Atlas V to launch ASTRA 1KR

ASTRA 1KR will join the seven ASTRA satellites currently co-located at the orbital position 19.2 degrees East. It will operate as a replacement satellite for existing capacity at this position allowing the redeployment of resources within SES ASTRA’s fleet. The ASTRA 1KR satellite is an A2100 model built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and scheduled to launch on an Atlas V-411 vehicle.

Launch Date: Thursday, April 20, 2006

Launch Window: 2 hours, 50 minutes 4:27-7:17 p.m. EDT, 20:27-23:17 GMT

Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Launch Complex 41

Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services , McLean, Va.

ASTRA 1KR, with its pan-European footprint, will provide DTH services for the whole of Europe. ASTRA 1KR is also planned to transmit HDTV channels across Europe. It ensures continuity of the unique inter-satellite back-up and provides replacement capacity for ASTRA 1B and ASTRA 1C.

Story link: Atlas V to launch ASTRA 1KR