News
TVP launches FTA platform on ASTRA
The public Polish television Telewizja Polska SA (TVP) launched a free-to-air platform on ASTRA on 15th September 2009. TVP has therefore extended its satellite capacity contracts for the use of two transponders at ASTRA’s main orbital position 19.2 degrees East. TVP has been using this capacity since 2005. TVP is the largest public TV broadcaster in Central and Eastern Europe. ››
Amazonas 2 satellite is integrated for launch
Ariane 5’s payload fairing is hoisted into position for installation over Amazonas 2 in the satellite staging area of the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building. Final payload integration is underway for Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2009, with the Amazonas 2 telecommunications satellite now encapsulated in its payload fairing. ››
Animal Planet HD in CYFRA+
On 16th of September 2009, subscribers of the satellite platform CYFRA+ have gained an access to Animal Planet HD. Until 11th of November channel can be viewed by all subscribers of the platform with has at least one HD option activated. This is the ninth high-definition channel available in CYFRA+, other ones include: CANAL+ Film HD, CANAL+ Sport HD, National Geographic Channel HD, HBO HD, Filmbox HD, MTVNHD, Eurosport HD and Eurosport 2 HD. ››
Amazonas 2 satellite is integrated for launch
- 2009-09-29 15:34:54 / Anita Dąbek
- source: Ariane
Ariane 5’s payload fairing is hoisted into position for installation over Amazonas 2 in the satellite staging area of the Spaceport’s Final Assembly Building. Final payload integration is underway for Arianespace’s fifth Ariane 5 mission of 2009, with the Amazonas 2 telecommunications satellite now encapsulated in its payload fairing.
This activity took place inside the satellite staging area of Ariane 5’s Final Assembly Building at the Spaceport in French Guiana, where the ogive-shaped fairing was lowered into place over Amazonas 2. The fairing will protect the satellite during Ariane 5’s climb-out through the atmosphere’s dense layers.
HISPASAT’s Amazonas 2 will ride as the upper payload on Ariane 5’s next flight – scheduled later this month – while the German COMSATBw-1 military communications satellite is to be positioned below it as the lower satellite passenger in the payload “stack.”
With a liftoff mass of approximately 5,500 kg., Amazonas 2 is to operate from a final orbital slot of 61 deg. West. This satellite will provide the Spanish-based HISPASAT telecommunications operator with relay capacity over the Americas, with its coverage area extending from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.
It is based on EADS Astrium’s Eurostar E3000 spacecraft bus, and has been designed for a useful lifetime of 15 years. Amazonas 2 is to handle a wide range of communications services – including direct-to-home television – through its 54 Ku-band transponders and 10 C-band transponders.
