Astra 5A

Astra 5A

Names	Sirius 2 GE-1E
Mission type	Communications
Operator	Nordiska Satelit AB / GE Americom / SES Sirius AB / SES Astra
COSPAR ID	1997-071A
SATCAT no.	25049
Mission duration	15 years (planned) 11 years, 2 months (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft	Sirius 2
Spacecraft type	Spacebus
Bus	Spacebus 3000B2
Manufacturer	Aérospatiale
Launch mass	2,920 kg (6,440 lb)
Dry mass	1,250 kg (2,760 lb)
Power	6.5 kW
Start of mission
Launch date	12 November 1997, 21:48 UTC
Rocket	Ariane 44L H10-3 (V102)
Launch site	Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
Contractor	Arianespace
Entered service	January 1998
End of mission
Disposal	Graveyard orbit
Deactivated	April 2009
Last contact	16 January 2009
Orbital parameters
Reference system	Geocentric orbit[1]
Regime	Geostationary orbit
Longitude	Astra 5°E (1997-April 2008) Astra 31.5°E (April 2008-2009)
Transponders
Band	32 (+8) Ku-band
Bandwidth	26 transponders at 33 MHz 6 transponders at 36 MHz
Coverage area	Sweden, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Middle East
Astra constellation

Astra 5A was one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES at the Astra 31.5°E. Launched in 1997 to the 5° East position by NSAB (Nordiska Satelit AB) (later SES Sirius, and now a non-autonomous part of SES) as Sirius 2, operation of the satellite was transferred to SES in April 2008 and the craft renamed and moved to 31.5° East to open up a new orbital position for the company for the development of markets in Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East.^[2]

Astra 5A failed in orbit in 2009.