Astra 3B at 23.5° East
Position: | 23.5° East |
Manufacturer: | Airbus Defense & Space |
Operator: | SES |
Launch operator: | Arianespace |
Launch vehicle: | Ariane 5ECA |
Launch date: | 05/21/2010 |
Expected lifetime: | 15 Years |
Astra 3B is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by satellite operator SES. The satellite is located at the Astra 23.5°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio for direct-to-home (DTH), and the AstraConnect two-way satellite broadband services across Europe and the Middle-East.
The satellite is also used to provide the one-way Othernet internet access service to Europe that, using small lightweight receiver stations, is designed to eventually provide news, weather, educational and other media to communities with no other access to the internet. Astra 3B was used by SES to broadcast its first demonstration 8K television signal in May 2018.
Astra 3B was constructed by Astrium (Airbus Defense & Space) and was launched on May 21st, 2010, on an Ariane 5 rocket operated by launch operator Arianespace from the Kourou Space Port in French Guiana.