Astra 1A

---

General

Designation	19688 / 88109B
Launch date	11 Dec 1988
Country of origin	Luxemburg
Mission	Direct TV
Geostationary orbit	see below
Launch vehicle	Ariane V27

TV programs started on 5 Feb 1989. In 1994 a few transponders were taken over by Astra 1C because of technical problems. Insurers paid $26.5 million for a lost of power on the satellite in 1999.

Ended commercial service at 19.2°E in July 2001. Available for feeds and occasional use since then.

---

Location

Begin	End	Position
L: 11 Dec 1988	Jul 2001	19.2°E
Jul 2001	Nov 2001	19.4°E
Dec 2001	Dec 2004	5.2°E, inclined

---

End of life

Out of service	Dec 2004
Cause	moved to the junk orbit

---

External resources

sat-index articles

Technical data

---

---

EIRP coverage (dBW)

Horizontal polarization mode 1
Horizontal polarization mode 2
Vertical polarization mode 1
Vertical polarization mode 2

---

Specifications

Prime contractor	GE Astro Space
Platform	GE-4000
Mass at launch	1800 kg
Payload mass	230 kg: transponders: 184 kg, antennas: 46 kg
Dimension	2.9 x 1.6 x 1 m
Solar array	19.3 m span
Stabilization	3-axis
DC power	BOL: equinox: 2236 W, solstice: 2057 W
Payload power	1674.4 W
Design lifetime	10 years
Beacon	11.20300 GHz vertical 11.44650 GHz horizontal

---

Ku-band (11.2-11.45 GHz)

Main transponders	16
Backup transponders	6
Power	45 W
Bandwidth	26 MHz
Coverage	Europe
EIRP max	50 dBW
Polarization	linear H/V
Frequencies	downlink: band A uplink: 14.25-14.5 GHz

---