Ariane 44LP
SuccessAstra 1B & Meteosat 5 · Arianespace
Launch time (NET)
Saturday, Mar 2, 1991, 23:36 UTC
Launch window
Saturday, Mar 2, 1991, 23:36 UTC – Saturday, Mar 2, 1991, 23:36 UTC
Provider
Arianespace
Rocket
Launch pad
Ariane Launch Area 2, Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana · Open map
Status
Success
The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).
Mission
Astra 1B & Meteosat 5
Type
Communications
Orbit
Geostationary Orbit (Direct-GEO)
Astra 1B was the second of the Astra communications satellites launched and operated by SES (Société Européenne des Satellites). It was believed to have been launched in a faulty condition, and suffered a thruster failure early in its life, causing minor drift, meaning that it became permanently difficult to obtain a steady lock on the satellite. This was most notable on analogue transmissions where the picture would move from clear to carrying sparklies and back again.
Go to payload page →🎬 Recent videos
No recent videos found — this row stays empty until something new appears.