# Eutelsat 117 West A

> communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q6122036](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6122036)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutelsat_117_West_A)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-117-west-a

## Summary
Eutelsat 117 West A, originally designated SATMEX-8, is a geostationary communications satellite operated by Eutelsat Americas. Launched on March 26, 2013, the satellite has a launch mass of 5,474 kilograms and was deployed to provide telecommunications services. It was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems using the Lanteris 1300 spacecraft bus.

## Key Facts
- **Primary Identity**: Also known as SATMEX-8 and Satmex 8; classified as a communications satellite.
- **Launch Date**: Launched on March 26, 2013, at 19:06:48 UTC.
- **Launch Location**: Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.
- **Launch Vehicle**: Utilized a Proton-M rocket equipped with a Briz-M space tug.
- **Operator**: Eutelsat Americas.
- **Manufacturer**: Built by Lanteris Space Systems on the Lanteris 1300 bus platform.
- **Mass**: 5,474 kilograms.
- **Orbit**: Positioned in geostationary orbit.
- **Power System**: Powered by two spacecraft solar arrays.
- **Identifiers**: COSPAR ID 2013-012A; SCN 39122.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Eutelsat 117 West A launched?
A: Eutelsat 117 West A was launched on March 26, 2013, at 19:06:48 UTC from the Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200.

### Q: Who manufactured and operates Eutelsat 117 West A?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems and is currently operated by Eutelsat Americas.

### Q: What rocket was used to deploy Eutelsat 117 West A?
A: The satellite was launched aboard a Proton-M heavy-lift launch vehicle, which utilized a Briz-M space tug (No. 99536) for orbital insertion.

### Q: What was the original name of Eutelsat 117 West A?
A: Before being designated Eutelsat 117 West A (or Eutelsat 117W A), the satellite was known as SATMEX-8 or Satmex 8.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat 117 West A represents a significant asset in the telecommunications infrastructure operated by Eutelsat Americas. Weighing over 5.4 metric tons, it is a heavy-class satellite designed to provide robust telecommunications services from a geostationary orbit. Its deployment involved complex international aerospace collaboration, utilizing Russian heavy-lift capability in the form of the Proton-M rocket and the Briz-M upper stage to deliver the payload effectively.

The satellite serves as a critical piece of space infrastructure, leveraging the Lanteris 1300 bus platform, a standard for high-power communications satellites. Its position in geostationary orbit allows it to maintain a fixed footprint relative to Earth, essential for stable telecommunications broadcasting. The transition of its name from SATMEX-8 to Eutelsat 117 West A reflects the broader integration of satellite assets under the Eutelsat brand following the acquisition of Satmex (Satélites Mexicanos), marking a consolidation in the commercial space sector.

## Notable For
- **Heavy Payload**: With a mass of 5,474 kg, it is a substantial satellite platform requiring heavy-lift launch capabilities.
- **Robust Power Generation**: It utilizes a dual solar array configuration to power its communications payload.
- **Launch Complexity**: The launch required the specific coordination of a Proton-M rocket with a Briz-M space tug.
- **Corporate Integration**: The satellite highlights the operational integration of the former Satmex fleet into Eutelsat's global coverage.

## Body

### Technical Specifications
Eutelsat 117 West A is a heavy telecommunications satellite with a total mass of 5,474 kilograms. The spacecraft was constructed by Lanteris Space Systems utilizing the Lanteris 1300 spacecraft bus, a platform designed for high reliability and long-duration missions. To generate power, the satellite is equipped with two spacecraft solar arrays.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was successfully launched on March 26, 2013, at precisely 19:06:48 UTC. The launch took place at Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 200. The launch vehicle used was a Proton-M, a Russian heavy-lift rocket. To facilitate the final orbital insertion, the launch configuration included a Briz-M space tug (specifically identified as unit No. 99536).

### Operational Identity
The satellite operates under the designation Eutelsat 117 West A and is alternatively identified as Eutelsat 117W A. Historically, it was known as SATMEX-8 or Satmex 8. It is operated by Eutelsat Americas and resides in a geostationary orbit. Its catalog numbers include the COSPAR ID 2013-012A and the SATCAT number (SCN) 39122.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/satmex-8.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013