Astra (satellite)

The name is also used to describe the pan-European broadcasting system provided by these satellites, the channels carried on them, and even the reception equipment.

[1][2] Astra satellites broadcast 2,600 digital television channels (675 in high definition) via five main satellite orbital positions to households across Asia, Australia, Africa, Americas, Europe, New Zealand, Middle East and North Africa.

Astra's principle of "co-location" (several satellites are maintained close to each other, all within a cube with a size of 150 km (93 mi).

More recent Astra satellites are built with an all-electric propulsion system for orbit raising and in-orbit manoeuvres to save weight.

In 2008, Astra acquired further shares to take its shareholding in SES Sirius to 90% and in March 2010 took full control of the company.

Traffic carried by the satellite (especially channels for German cable service, Kabel Deutschland) was transferred to Astra 23.5°E.

[84] The move of Astra 2C was started in May 2009 and completed on 11 May 2009,[85] with the first transponders coming into use at the new position in the subsequent two weeks.