Eutelsat 8 West C

Eutelsat 8 West C, known as Hot Bird 6 prior to 2012 and Hot Bird 13A from 2012 to 2013, is a French communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct to home broadcasting services from geostationary orbit. The satellite was part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird constellation at a longitude of 13 degrees east, until it was relocated to 8 degrees west between July and August 2013.

Eutelsat 8 West C
NamesHot Bird 6 (2002–12)
Hot Bird 13C (2012–13)
Eutelsat 8 West C (2013—)
Mission typeCommunication
OperatorEutelsat
COSPAR ID2002-038A
SATCAT no.27499
Websitewww.eutelsat.com/en/satellites/the-fleet/EUTELSAT-HB13A.html
Mission duration12 years
Spacecraft properties
BusSpacebus-3000B3
ManufacturerAlcatel Space
Launch mass3,905 kilograms (8,609 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date21 August 2002, 22:05:00 (2002-08-21UTC22:05Z) UTC
RocketAtlas V 401 AV-001
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-41
ContractorInternational Launch Services
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric
RegimeGeostationary
Longitude13° east (2002–13)
 west (2013–2017)
70° east (2017– )
Slotdeorbited 2017
Transponders
Band28 Ku-band
4 Ka-band
 

Constructed by Alcatel Space based on the Spacebus-3000B3 satellite bus, Eutelsat 8 West C is a 3,905-kilogram (8,609 lb) satellite with a design life of 12 years. It is equipped with an S400-12 apogee motor which was used for initial orbit-raising manoeuvres and an S10-18 engine for station keeping burns.[1] The spacecraft has 28 Ku-band and four Ka-band transponders.[2]

Hot Bird 6, as it was then named, was launched on the maiden flight of the Atlas V rocket, tail number AV-001, flying in the 401 configuration from Space Launch Complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Liftoff occurred at 22:05:00 on 21 August 2002,[3] with the carrier rocket successfully injecting its payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The launch was conducted by International Launch Services.[4]

Following launch, the satellite used its apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit, positioning itself at a longitude of 13 degrees east. It operated at this position for almost eleven years before being removed from the slot in July 2013. In August it arrived at 8 degrees west, where it has entered service as Eutelsat 8 West C, to support the Eutelsat 8 West A satellite until the planned 2015 launch of the Eutelsat 8 West B satellite. It provides coverage of the Middle East, North Africa and eastern Europe.[5]

References

  1. "Hot Bird 6 / 2002 – 038A". Spacecraft Propulsion Heritage. EADS Astrium. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. Krebs, Gunter. "Hot Bird 6 → Eutelsat Hot Bird 13A → Eutelsat 8 West C". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan. "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
  4. "Atlas Launch Archives". International Launch Services. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. "Eutelsat 8 West C – Downlink Coverage". Eutelsat. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
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