelsat W1, Eutelsat W5, Eutelsat 70A and Eutelsat 25C, is a telecommunications satellite owned by Eutelsat Consortium.[2] Eutelsat W5 provides coverage to Europe, Middle East, and Asia. The satellite can use either six steerable beams or two fixed beams to provide the coverage.
Eutelsat W1 was built by Aérospatiale and is a Spacebus-3000B2 satellite.[2] The satellite measures and has a span of on orbit. Eutelsat W1 features three axis stabilization to help keep it stable and pointed at the Earth at all times. It features twenty-four Ku band transponders. It was used to provide video distribution and contribution links, occasional-use video as well as Internet backbone connections.[3]
The original Eutelsat W1 satellite was damaged during construction by a malfunctioning fire extinguishing system. During testing, when the factory where it was being built caught fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be a carbon fiber wall which got too hot when the antennas were pointed at it and turned up on full power. The satellite was covered in water causing extensive damage.[2] It was declared a total loss, but was later reconstructed and completed as Eutelsat W5.[4]
Eutelsat 70A was the first satellite to be launched by a Delta IV launch vehicle. The launch was originally scheduled for January 2001, but was delayed several times due to developmental problems with the Delta IV. On 27 March 2007, Eutelsat 70A began drifting west at a rate of 0.004° per day. It is not known why this began to happen.[5] On 16 June 2008, a power generation anomaly occurred and four transponders were permanently lost. It was later revealed that one of the two solar panels was lost because the array's drive motor failed.[2]
In 2013, it was replaced by Eutelsat 70B at 70° East [3] and was then moved to 25° East where it was renamed to Eutelsat 25C.[6]
In October 2015, Eutelsat 33B was deactivated because of the loss of its second solar panel.[7]