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EUTELSAT II (F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6)

EUTELSAT II, Artist View

The second generation of EUTELSAT's trans-European network for fixed and mobile communications was served by upto six medium power satellites. GSOC was chosen to perform the positioning of these satellites. The high level of EUTELSAT standard requirements had to be met by utilizing a positioning procedure especially developed by DLR/GSOC. The mission operations experience gained from earlier positioning activities (Symphonie, TV-SAT and DFS) were used effectively.

• EUTELSAT II-F1
  The satellite was positioned within the shortest possible time and, additionally, due to specially developed optimizing maneuver planning software, the fuel consumption could be minimised, thus extending the operational life-time of the satellite. 17 days after launch the EUTELSAT II-F1 satellite was handed over to the EUTELSAT Satellite Control Centre in Paris for utilization. For a further 4 weeks GSOC was available for "Hot Standby" operations.


• EUTELSAT II-F2
  During the "Station Acquisition Phase" of the positioning of EUTELSAT II-F2, new strategies and maneuvers were performed (using specially developed collocation software) in which the satellite flies around the operational control boxes of other geostationary satellites to avoid any risk of collisions.


• EUTELSAT II-F3
  The launch of EUTELSAT II-F3 using an ATLAS II rocket meant a new challenge for GSOC. The satellite was launched into a highly supersynchronous transfer orbit (42.000 km) which required an additional perigee orbit maneuver. By the introduction of new operational procedures and the continuous development of the maneuver software the GSOC operations team was able to meet the customer's request to position the satellite within two weeks.


• EUTELSAT II-F4
  After another nominal positioning the satellite was handed over to the EUTELSAT Routine Control Center in Paris after 11 days for the routine operations. As it is used mainly for business applications it plays a vital role in developing east-west communications for all countries in central and eastern Europe that joined the EUTELSAT organization. The antenna coverage zone was modified to cope for this new customers.


• EUTELSAT II-F5
  Unfortunately a positioning of this satellite could not be performed due to a malfunction of the third stage of Flight 63 ARIANE 4 rocket.


• EUTELSAT II-F6 (=Hot Bird 1)
  The Hot Bird 1 satellite is the last of the series of the EUTELSAT II spacecraft. The satellite's payload has been modified to provide direct TV supply to central Europe. Hot Bird 1 was collocated with EUTELSAT II-F1 at 13°E thus providing 32 TV channels which can be received by a home antenna dish. Hot Bird 1 was positioned by GSOC within 10 days.