The Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1 satellite, launched on August 29, has reached geostationary orbit.
The sequence for release and deployment of solar arrays and communications antennas has been successfully completed by Space Systems/Loral, the satellite’s manufacturer, and the satellite’s payload was switched on on September 8.
Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1 is now undergoing a series of in-orbit tests managed by Eutelsat from its Rambouillet teleport, near Paris.
Eutelsat and Es’hailSat schedule to bring their jointly owned satellite into service at 25.5° East at the end of October.
The satellite is designed to serve broadcasters, businesses and public agencies in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia via capacity in the Ku and Ka-bands. It will replace the Eutelsat 25C satellite at the key 25.5 degrees East position to provide both superior geographic coverage and increased capacity to address dynamically expanding digital markets.
Following Eutelsat 25B/Es’hail 1’s entry into service Eutelsat will redeploy its Eutelsat 25C to another location where it will pursue commercial service.
