Illustration of Astra 1K. Photo: SES ASTRA

In December 1997, the Luxembourg - based Societe Europeenne de Satellites (SES) entrusted Alcatel Space with realizing the largest most versatile telecommunications satellite ever built.

To reinforce the fleet currently in orbit, Alcatel Space is responsible for the direct television and multimedia satellite Astra 1K for SES.

The contract bears on an order for one satellite delivered on the ground and an optional satellite, as well as the associated equipment and services:

• launch compatibility and interface
• insurance and transport of the satellite to the launch site
• the launch campaign: satellite preparation and operation
• in-orbit commissioning
• on-site support for in-orbit commissioning operations and operations support
• operational documentation
• platform IOT and payload IOT support
• satellite dynamic simulator
• training of SES staff

Positioned at 19.2 deg E, it will provide simultaneous transmission of 52 Ku-band channels (110 W with a 26 MHz bandwidth) and 2 Ka-band channels (66 W with a 500 MHz bandwidth).

Astra 1K will have three missions:

Mission 1 - Replacement capacity of the fleet of Astra satellites positioned at 19.2 deg E.

Mission 2 - Geographic extension of the coverage and reuse of frequencies over two different zones.

Mission 3 - Multimedia and interactive system, with the development of a new Ka-band service and back up of the Astra 1H satellite.

Astra 1K in the factory. Photo: SES ASTRA

The Spacebus product range
It provides a unique combination of performance, maturity and reliability with worldwide recognition. Astra 1K benefits from the many technological advances developed with the SPACEBUS family, i.e.:

• capacity for using a large number of antennas (7 antennas with 9 reflectors)
• use of electric propulsion
• compatibility with the Ariane 4, Ariane 5 and Proton launchers
• "Beam link" on Ka band

The industrial team
Alcatel Space, Prime Contractor, is in charge of developing Astra 1K. The industrial organization set up, calls on many industrial institutions in E u rope, the USA and Japan, including:

• Alcatel Space Industries: Ku and Ka repeater equipment (DOCOM/DLA/CAMP - UPCON...), mechanisms, solar a rrays, power distribution, electric propulsion, structure, heat regulation, wiring, data handling, Ku-band antennas
• Alcatel Espacio: Payload equipment (KU Diplexer)
• Alcatel ETCA: Electrical equipment (PCU, PPU)
• Alcatel Bell Space: RF equipment (MLO Ka) and Space System Loral, COM DEV, TTE, NEC, AEROSPATIALE, ALENIA, EMS, SAAB, RYMSA, SEP, DSS, etc.

Astra 1K during pre-flight testing. Photo: SES ASTRA