Satellite operator SES has its latest satellite, Astra 1P (also known as SES-24) on SpaceX’s Florida launch pad. Subject to the usual weather considerations it should launch on June 19th at 5.25pm Eastern time. As this is written, however, there are strong winds at the Cape which might delay the launch which was originally scheduled for June 17th.

The classic wide-beam satellite is huge, weighing some 5000 kgs and Astra 1P, and will replace aging satellites in the SES 19.2° East prime video neighbourhood. The new satellite will ensure content owners, private and public broadcasters across Germany, France and Spain can continue broadcasting satellite TV channels in the highest-picture quality in a cost-efficient manner. It will be based on the full electric and powerful Spacebus NEO platform developed by Thales Alenia Space and already flight proven in orbit.

This is the ninth flight of the first stage booster supporting this mission. Following stage separation, the first stage will land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The craft was ordered in November 2021 (along with Astra 1Q) and intended to replace three satellites and planned for at least 15 years of primary work at 19.2 degrees, and well into the 2040s overall.

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

1. Project Kuiper seeks India licence
2. FAA suspends SpaceX launches
3. SpaceX vs AST SpaceMobile 
4. Eumetsat explains Ariane 6 cancellation
5. AST SpaceMobile examines emergency call obligations
6. AST SpaceMobile promises US commercial services
7. Starlink “transformative” in shipping
8. Rivada Networks funding explained
9. EU satellites disrupted by Russia

Categories: Blogs, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: Astra, satellite, SES