The rocket has detached at 23.44 hours of Moscow (19.44 GMT) of this November 5 taking to the space the satellite Astra 1M. It has been the commercial throwing number 48 of the carrying rocket "Proton" that there realizes the company "International Launch Services" (ILS).

The acquisition of this satellite in April, 2005 anticipated to the provisional program of replacement of the satellites Astra with the target to assure the growth of the biggest operator of the world of satellites, SES Astra.

EADS Astrium has designed and constructed the satellite and in turn it will provide both the useful load and the platform. The European industry has provided most of the team and technology.

The Astra 1M is provided with 36 transpondedores of band Ku and it will cover the bands of frequency FSS et BSS. The area of coverage of the satellite will be for the whole Europe. The pipes in traveling wave TWTA of 150 Watts will allow an ideal reception for the satellite dishes of limited diameter. The duration of life of the satellite is estimated in approximately 15 years.

The system of satellites Astra is the satellites operator leader in Europe, chosen by many broadcasting stations of television and radio and providers of multimedia services for the emission openly and of payment and services of wide band to more than 92 million users of TV for satellite and cable of Europe.


(SatCesc, 06-11-08)