# Eutelsat 133 West A

> decommissioned Eutelsat geostationary communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1378814](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1378814)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutelsat_33C)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-133-west-a

## Summary
Eutelsat 133 West A was a decommissioned geostationary communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. It was launched on March 8, 2001, and served for approximately 21.8 years before being decommissioned in December 2022 and moved to a graveyard orbit.

## Key Facts
- Launch date: March 8, 2001, at 22:51
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G (V140)
- Launch site: ELA-3
- Operator: Eutelsat
- Mass: 2950 kg (launch weight), 1810 kg (service entry), 1375 kg (dry weight)
- Spacecraft bus: Spacebus-3000B2
- Service life: 12 years (design life), 21.8 years (actual service)
- COSPAR ID: 2001-011A
- Decommissioned: December 2022 (placed into graveyard orbit)

## FAQs
### Q: What was Eutelsat 133 West A used for?
A: Eutelsat 133 West A was a geostationary communications satellite designed for telecommunications purposes. It provided various communication services throughout its operational life.

### Q: When and where was Eutelsat 133 West A launched?
A: Eutelsat 133 West A was launched on March 8, 2001, at 22:51 from ELA-3 using an Ariane 5G rocket.

### Q: How long did Eutelsat 133 West A remain in service?
A: Eutelsat 133 West A remained in service for approximately 21.8 years, significantly exceeding its design life of 12 years before being decommissioned in December 2022.

### Q: What were the aliases of Eutelsat 133 West A?
A: Eutelsat 133 West A was also known as Europesat 1, Eutelsat W1R, Eurobird 1, Eutelsat 28A, Eutelsat 33C, and EUROBIRD.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat 133 West A represented a significant communications infrastructure asset that provided essential telecommunications services for over two decades. The satellite's extended service life beyond its original design specifications demonstrated the durability and reliability of the Spacebus-3000B2 platform used in its construction. Its long operational period allowed it to support various communication needs, including broadcast services, internet connectivity, and data transmission across its coverage area. The satellite's eventual decommissioning and placement into a graveyard orbit exemplifies proper end-of-life management practices for geostationary satellites, preventing it from becoming a long-term orbital debris issue.

## Notable For
- Extended service life of 21.8 years, significantly exceeding its 12-year design life
- Manufactured by Alcatel Space (now part of Thales Alenia Space)
- Utilized the Spacebus-3000B2 spacecraft bus, known for its reliability
- Part of the Eutelsat satellite fleet, a major European telecommunications satellite operator
- Successfully launched alongside BSAT 2A on the same Ariane 5G rocket

## Body
### Basic Information
- Eutelsat 133 West A was a decommissioned geostationary communications satellite
- Also known as Europesat 1, Eutelsat W1R, Eurobird 1, Eutelsat 28A, Eutelsat 33C, and EUROBIRD
- COSPAR ID: 2001-011A
- NSSDCA ID: 2001-011A
- SCn: 26719
- Freebase ID: /m/05rd81
- Wikipedia title: Eutelsat 33C
- Available in languages: de, en, fr, it, pl, pt
- Sitelink count: 6

### Launch and Deployment
- Launch date: March 8, 2001, at 22:51
- Launch vehicle: Ariane 5G (V140)
- Launch site: ELA-3
- Also carried BSAT 2A on the same launch

### Technical Specifications
- Manufacturer: Alcatel Space
- Spacecraft bus: Spacebus-3000B2
- Mass:
  - Launch weight: 2950 kg
  - Service entry: 1810 kg
  - Dry weight: 1375 kg
- Power systems:
  - Spacecraft solar array: 2 panels, 5900 W
  - S400 battery: 1 unit
- Space tug: EPS L9.7 (509)

### Operational Details
- Operator: Eutelsat
- Satellite of: Geostationary orbit
- Service life:
  - Design life: 12 years
  - Actual service life: 21.8 years
- Significant events:
  - Rocket launch on March 8, 2001
  - Spacecraft decommissioning in December 2022 (placed into graveyard orbit)

### Classification
- Instance of: Communications satellite, Geostationary satellite, Derelict satellite
- Related entities: Ariane 5G (launch vehicle)

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eurobird-1.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_eurobird.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013