| Names | Satcom K3 |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Communications |
| Operator | SES |
| COSPAR ID | 1991-015A |
| SATCAT no. | 21139 |
| Website | ses |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) 15 years (achieved) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | GE-5000 (formerly AS-5000) |
| Manufacturer | GE Astro Space (formerly RCA Astro Electronics) |
| Launch mass | 2,580 kg (5,690 lb) |
| Power | 2,136 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2 March 1991, 23:36:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Ariane 44 LP H10 (V42) |
| Launch site | Centre Spatial Guyanais, ELA-2 |
| Contractor | Arianespace |
| Entered service | May 1991 |
| End of mission | |
| Disposal | Graveyard orbit |
| Deactivated | 14 July 2006 |
| Last contact | 2002 |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit[1] |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Longitude | 19.2° East |
| Transponders | |
| Band | 16 Ku-band |
| Bandwidth | 26 MHz |
| Coverage area | Europe |
Astra 1B was the second of the Astra communications satellites launched and operated by SES (Société Européenne des Satellites) to add extra capacity to the satellite television (direct broadcasting) services from 19.2° East, serving Germany, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
- ^ "ASTRA 1B". N2YO.com. Retrieved 7 April 2021.