History
In November 2021, SES ordered two replacement satellites from Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%). Astra 1P and Astra 1Q were to be launched in 2024 to the 19.2°E orbital slot to take over from the Astra 1KR, Astra 1L, Astra 1M, and Astra 1N satellites positioned there (all launched 10–15 years previously, with the older two at the end of their planned life). The new satellites would provide provide direct-to-home broadcast TV to Europe (especially Germany, France and Spain) and high-throughput data traffic well into the 2040s.[7][8]
In May 2024, the completed satellite produced at the Cannes Mandelieu Space Center in France, arrived in Florida for launch from Cape Canaveral[9]
In June 2024, the launch of Astra 1P by SpaceX, originally scheduled for 17 June, was delayed twice by unfavourable weather conditions at the Cape Canaveral launch site.[10][11]
On 20 June 2024, Astra 1P was successfully launched from Cape Canaveral on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, the first Astra satellite to be launched by SpaceX.[12][13]
For the second half of 2024, using its all-electric thrusters, Astra 1P took several months to reach geostationary orbit.[14]
In December 2024 the satellite completed testing at 9.5° West and was then moved to 19.2° East to begin service in January 2025.[15][16]
Starting in February 2025, all broadcast channels were moved off Astra 1KR and Astra 1L to Astra 1P in preparation for the older satellites' retirement, and Astra 1L was moved from the 19.2°E orbital slot to 19.4° East in March 2025.[17][18]
