On June 20, SpaceX successfully launched Luxembourg-based fleet operator SES’s Astra 1P into geostationary orbit, which will eventually replace four aging broadcast satellites in Europe. The Falcon 9 lifted off at 5:35 p.m. EDT from the Space Force’s Cape Canaveral station in Florida after being delayed twice a day due to bad weather.

Astra 1P was launched into geostationary orbit approximately 35 minutes later, shortly after the rocket’s first stage successfully landed on an unmanned ship in the Atlantic Ocean for reuse. In 2013, SES became the first commercial satellite operator to launch with SpaceX, and in 2017 the company also became the first commercial satellite operator to use a previously flown launch vehicle.

Since then, SpaceX launch vehicle landings have become routine, and this mission marked the company’s 320th landing on an orbital-class rocket. The launch vehicle that lifts Astra 1P has been launched eight times before, including four missions for SpaceX’s Starlink broadband cluster.

A long journey ahead of us

Astra 1P, built by European company Thales Alenia Space, plans to spend most of this year using onboard electric propulsion to reach its orbit at 19.2 degrees east latitude, where it plans to complete its performance check in time for launch in January.

SES currently provides television services to approximately 119 million households through four satellites in this orbit, primarily in Germany, Spain and France. According to SES CEO Adel Al-Saleh, Astra 1P’s Ku-band capacity will be sufficient to replace all four spacecraft after retirement.

A geostationary communications satellite is usually designed with enough fuel to remain in orbit for about 15 years. The oldest SES satellite, Astra 1KR, operating at 19.2 degrees east longitude, was launched in April 2006.

SES ordered the Astra 1Q Ku-band satellite from Thales Alenia Space in 2021 at the same time and for the same orbital position as Astra 1P. But while Astra 1P is a classic broadband satellite, Astra 1Q is software, so it can be reprogrammed to provide connectivity to missions if needed after launch in 2026.

As the satellite TV market gradually loses out to online streaming services, SES and other legacy broadcasters are focusing their business on broadband services to meet growing data demand.

In March, SES announced plans to acquire rival satellite operator Intelsat for $3.1 billion to boost connectivity services in the face of growing competition from Starlink. The Luxembourg-based operator said on June 19 that it had secured a debt package of three billion euros ($3.2 billion) to support the deal.