Eutelsat 172B reaches geostationary orbit

Eutelsat 172B

Eutelsat 172B has reached geostationary orbit, four months after its June 1 launch on an Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou, in French Guiana.

Following completion of the payload in-orbit tests and drift to its operational location, the satellite is scheduled to enter commercial service in November.

Eutelsat 172B will provide enhanced telecommunications, in-flight broadband and broadcast services for the Asia-Pacific region.

Its life span is expected to exceed 15 years thanks to electric propulsion for in-orbit raising and station-keeping.

“Eutelsat 172B confirms the relevance of Eutelsat’s early adoption of electric propulsion technology to optimise capex,” said Yohann Leroy, Eutelsat’s chief technical officer.

“In combining electric propulsion, high throughput capacity, robotic arms and 3D printing techniques, our new satellite also reflects Europe’s capability to push the envelope of innovation in order to increase the competitiveness of our business.”