TAMPA, Fla. — Eutelsat mentioned Jan. 19 it retired a satellite tv for pc final week that had helped Europe transition from analog to digital tv 20 years in the past.
After working greater than 5 years past its 15-year design life, the Eutelsat 5 West A satellite tv for pc was moved to a graveyard orbit some 400 kilometers above the geostationary arc.
The satellite tv for pc’s propulsion system was then depressurized and its electrical tools passivated per French regulation and worldwide House Site visitors Administration suggestions, in response to the Paris-based operator.
At 4:57 a.m. Japanese Jan. 13, Eutelsat mentioned it turned off the satellite tv for pc’s telemetry transmitter to deactivate all remaining radio frequency sources.
Eutelsat 5 West A was a “disruptive satellite tv for pc for the Group,” the operator mentioned in a information launch, having performed a key position within the transition to increased definition, extra interference-resistant digital programming — notably in France within the early 2000s.
The satellite tv for pc was initially constructed by Alcatel Alenia House — now Thales Alenia House — for a three way partnership referred to as Stellat, which was majority owned by the French telecoms big now referred to as Orange.
Eutelsat purchased the Eutelsat 5 West A satellite tv for pc shortly after its launch in July 2002 and operated it at 5 levels west for its whole operational life.
The Eutelsat 5 West B satellite tv for pc that launched in 2019 was supposed to alleviate Eutelsat 5 West A of its duties. Nonetheless, the Northrop Grumman-built satellite tv for pc suffered a power failure that lower its capability by practically half.
Eutelsat 5 West A was put in a fuel-saving inclined orbit in 2019, which extended its life however restricted the sorts of providers it may present, whereas clients have been progressively offloaded to Eutelsat 5 West B and different satellites within the operator’s fleet.
Towards the top of its mission, Eutelsat 5 West A was principally offering maritime connectivity.
