27499 - EUTELSAT HOT BIRD 13A

Hot Bird 6 is a European (EUTELSAT) geostationary communications spacecraft that was launched by an Atlas 5/Centaur rocket from Cape Canaveral at 22:05 UT on 21 August 2002. It was a maiden flight for the Atlas 5 which has two stages (one a liquid oxygen and kerosene, the other a liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen burner) and uses Russian motors. The 4.9 tonne Hot Bird 6 provides digital radio and television coverage to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East through its 28 Ku-band and four Ka-band transponders after parking over 13 degrees E longitude.

Facts in Brief

Launch Date: 2002-08-21
Launch Vehicle: Atlas-Centaur
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral, United States