Eutelsat 21B was constructed by Thales Alenia Space, and is based on the Spacebus-4000C3satellite bus. It had a mass at launch of 5,012 kilograms (11,050 lb) and is expected to operate for at least 15 years. The satellite carries 40 Ku-band transponders,[1] which are used to broadcast satellite television and radio to Europe, North Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East.[2]
Eutelsat 21B was originally ordered as Eutelsat W6A, as part of the W Series of satellites - the satellite it was to replace was at the time named Eutelsat W6. In 2012, several months before its scheduled launch, W6A was renamed Eutelsat 21B. Its launch was conducted by Arianespace using an Ariane 5ECA carrier rocket, as part of a dual launch with the Brazilian Star One C3 satellite.[3] The launch took place from ELA-3 at Kourou, French Guiana, at 21:05:07 UTC on 10 November 2012.[4] The spacecraft was deployed into geosynchronous transfer orbit, raising itself to its operational geostationary orbit by means of its S400apogee motor.
Launches are separated by dots ( • ), payloads by commas ( , ), multiple names for the same satellite by slashes ( / ). Crewed flights are underlined. Launch failures are marked with the † sign. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are (enclosed in parentheses).
This article about one or more spacecraft of France is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
