Astra 3A Information & Astra 3A Links at HealthHaven.com

**Astra 3A**
General information
Launch Date	March 29, 2002
Launch Mass	1,495 kg
Manufacturer	Boeing Satellite Systems
Model	V139
Launcher	Ariane 44L
Lifetime	at least 10 years
Transponder Information
Transponder Capacity	20 Ku band
Bandwidth	36 MHz
EIRP	52 dBW
Sundries
Expendable Energy	1550 W
Location
Current location	23.5° E 0°00′N 23°30′E / 0°N 23.5°ECoordinates: 0°00′N 23°30′E / 0°N 23.5°E
List of broadcast satellites

Astra 3A is a communications satellite owned and operated by SES Astra, launched in 2002 to the Astra 23.5°E orbital slot providing digital television and radio for DTH and cable, multimedia and interactive services, corporate networks, and occasional and other business services to central Europe.

The satellite provides two broadcast beams, of horizontal and vertical polarisation, across two footprints that cover essentially the same areas of Europe – principally the countries of central Europe^[1].

TV signals can be received with a 50cm dish across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, and most of Denmark, and in parts of France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Slovakia, with reception on a 110cm dish as far afield as Scotland, Sweden and Serbia.

In addition to contribution feeds and individual TV channels, Astra 3A carries pay-TV networks including Kabel Deutschland (Germany), CanalDigitaal (Netherlands), CS Link (Czech Republic) and Skylink (Slovakia).^[2].

Astra 3A was launched to provide follow-on capacity to replace the DFS-Kopernikus 3 satellite and deliver additional capacity for the Benelux countries and central Europe, to create SES-Astra’s second major European satellite hotspot after Astra 19.2°E with access to channels at both positions using a single dish fitted with a monoblock Duo LNB.

[edit] References

^ "Astra 3A Factsheet". SES ASTRA. http://www.ses-astra.com/resources/pdf/en-shared/satellite_factsheets/0_3A_Footprint_FactSheet.pdf. Retrieved August 28 2008.
^ "Astra 3A at 23.5°E". LyngSat. http://www.lyngsat.com/astra3a.html. Retrieved August 28 2008.

[edit] See also

Astra 1E co-located satellite
Astra 23.5°E orbital position
SES Astra satellite owner
DFS-Kopernikus previous position holder

[edit] External links

[0] "Astra 3A Factsheet". SES ASTRA. http://www.ses-astra.com/resources/pdf/en-shared/satellite_factsheets/0_3A_Footprint_FactSheet.pdf. Retrieved August 28 2008.

[1] "Astra 3A at 23.5°E". LyngSat. http://www.lyngsat.com/astra3a.html. Retrieved August 28 2008.

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