| Hot Bird 13B | |
| Names List: | Hot Bird 8 (2006–2012) Hot Bird 13B (2012–2023) Eutelsat Hot Bird 13B |
| Mission Type: | Communications |
| Operator: | Eutelsat |
| Cospar Id: | 2006-032A |
| Satcat: | 29270 |
| Mission Duration: | 15 years (planned) |
| Spacecraft: | Hot Bird 8 |
| Spacecraft Type: | Eurostar (satellite bus) |
| Spacecraft Bus: | Eurostar-3000 |
| Manufacturer: | EADS Astrium |
| Power: | 14 kW |
| Launch Date: | 4 August 2006, 21:48:00 UTC |
| Launch Rocket: | Proton-M / Briz-M |
| Launch Site: | Baikonur, Site 200/39 |
| Launch Contractor: | Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center |
| Entered Service: | October 2006 |
| Orbit Reference: | Geocentric orbit |
| Orbit Regime: | Geostationary orbit |
| Orbit Longitude: | 13° East |
| Apsis: | gee |
| Trans Band: | 64 Ku-band |
| Trans Coverage: | Europe, North Africa, Middle East |
| Programme: | Eutelsat constellation |
| Previous Mission: | Hot Bird 7A |
| Next Mission: | Hot Bird 9 |
Hot Bird 13B, known as Hot Bird 8 prior to 2012, is a geostationary communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services from geostationary orbit as part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird constellation at a longitude of 13° East.
Eutelsat and EADS Astrium announced in September 2003 the signature of a contract for the construction the Hot Bird 8 broadcast satellite. Hot Bird 8 was constructed by EADS Astrium, and is based on the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus. It has a mass of and is expected to operate for 15 years. The spacecraft has 64 Ku-band transponders,[1] broadcasting satellite television and radio to Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.[2]
Hot Bird 8, as it was then named, was launched by a Proton-M launch vehicle with a Briz-M upper stage. The launch took place from Site 200/39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 21:48:00 UTC on 4 August 2006 [3] with spacecraft separation occurring at 06:59:20 UTC on 5 August 2006.[4] The launch was conducted by International Launch Services.[5] The spacecraft was deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit, raising itself to its operational geostationary position at 13° East by means of its apogee motor. The spacecraft is co-located with Hot Bird 13C and Hot Bird 13D.