Engineering:Eutelsat 31A

From HandWiki
Short description: Communications satellite
Eutelsat 31A
Namese-Bird (2003–2006)
Eurobird 3 (2006–2012)
Eutelsat 33A (2012–2014)
Eutelsat 31A (2014–present)
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorEutelsat
COSPAR ID2003-043A
SATCAT no.27948
Mission duration10 years (achieved)
20 years, 9 months, 24 days
(in orbit)
Spacecraft properties
BusBSS-376
ManufacturerBoeing
Launch mass1,530 kilograms (3,370 lb)
Dry mass888 kilograms (1,958 lb)
Powerwatts
Start of mission
Launch date27 September 2003, 23:14:46 (2003-09-27UTC23:14:46Z) UTC
RocketAriane 5G
Launch siteKourou ELA-3
ContractorArianespace
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude31° East
Transponders
Band20 Ku-band
Coverage areaContinental Europe
Great Britain
Scandinavia
Turkey
 

Eutelsat 31A, formerly e-Bird, Eurobird 3 and Eutelsat 33A, is a communications satellite that offers capacity for broadband and broadcast services in Europe. It is owned by Eutelsat.

Positioned at 31° East - having been relocated from 33° East in May 2014[1] - Eutelsat 31A is optimised for interactive broadband services, and also valued by broadcasters for occasional use and professional video services, and data networks like Estar by Technologie Satelitarne service.

Its 20 Ku band transponders are connected to four spot beams over Europe and Turkey. These four beams overlap to allow hubs located in the hot spots of each beam to communicate with each other, thus ensuring highly effective pan-European coverage.

References