SIRIUS 2 (Retired)
SIRIUS 2 was the largest telecom satellite ever built in Europe at its launch in November 1997. It was replaced by SIRIUS 4, which was launched in November 2007. The operation of moving all services from SIRIUS 2 (and 3) to SIRIUS 4 was finalized in January 2008.
In April 2008 SIRIUS 2 was moved to a new position, 31.5 degrees East. It was renamed ASTRA 5A and delivered 26 transponders for commercial activities from this orbital slot.
After ending its mission in January 2009, SIRIUS2/ASTRA 5A was deorbited to a graveyard orbit and in April 2009 it was replaced at 31.5 degrees East by ASTRA 2C.
When SES SIRIUS AB operated the SIRIUS 2 satellite at 5 degrees East, it was used for Direct-To-Home (DTH) transmissions as well as video and data communication services. SIRIUS 2 has two DTH beams, each with 13 transponders used for transmission of TV channels to homes equipped with parabolic antennas.
Before the move to 31.5 degrees East, one of the beams transmitted to the Nordic area with signal power (EIRP) of 55 dBW in the primary reception area, and the other towards central and southern Europe with signal power of 50 dBW throughout Europe.
SIRIUS 2 also had a third beam, for video and data communications. It had six 36 MHz transponders and covered northern and central Europe with a signal power of 46-48 dBW.
The French company Aerospatiale (today Thales Alenia Space) built SIRIUS 2 in Cannes.
SIRIUS 2 Facts
- Orbital position: 4.8° East
- Type: Spacebus 3000, 3 axis stabilized
- Mass in orbit: 1240 kg (2730 lb)
- Dimensions Body: 1.8 x 2.3 x 2.86 m, Span 27.3 m
- Launched: 12 November 1997
- Operational lifetime: 15 years
- Transponders: 26 BSS, 6 FSS
- Frequency band: 11.7-12.5 GHz (BSS), 12.5-12.75 GHz (FSS)
- Transponder bandwidth: 33 MHz (BSS), 36 MHz (FSS)
- Polarization: Linear (horizontal and vertical)
