ASTRA 1P Successfully Launched on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Rocket

SES announced today the successful launch of the ASTRA 1P satellite. It was launched by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, United States, at 5:35 pm local time on 20 June 2024.

The Ku-band satellite will strengthen SES's prime TV neighbourhood at 19.2 degrees East. It is set to deliver content for public and private broadcasters, sports organisations, and content owners to large European TV markets. ASTRA 1P will also deliver premium HD content to the subscribers of HD+, SES’s high-definition satellite TV platform in Germany.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, ASTRA 1P is based on the all-electric Spacebus NEO platform. It features 80 transponders capable of delivering 500 HD TV channels. ASTRA 1P will replace the current four satellites at its orbital location and continue serving 119 million TV households.

Adel Al-Saleh, CEO of SES, expressed excitement about ASTRA 1P joining their fleet. He mentioned the pivotal role played by their satellites since the launch of ASTRA 1A in 1988 in delivering reliable high-quality content to European viewers.