Express AM1 junked

[Analoguesat]

The Russian bird AM1 (ex 40E) has finally been withdrawn from service and sent on her final journey to the graveyard orbit.

http://eng.rscc.ru/100/177/432.html

Shes a fairly new satellite - launched as recently as 2004, but I think AM1 suffered thruster system failure a few years ago and has been running inclined ever since..

So what is going to replace AM1? Theres nothing obvious moving towards 40E atm.

 

[Analoguesat]

Aha!

Astra 1E is a distinct possibility. Last noted at 108E, shes currently at about 44E & drifting west

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=23686

 

[hvdh]

Astra 1E was already near 36 East this morning.
Suppose there is no placeholder needed for 40 East.
Express AM7 launch is planned in September 2014.

 

[hexah]

It will be interesting to see how long Astra 1E lasts for. Not long I expect.

 

[Analoguesat]

Astra 1C is still nominally operational at 2E - shes over 20 years old now!

(Heavily inclined & off air for several years I doubt theres much chance of the old girl doing anything interesting in the future but you never know)

 

[hexah]

Like an old lady with a zimmer frame hobbling around.

Send up a high powered feed in DVB-S2 1080p and it will likely explode!

 

[hvdh]

According TLE, seems that Astra 1E is now positioned at about 31.25 East.

 

[hvdh]

According TLE (again), Astra 1E has stopped her movement away from 31.25°E, and stopped at about 23.7°E.
Inclination is 3.8°.
If Astra 1E (launched 1995) is going to do anything at all, then probably between 10.7 and 11.2 GHz.
In the past as I recall, the oldies near 23.5°E used to switch on a transponder with test card or RTL Letzeburg.

 

[hvdh]

Astra 1E left 23.75°E and is moving to the West rapidly at altitude over 36100 km.
This is well into graveyard altitude, but couldn't find a message yet that it's end-of -life.