Astra 2D, GE-8, LDREX

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

00:26:00

Wednesday December 20, 2000

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Flight V137.

LDREX

Wiki

The LDREX (Large-scale Deployable Reflector Experiment Model) is a small partial model antenna built to validate the design of the ETS-8's Large Deployable Antenna, and will conduct experiments to solve various technical problems that the ETS-8 is facing.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

182 kilograms

Astra 2D

Wiki

Astra 2D is one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES and located at 28.2° east in the Clarke Belt till June 2015. It is a Hughes HS-376 craft and was launched from the Guiana Space Centre in December 2000 to join Astra 2A and Astra 2B at 28.2°E, where it remained for its active life.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

1,420 kilograms

GE-8

Wiki

AMC-8, also known as Americom-8 and Aurora III, previously GE-8, is a C-band satellite located at 139° West, covering the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. The satellite provides critical telecommunications services to AT&T Alascom which occupies most of the satellite's capacity. AMC-8 was used by thousands of terrestrial radio stations for network feeds using ground equipment.

Geostationary Transfer Orbit

1 Payload

2,015 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Ariane 5 G

Active 1996 to 2003

European Space Agency logo

Manufacturer

ESA

Rocket

Diameter: 5.4m

Height: 52m

Payload to Orbit

GTO: 6,900 kg

Liftoff Thrust

11,400 Kilonewtons

Stages

2

Strap-ons

2

Launch Site

ELA-3

Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana, France

Fastest Turnaround

24 days 3 hours

Stats

Ariane 5


8th

Mission

4th

Mission of 2000

European Space Agency


125th

Mission

12th

Mission of 2000

2000


83rd

Orbital launch attempt