Eutelsat's KA-SAT Satellite Successfully On Station At 9° East And Undergoing In-Orbit Tests

13 January 2011

Following the successful completion of all scheduled manoeuvres since launch, the KA-SAT satellite of Eutelsat Communications is now positioned at its definitive location in geostationary orbit at 9° East.

On January 8 the satellite's payload was switched on, enabling Europe's first High Throughput Satellite to begin a series of in-orbit tests, which will be followed by the final phase of integrated validation of the satellite with the network of ground stations that will connect to the Internet backbone. Commercial entry into service is on track for end May 2011.

The operations centralised at Eutelsat's Rambouillet teleport since KA-SAT's launch on December 26, have included full deployment of the solar panels - giving a total wing span of almost 40 metres - and the deployment of the four antennas which will deliver reach of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin via 82 spotbeams.