# Eutelsat 70D

> decommissioned geostationary communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1378846](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1378846)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eutelsat_8_West_C)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-70d

## Summary
Eutelsat 70D, originally known as Hot Bird 6, was a geostationary communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. Manufactured by Alcatel Space and launched in 2002, it provided direct-broadcast services over Europe and the Arab world before being decommissioned in 2016. The spacecraft was moved to a graveyard orbit following failures in its solar arrays.

## Key Facts
*   **Also Known As:** Hot Bird 6, Hot Bird 13A, Eutelsat 8 West C, Eutelsat 33D.
*   **Launch Date:** August 21, 2002, at 22:05:00 UTC.
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas V 401 (mission designation AV-001).
*   **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.
*   **Manufacturer:** Alcatel Space (France).
*   **Operator:** Eutelsat.
*   **Mass:** 3,905 kg at launch; 1,900 kg dry weight.
*   **Design Life:** 12 years (actual service life approx. 14 years).
*   **Bus Platform:** Spacebus-3000B3.
*   **COSPAR ID:** 2002-038A.
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 27499.
*   **Status:** Decommissioned; currently a derelict satellite in graveyard orbit.

## FAQs
### Q: Why was Eutelsat 70D decommissioned?
A: The satellite was decommissioned in August 2016 following failures involving its spacecraft solar arrays, which occurred in January 2014 and again in August 2016.

### Q: What rocket launched Eutelsat 70D?
A: It was launched aboard an Atlas V 401 rocket, flying under the designation AV-001, from Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41.

### Q: Did Eutelsat 70D complete its expected lifespan?
A: Yes, although the satellite had a design life of 12 years, it operated for approximately 14 years before being retired in 2016.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat 70D (Hot Bird 6) served as a critical infrastructure asset for Eutelsat, a leading global satellite operator. As a direct-broadcast satellite positioned in geostationary orbit, it played a significant role in delivering television and radio broadcasting services to millions of homes, replacing the older BADR-2 satellite upon its initial orbital positioning.

The satellite's operational history highlights the resilience and limitations of space technology; despite exceeding its 12-year design life by two years, its mission was ultimately curtailed by specific hardware failures (solar arrays) rather than general exhaustion of propellant or systems. Its disposal into a "graveyard orbit" marks a successful adherence to space debris mitigation guidelines, ensuring it does not pose a collision risk to active satellites in the geostationary belt.

## Notable For
*   **Launch Milestone:** It was launched aboard the Atlas V 401, a variant of the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
*   **Extended Service:** Despite a 12-year design specification, the satellite remained operational for 14 years.
*   **Multiple Identities:** During its lifetime, the satellite was renamed multiple times (Hot Bird 6, Hot Bird 13A, Eutelsat 33D, Eutelsat 8 West C, Eutelsat 70D) as its orbital position and fleet designation changed.
*   **Technical Redundancy:** It was equipped with both a primary solar array system (2 arrays generating 10.5 kW) and a secondary S400 thruster system.

## Body

### Specifications and Design
Eutelsat 70D was built by Alcatel Space in France, utilizing the **Spacebus-3000B3** spacecraft bus. It had a launch mass of **3,905 kilograms** and a dry mass of **1,900 kilograms**. The spacecraft was designed for a nominal service life of 12 years but remained active for 14 years.

### Power and Propulsion
The satellite was powered by two **spacecraft solar arrays** capable of generating 10.5 kW of power. It also utilized a single **S400** thruster for orbital maneuvering. The power system was a critical factor in the satellite's end-of-life, as failures in the solar arrays were recorded in January 2014 and August 2016.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was launched on **August 21, 2002**, at 22:05:00 UTC. The launch vehicle was an **Atlas V 401** (tail number AV-001), lifting off from **Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 41**. The launch was organized by the United Launch Alliance. Following launch, it was inserted into a geostationary orbit.

### Operational History and Decommissioning
Initially designated **Hot Bird 6**, the satellite replaced the **BADR-2** satellite. It operated as a direct-broadcast satellite for Eutelsat. Following the solar array failures in 2014 and 2016, the decision was made to retire the satellite. In August 2016, Eutelsat 70D was decommissioned and moved to a **graveyard orbit**, a disposal orbit located above the geostationary belt used for defunct satellites to prevent interference with active operational spacecraft. It is currently classified as a **derelict satellite**.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/hotbird-6.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_hotbird_6.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report
4. [Source](https://www.eutelsat.com/files/PDF/investors/eutelsat_sa/BOND%20DUE%202025_Prospectus.PDF)
5. [Source](https://www.satbeams.com/satellites?norad=27499)