ABS-2

ABS-2 (also known as ST 3 or Koreasat 8[1]) is an Indian free-to-air digital direct-broadcast television satellite owned and operated by the Asia Broadcast Satellite. It provides the second free-to-air satellite television service in India. Initially, ABS-2 satellite at 75.0° was used to broadcast channels. ABS-2 was used to broadcast 97 FTA MPEG-2 channels, and one MPEG-4 channel. It was the fifth satellite operated by ABS.[2]

Spacecraft

ABS-2 is built on SSL 1300 satellite bus[3] and equipped with up to 32 C-band, 51 Ku-band and 6 Ka-band transponders.[4] Total mass at lift off was 6,330 kilograms (13,960 lb), with the size of 8.3 by 3.5 by 3.5 metres (27 ft × 11 ft × 11 ft) and 26 metres (85 ft) span when in orbit.[5]

On 17 June 2009, ABS announced that ABS-2 will be built by Space Systems/Loral, with a launch initially planned for 2012.[6] Due to financial delays, the contract did not get signed until 14 October 2010, delaying the launch to 2013.[3]

Launch

The satellite was scheduled to launch on 23 January 2014, however the need to change an unspecified equipment in the launcher delayed it further.[7] Eventually Ariane 5 ECA flight VA 217 successfully launched on 6 February 2014 at 21:30 UTC taking Athena-Fidus in the lower slot and ABS-2 in upper.[2]

Mission

In August 2014, ABS announced that an anomaly had occurred on the satellite. The anomaly caused the loss of the beam over Russia. The rest of the satellite continued to operate normally. ABS filed a US$214 Million insurance claim for the loss of the beam.[8][9]

References
  1. "ABS 2 (ST 3, Koreasat 8)". Gunter's Space Page. 6 October 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  2. "Arianespace launch VA 217: Mission accomplished! Ariane 5 ECA orbits ABS-2 and Athena Fidus" (Press release). Arianespace. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  3. Holems, Mark (14 October 2010). "ABS Finally Signs ABS-2 Contract After Financing Delays". Satellite Today. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  4. "ABS « Satellite Fleet » ABS-2". ABS. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  5. "Ariane Flight VA217 launch kit" (PDF). Arianespace. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  6. "ABS Chooses SS/L to Build ABS-2". Satellite Today. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  7. Henry, Caleb (7 January 2014). "Arianespace Postpones Launch of Ariane 5 ECA Mission". Satellite Today. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  8. de Selding, Peter (5 August 2014). "Transponder Problem Hobbles Recently Launched ABS-2 Satellite". Space News.
  9. de Selding, Peter (17 October 2014). "ABS Files $214 Million Insurance Claim for Bad Satellite Beam". Space News.
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