Eutelsat 12 West B

Eutelsat 12 West B, known as Atlantic Bird 2 prior to 2012 and Eutelsat 8 West A from 2012 to 2015, was a geostationary communications satellite. Operated by Eutelsat, it provides direct-to-home (DTH) broadcasting services from geostationary orbit. The satellite is part of Eutelsat constellation at a longitude of 8° West, then 12.5° West. Eutelsat announced the order of a new Spacebus-3000B2 satellite bus from Alcatel Space in October 2012.

Eutelsat 12 West B
NamesAtlantic Bird 2 (2001–2012)
Eutelsat 8 West A (2012–2015)
Mission typeCommunications
OperatorEutelsat
COSPAR ID2001-042A
SATCAT no.26927
Websitewww.eutelsat.com/en/home.html
Mission duration12 years (planned)
19 years (achieved)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftAtlantic Bird 2
Spacecraft typeSpacebus
BusSpacebus-3000B2
ManufacturerAlcatel Space
Launch mass3,150 kg (6,940 lb)
Dry mass1,368 kg (3,016 lb)
Start of mission
Launch date21 September 2001, 23:21 UTC
RocketAriane 44P H10-3 (V144)
Launch siteCentre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2
ContractorArianespace
Entered serviceNovember 2001
End of mission
DisposalGraveyard orbit
DeactivatedOctober 2020
Orbital parameters
Reference systemGeocentric orbit
RegimeGeostationary orbit
Longitude8° West (2001–2015)
12.5° West (2015–2020)
Transponders
Band26 Ku-band
Coverage areaAmericas, Europe
 

Satellite description

Atlantic Bird 2 was a 3,150 kg (6,940 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 26 Ku-band transponders.[2]

Launch

Atlantic Bird 2 was launched on the Ariane 44P launch vehicles from Centre Spatial Guyanais at the Kourou in French Guiana. Liftoff occurred at 23:21 UTC on 21 September 2001,[3] with the launch vehicle successfully injecting its payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). The launch was conducted by Arianespace.

Mission

Following launch, the satellite Atlantic Bird 2 used its apogee motor to raise itself into geostationary orbit, positioning itself at a longitude of 8° West. In December 2011, Eutelsat announced, that their satellite assets will be renamed under a unified brand name effective from March 2012. This satellite became Eutelsat 8 West A at 8° West. In 2015, it was moved to 12.5° West and named Eutelsat 12 West B. It has been moved to a graveyard orbit in October 2020.[2]

References
  1. "Hot Bird 6 / 2002 – 038A". Spacecraft Propulsion Heritage. EADS Astrium. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. Krebs, Gunter (22 October 2020). "Atlantic Bird 2 → Eutelsat 8 West A → Eutelsat 12 West B". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  3. McDowell, Jonathan (14 March 2021). "Launch Log". Jonathan's Space Page. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
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