Astra 2E: General Discussion (Post-Testing)

[Pietclock]

best way is to use some software like gorbtrack, put in the latest TLE, then you know you get the latest data. There is no other possibility when they are not broadcasting a signal (unlike last year..).

From what i can observe and recalling 2F there seems to have been much more intense testing of this satellite perhaps signalling a more active role

yep, 2E will be the main satellite on 28.2 - it will take over all transponders 1N is currently relaying, so quite a few. Then they will certainly have a costumer for the middle east beam.

2F really is a bit of a mystery. Why it is not used to broadcast any of the 11.7 - 12.5 band is strange. It is supposed to have 48 Ku transponders for the UK/PE beams, but only 21 are being used right now.

 

[tothbros]

judging from the timeline of 2F last year, its becoming more and more unlikely for any transfers to happen before the holidays

 

[Schroeder]

2F really is a bit of a mystery. Why it is not used to broadcast any of the 11.7 - 12.5 band is strange. It is supposed to have 48 Ku transponders for the UK/PE beams, but only 21 are being used right now.

I suspect SES are hoping to persuade Eutelsat to release the remaining frequencies they have at 28.5, and may well those to Astra 2F if they get them. I think that would make 33 transponders used out of the 48 available. The remainder probably would provide redundancy for 2E/2G. Wouldn't surprise me if some of the 2E transponders moved to 2G once that is in place to even out the overall loading.

 

[timo_w2s]

There's also the old Eutelsat band from 11.45-11.7 which is pretty much empty at the moment. I suspect 2F may use that range eventually.

Personally I'm not convinced Eutelsat plan to give up their remaining allocation.

 

[Schroeder]

Not without serious compensation from SES

 

[skomedal]

So a stale mate between Eutelsat and SES maybe hindering 2E transition to 28.2E location.

Good news for us on the fringes may get to view ( not stream ) the excellent beeb channels afterall at christmas

 

[strs65]

This is really a wild assumption, I can't see a reason why a legal dispute (which so far has been resolved in favor of SES) would have anything to do with the transfer of 2E to 28.2E.

 

[Schroeder]

So a stale mate between Eutelsat and SES maybe hindering 2E transition to 28.2E location.

Good news for us on the fringes may get to view ( not stream ) the excellent beeb channels afterall at christmas

Nope, was looking at why 2F is under utilised.

Why is 2E not moving yet, maybe Astrium are still waiting on signing off testing by SES. No point moving 2E until SES have accepted the Test Results.

 

[skomedal]

But a good conspiracy theory is better than no news at all

 

[strs65]

Good point, keeps the spirit up!

 

[Huevos]

So, in all this is n2yo unreliable, using a projected track, optimistic or delayed?

N2yo is just using the same method as any other tracking software. TLE's for geosats are updated every 24 hours on weekdays and not weekends. Also, since the TLE is based on observation of the satellite over several hours, if the satellite is retasked part way through the period of observation, the TLE produced won't correspond with either what the satellite was doing and what it is currently doing. So after a burn you need to wait 48hours before there will be a TLE that actually corresponds with what the satellite is really doing.

 

[Lazarus]

Well it must be quiet as I'm not even moved to chunter about speculation and off-topic!

I still don't see any impediment to all being done and dusted with 2E populated in good time for Winterval.

 

[trevortronix]

@ Huevos When you say "the TLE is based on observation of the satellite over several hours", I take it you mean by SSN?
In the absence of more up-to-date info from owner/operator, (Astrium/SES may be keeping tight-lipped for reasons best known to themselves) these observations can potentially be very sporadic if weather and other conditions are unfavourable- well that's how I interpreted it.
See http://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/supplemental/

 

[solly]

it will be tle will be arrive first December

 

[kevjs]

There's also the old Eutelsat band from 11.45-11.7 which is pretty much empty at the moment. I suspect 2F may use that range eventually.

Personally I'm not convinced Eutelsat plan to give up their remaining allocation.

I wonder if these are the frequencies earmarked for UK Spot-beam capacity in the near future but the customers are unwilling to use them until the dispute with Eutelsat is sorted? - e.g. if the BBC were to launch their regions on the spot-beam capacity and Eutelsat were to "win" the frequencies back they would need to pull them from satellite as Eutelsat doesn't have spotbeam capabilities. There are also a number of local tv channels launching over the next few years, some of which have indicated they want to be on satellite, and they may also need spotbeam capacity. It's no biggie for SES to bring the pan-European frequencies into use as Eutelsat could quite easily take those back and the customers wouldn't fall into any contract issues. Still doesn't answer why the "C" band is deserted though.

 

[buckshee]

Still parked up at 43.5420173 ......

 

[Schroeder]

No update to the TLE last night so even if it was moving tracking sites would show it "stationary" at around 43.5E

 

[Lazarus]

Is the Handbrake binding?

 

[sonnetpete]

Is the Handbrake binding?

I think it's been clamped.....

 

[mickwig]

Here is what Celestrak has to say about updating TLE's:

How often are element sets generated? New element sets are generated by NORAD on an as-needed basis rather than according to an established timetable. How often these updates occur depends upon a number of factors such as the orbit type or maneuvering capability of the satellite. For example, a satellite in low-earth orbit—such as the US space shuttle—would have its element sets updated several times a day because of the somewhat unpredictable results of atmospheric drag as it varies its attitude and the maneuvering being performed. A satellite in a low-drag orbit which doesn't maneuver—such as LAGEOS II—might only need updates once or twice a week. Objects such as rocket bodies, defunct payloads, or other space debris, won't be updated as frequently, either—unless there is a prediction of a close approach with an operational payload. Special-interest objects—such as a large object reentering the earth's atmosphere—normally get special treatment.

This means that the TLE's are not updated regularly but according to need. The question is: Is ther a need to update fpr geostationary objects an d if not, when do they actually update. Even if there are updated files availble, who is to say that the data within the file has been updated. Plus, some of the data is supplied by the providers themselves.

So, the bird might actually be there already, we just haven't been informed yet (maybe even on purpose).