Astra 1KR ready for launch (Plus launch transmission details!)

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NEW SATELLITE ASTRA 1KR READY FOR LAUNCH
SES ASTRA, an SES GLOBAL company (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), has announced today that its new satellite ASTRA 1KR has been fully integrated into the fairing of the launch vehicle, an Atlas V rocket, and is ready for launch on 20 April at the Cape Canaveral Airforce Station in Florida, USA. The satellite, an A2100 AXS type built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems, is being launched by International Launch Services (ILS) into ASTRA’s prime orbital position 19.2° East.
The launch of ASTRA 1KR will allow SES ASTRA to further strengthen its important satellite fleet at the prime orbital position 19.2° East. It will be the eighth satellite of SES ASTRA at that position and will provide distribution of Direct-to-Home (DTH) broadcast services for SES ASTRA customers across Europe, with an extended reach into Eastern Europe. The satellite will allow SES ASTRA to replace the satellites ASTRA 1B and ASTRA 1C.

“The launch of ASTRA 1KR will benefit all our customers across Europe”, said Ferdinand Kayser, President and CEO of SES ASTRA. “It will further strengthen our unique inter-satellite back up scheme and provide important replacement capacity for our ASTRA satellites. With the launch, we continue to follow our programme of consistent investment in our satellite fleet, allowing us to maintain our technical excellence and industry leadership.”



Details for the launch broadcast:

for Europe: transmission on transponder 116 on ASTRA 1G at 19.2E with following reception parameters: downlink frequency: 12669.50 MHz / downlink polarization: vertical /

transponder transmission rate: 22 MS/s QPSK FEC 5/6; Service name: ASTRA VISION 3

for the US: transmission on transponder 17 on AMC 4 at 101o W , C-band analog with following reception parameters: downlink frequency: 4040 MHz / downlink polarization: vertical / Bandwidth: 36 MHz

Test signals begin around 3.45 pm EDT (21.45 CET):

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If you want to tune in Astar Vision 3 in preparation for Thursdays launch, its carrying an Astra test card (12670V 22000 5/6.)

[BGonaSTICK]

1KR gets off the ground!

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First stage of the flight a complete success. The rocket is now in a coast phase then the main engine will light up again, and 1Kr will be separated. The separation will end the launch mission

[BGonaSTICK]

Good looking launch huh?

Some of the footage, even well into the mission was very impressive. I'll post one or two pics when I've finished fiddling with them :clap:

Let's hope they don't screw it up now!

[BGonaSTICK]

1KR flies! Spacecraft separation occurred successfully at 23:16 BST!

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Astra 1KR safely separated from Centaur upper stage. Flight successful. Its now up to Astra 1KR to get to geostationary orbit!

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It really is a shame that a temporary feed isnt put onto the UK birds so that uk viewers without access to anything else can watch the fun.

Also - why the hell isnt there a proper UK space channel. Something that takes ALL launches and other space events, and carries something along the lines of Bayern Alpha's Space Night programming in the evenings

[BGonaSTICK]

A few snaps of the new addition to our family

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That second pic isnt any good - all you can see is the rocket nozzles!* * :clap: