N° 50–2022: Media invitation: First satellite developed under ESA’s Eurostar Neo programme set to launch

The satellite – called Eutelsat Hotbird 13F – was developed and built by satellite manufacturer Airbus for satellite operator Eutelsat. It is based on the Eurostar Neo telecommunications satellite platform, developed under an ESA Partnership Project with Airbus designed to foster innovation and competitiveness in the European space industry.

The satellite is due to launch on a Space-X flight from Cape Canaveral, USA, which is currently scheduled for 23:30 local time on 12 October (05:30 CEST on 13 October).

It is one of an identical pair, the second of which – Eutelsat Hotbird 13G – is due to launch next month.

After separation from the launcher, the satellites will use all-electric orbit raising to reach their geostationary orbit some 36 000 km above Earth. Because this system is more efficient than using traditional fuel, the satellites can carry more payload mass.

Once in their final orbits, the twin satellites will reinforce and enhance the broadcast of more than a thousand television channels into homes across Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East, replacing three older satellites.

Programme

09:00 CEST  Short introduction of the speakers
09:15 CEST   Q&A
10.00 CEST   End of programme

Participants

Elodie Viau, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications

François Gaullier, Head of Telecommunications Satellites at Airbus

Pascal Homsy, Eutelsat Chief Technical Officer, Eutelsat

Harshbir Sangha, Director of Growth, UK Space Agency

Moderator: Arnaud Marsollier, ESA Corporate Communications

Media registration

Media representatives are invited to register at the following link by 18:00 CEST on 6 October:
https://blogs.esa.int/forms/esa-media-briefing-form/

After registering, media will receive additional information and the link to join the online information session (WebEx platform).

For further information, please contact ESA Newsroom and Media Relations Office – media@esa.int

About the European Space Agency

The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA has 22 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia are Associate Members.

ESA has established formal cooperation with five Member States of the EU: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta and Slovakia. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions.

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int