Eutelsat 8 West C
NamesHot Bird 6 (2002–2012)
Hot Bird 13A (2012–2013)
Eutelsat 8 West C (2013–2015)
Eutelsat 33D (2015–2016)
Eutelsat 70D (2016)
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorEutelsat
COSPAR ID2002-038A
SATCAT no.27499
Websitehttps://www.eutelsat.com/en/home.html
Mission duration21 years, 4 months and 24 days (in orbit)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftHot Bird 6
Spacecraft typeSpacebus
BusSpacebus-3000B3
ManufacturerAlcatel Space
Launch mass3,905 kg (8,609 lb)
Dry mass1,900 kg (4,200 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date21 August 2002, 22:05:00 UTC
RocketAtlas V 401 (AV-001)
Launch siteCape Canaveral, SLC-41
ContractorLockheed Martin
Entered serviceOctober 2002
End of mission
DisposalGraveyard orbit
Deactivated2016
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude13° East (2002–2013)
8° West (2013–2015)
33° West (2015–2016)
70° East (2016)
Transponders
Band32 transponders:
28 Ku-band
4 Ka-band
Coverage areaEurope, Africa, Middle East
 

Eutelsat 8 West C, known as Hot Bird 6 prior to 2012 and Hot Bird 13A from 2012 to 2013, is a geostationary communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services from geostationary orbit. The satellite was part of Eutelsat's Hot Bird constellation at a longitude of 13° East, until it was relocated to 8° West between July 2013 and August 2013.

Satellite description

Hot Bird 6 was constructed by Alcatel Space based on the Spacebus-3000B3 satellite bus, Hot Bird 6 is a 3,905 kg (8,609 lb) satellite with a design life of 12 years. It is equipped with an S400-12 apogee motor which was used for initial orbit-raising manoeuvres and an S10-18 engine for station keeping burns.[1] The spacecraft has 28 Ku-band and four Ka-band transponders.[2]

Launch

Hot Bird 6, as it was then named, was launched on the maiden flight of the Atlas V launch vehicle, tail number AV-001, flying in the 401 configuration from SLC-41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). Liftoff occurred at 22:05:00 UTC on 21 August 2002,[3] with the launch vehicle successfully injecting its payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch was conducted by International Launch Services (ILS).[4]

Mission

Following launch, the satellite Hot Bird 6 used its apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit, positioning itself at a longitude of 13° East. In March 2012, it was renamed Hot Bird 13A by Eutelsat. It operated at this position for almost eleven years before being removed from the slot in July 2013. In August 2013, it arrived at 8° West, where it has entered service as Eutelsat 8 West C, to support the Eutelsat 8 West A satellite until the planned 2015 launch of the Eutelsat 8 West B satellite. It provides coverage of the Middle East, North Africa and eastern Europe.[5] It was then moved in 2015 to 33° East and renamed Eutelsat 33D. Later it was renamed Eutelsat 70D when it moved to 70° East. The satellite was retired in 2016 and was moved into a graveyard orbit above the geostationary belt.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Hot Bird 6 / 2002 – 038A". Spacecraft Propulsion Heritage. EADS Astrium. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter (14 August 2018). "Hotbird 6 → Hotbird 13A → Eutelsat 8 West C → Eutelsat 33D → Eutelsat 70D". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  3. ↑ McDowell, Jonathan (14 March 2021). "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Atlas Launch Archives". International Launch Services. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Eutelsat 8 West C – Downlink Coverage". Eutelsat. Archived from the original on 3 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
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