Astra 2D - End of Service

End of Service

With a projected lifetime of 12 years, Astra 2D was expected to leave regular operational service towards the end of 2012 or the beginning of 2013 and so the Astra 1N satellite, designed for operation at Astra 19.2°E and launched in August 2011, was initially positioned at 28.2°E to temporarily replace Astra 2D until the start of service of its long-term replacement, Astra 2F, which was launched in September 2012.

Astra 1N started commercial service at 28.2°E in October 2011 with transponder testing in October and November. Channels on Astra 2D started to transfer to Astra 1N in December with Channel 5 (plus 5* and 5USA), the Channel 4 family and ITV channels all moving to the new satellite over the next two months. On February 24, 2012 the last remaining channels on Astra 2D (the BBC channels) switched off and started transmission from Astra 1N.

As of September 2012, Astra 2D remains in position at 28.2°E, but with no transponder activity.