Eutelsat W5
Encyclopedia
Eutelsat W5 is a telecommunications satellite owned by Eutelsat Consortium. Eutelsat W5 provides coverage to Western Europe
, Central Asia
, the Middle East. The satellite can use either 6 steerable beams or 2 fixed beams to provide the coverage. Eutelsat W5 was used to provide video distribution and contribution links, occasional-use video as well as Internet backbone connections.
Eutelsat W5 was the first satellite to be launched by a Delta IV rocket. The launch was originally scheduled for January 2001, but was delayed several times due to developmental problems with the Delta IV rocket.
and is a spacebus 3000 satellite. The satellite measures 4.6 m (15.1 ft) x 2.5 m (8.2 ft) x 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and has a span of 29 m (95.1 ft) on orbit. Eutelsat W5 features 3 axis stabilization to help keep it stable and pointed at the earth at all times. It features 24 Ku band
transponders.
On 27 March 2007, Eutelsat W5 began drifting west at a rate of 0.004° per day. It is not known why this began to happen.
On 16 June 2008, a power generation anomaly occurred and 4 transponders were permanently lost. It was later revealed that 1 of the 2 solar panels was lost (the array's drive motor failed).
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
, Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, the Middle East. The satellite can use either 6 steerable beams or 2 fixed beams to provide the coverage. Eutelsat W5 was used to provide video distribution and contribution links, occasional-use video as well as Internet backbone connections.
Eutelsat W5 was the first satellite to be launched by a Delta IV rocket. The launch was originally scheduled for January 2001, but was delayed several times due to developmental problems with the Delta IV rocket.
Specifications
Eutelsat W5 was built by AérospatialeAérospatiale
Aérospatiale was a French aerospace manufacturer that built both civilian and military aircraft, rockets and satellites. It was originally known as Société Nationale Industrielle Aérospatiale...
and is a spacebus 3000 satellite. The satellite measures 4.6 m (15.1 ft) x 2.5 m (8.2 ft) x 1.8 m (5.9 ft) and has a span of 29 m (95.1 ft) on orbit. Eutelsat W5 features 3 axis stabilization to help keep it stable and pointed at the earth at all times. It features 24 Ku band
Ku band
The Kμ band is a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum in the microwave range of frequencies. This symbol refers to —in other words, the band directly below the K-band...
transponders.
Problems
Eutelsat W5 has suffered numerous problems. The first was during testing, when the factory where it was being built caught fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be a carbon fiber wall which got too hot when the antennas were pointed at it and turned up on full power. The satellite was covered in water causing extensive damage.On 27 March 2007, Eutelsat W5 began drifting west at a rate of 0.004° per day. It is not known why this began to happen.
On 16 June 2008, a power generation anomaly occurred and 4 transponders were permanently lost. It was later revealed that 1 of the 2 solar panels was lost (the array's drive motor failed).