(AOF) – Eutelsat Communications announces that the Eutelsat Hotbird 13F satellite has been successfully launched into geostationary transfer orbit by the American space launch specialist SpaceX, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket which took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 7:22 a.m. Paris time (5:22 UTC). Separation from the all-electric satellite took place after a 35-minute flight, and startup of the spacecraft systems was completed successfully over a 3-hour period.
Eutelsat Communications announces that the Eutelsat Hotbird 13F satellite was successfully launched into geostationary transfer orbit by the American space launch specialist SpaceX, aboard a Falcon 9 rocket which took off from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 7:22 a.m. Paris time ( 5:22 UTC). Separation from the all-electric satellite took place after a 35-minute flight, and startup of the spacecraft systems was completed successfully over a 3-hour period.
The Eutelsat Hotbird 13F satellite is one of two satellites designed by the manufacturer Airbus Defense and Space. It is based on the Eurostar Neo telecommunications satellite platform developed as part of a partnership project between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus aimed at supporting innovation and strengthening the competitiveness of the European space industry.
Once placed in orbit and stationed, the Eutelsat Hotbird 13F satellite, as well as its twin Eutelsat Hotbird 13G, will reinforce and optimize the distribution of more than a thousand television channels to homes located in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. These satellites will also offer advanced features in terms of protection and resilience of uplink transmission signals.
The two satellites will replace three older satellites at Eutelsat’s flagship position at 13° East.