Nilesat 102: Egyptian Geosynchronous Communications Satellite

Overview
Nilesat 102 is an Egyptian-owned geosynchronous communications satellite operated by Nilesat Co., a company established in 1996 to manage Egypt’s satellite infrastructure and ground control operations. The satellite was launched on August 17, 2000, at 23:16 UTC, aboard an Ariane 44LP rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch was conducted by Arianespace on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA).

Manufactured by Matra Marconi Space (later part of Astrium), Nilesat 102 began official broadcasting on September 12, 2000, with a planned operational lifespan of 15 years. It provided a major boost to Egypt’s satellite TV and data services, especially in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Manufacturing & Technical Specifications
Nilesat 102 was built by Matra Marconi Space (Astrium) and had a launch mass of 1,827 kg. It featured:

• 12 Ku-band transponders, each with a 33 MHz bandwidth

• 100 W transponder output power

• A receiver dish diameter between 50 cm and 75 cm

• Three-axis stabilization system for precise attitude control

• Two deployable solar arrays to power the satellite

• A maximum power consumption of 3.06 kW, with onboard batteries storing solar energy

Mission & Operations
Operated by the Nilesat Company, Nilesat 102 was supported by two ground control centers in Cairo and Alexandria. The satellite expanded the capabilities of the Nilesat fleet, increasing channel capacity by over 50 additional TV channels compared to Nilesat 101. In total, the combined Nilesat satellites supported more than 150 television channels.

Beyond broadcasting, Nilesat 102 also enabled:

• Data transmission

• High-speed Turbo Internet services

• Multicasting and broadband connectivity for businesses and broadcasters

End of Mission
After nearly 18 years in service, Nilesat 102 was officially retired in June 2018. It was subsequently relocated to a graveyard orbit, marking the end of its operational life.