Eutelsat 33E
| Company type | Communications satellite |
|---|---|
| Industry | Satellite communications |
| Founded | February 12, 2009 |
| Founder | Eutelsat |
| Headquarters | France |
| Products | Direct to home broadcasting services |
| Parent | Eutelsat |
Eutelsat 33E, previously known under the names Hot Bird 10, Atlantic Bird 4A, Eutelsat 3B, Nilesat 104, and Hot Bird 13D, is a French communications satellite managed by Eutelsat. Positioned at 13° east longitude within Eutelsat's Hot Bird satellite fleet, it provides direct to home broadcasting services from a geostationary orbit.
Built by Astrium utilizing the Eurostar-3000 satellite bus, Eutelsat 33E had a launch mass of and was designed for an operational lifespan of approximately 15 years. It carries 64 Ku-band transponders, enabling transmission of satellite television and radio signals across regions including Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
The satellite was launched on 12 February 2009 by Arianespace aboard an Ariane 5ECA vehicle from the ELA-3 launch site in Kourou. After insertion into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, it utilized its onboard apogee motor to reach its final geostationary position. The mission also deployed co-passenger satellites NSS-9 along with the French military satellites Spirale-A and Spirale-B.
Originally designated Hot Bird 10, the satellite temporarily occupied various orbital slots to provide coverage pending other launches. In 2009, it was renamed Atlantic Bird 4A and stationed at 7° west, with certain transponders leased to Nilesat under the name Nilesat 104. Following the September 2011 launch of Atlantic Bird 7, it shifted to 3° east as Eutelsat 3C, replacing Eutelsat 3B. By July 2013, it moved to its current location at 13° east and was rebranded Hot Bird 13D in line with Eutelsat’s revised naming conventions, sharing its orbital slot with Hot Bird 13B and Hot Bird 13C.
External links
- Eutelsat 33E on the official website of the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization
- Frequency information for Eutelsat 33E on LyngSat