SES successfully launches Astra 2E satellite

SES successfully launched its Astra 2E satellite into orbit on board an ILS Proton Breeze M booster last night at 3.38 am local time in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

The Proton rocket released the satellite into geostationary transfer orbit after nine hours and 12 minutes. Astra 2E will be deployed at the 28.2/28.5 degrees orbital arc and is designed to deliver next generation broadcast and broadband services in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The satellite was built for SES by Astrium of France and is based on the Eurostar E3000 platform. It carries 60 Ku-band transponders, including 12 incremental transponders for delivery of services outside Europe, as well as 4 Ka-band transponders.

“We would like to thank Astrium and ILS for the successful ASTRA 2E mission. The 54th satellite in SES’ global fleet provides significant capacity expansion at a strategic orbital neighborhood over Europe. In combination with ASTRA 2F which was launched in September 2012, and the upcoming ASTRA 2G due for launch next year, ASTRA 2E is an important part of our fleet renewal programme at the 28.2/28.5 degrees orbital arc,” said Romain Bausch, president and CEO of SES.