Astra 1L, the latest satellite belonging to SES Astra, is ready for launch on May 3. The new satellite will lift off from the Kourou Space Center in French Guiana. Already the satellite has been fully integrated into the fairing of the launch vehicle, an Ariane 5 ECA rocket. The satellite itself is an A2100 AX type built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space
Systems.
Astra 1L will be located at 19.2 degrees East, Astra’s prime orbital slot for the transmission of services to continental Europe, including Germany, France, Spain and Poland. It will extend Astra’s coverage from the Canary Islands in the West through to the Russia borders in the East.
This new satellite will also allow Astra 2C to move from 19.2 to 28.2 degrees East to cover the UK market.
