| Eutelsat 8 West B | |
| Names List: | Nilesat 104B |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | Eutelsat |
| Cospar Id: | 2015-039B |
| Satcat: | 40875 |
| Mission Duration: | 15 years (planned) (elapsed) |
| Spacecraft: | Eutelsat 8 West B |
| Spacecraft Type: | Spacebus |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Spacebus-4000C3 |
| Manufacturer: | Thales Alenia Space |
| Power: | watts |
| Launch Date: | 20 August 2015, 20:34:08 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Ariane 5ECA (VA255) |
| Launch Site: | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-3 |
| Launch Contractor: | Arianespace |
| Entered Service: | October 2015 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 8° West |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 50 transponders: 10 C-band 40 Ku-band |
| Trans Coverage: | South America, Africa, Middle East |
| Programme: | Eutelsat constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Eutelsat 115 West B |
| Next Mission: | Eutelsat 9B |
Eutelsat 8 West B is a geostationary communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services from geostationary orbit. The satellite is part of Eutelsat's constellation at a longitude of 8° West. Eutelsat announced the order of a new Spacebus-4000C3 satellite bus from Thales Alenia Space in October 2012.
Eutelsat 8 West B is a satellite with a design life of 15 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 10 C-band and 40 Ku-band transponders.[2]
Eutelsat 8 West B was launched on the Ariane 5ECA launch vehicles from Centre Spatial Guyanais at the Kourou in French Guiana. Liftoff occurred at 20:34:08 UTC on 20 August 2015,[3] with the launch vehicle successfully injecting its payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch was conducted by Arianespace.
Following launch, the satellite Eutelsat 8 West B used its apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit, positioning itself at a longitude of 8° West. Capacity leased by Nilesat is marketed as Nilesat 104B.[2]