# Eutelsat W2

> decommissioned Eutelsat geostationary communications satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q1378848](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1378848)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/eutelsat-w2

## Summary
Eutelsat W2 (also known as Eutelsat 3F2) was a geostationary communications satellite operated by Eutelsat. Manufactured by Aérospatiale and launched on October 5, 1998, it provided telecommunications services for over a decade. The satellite was decommissioned in March 2010 following a failure in its broadcasting equipment and subsequently moved to a graveyard orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Geostationary communications satellite; currently classified as a derelict satellite.
- **Launch Date:** October 5, 1998, at 22:51 UTC.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Ariane 44L (Flight V111) launched from ELA-2.
- **Manufacturer:** Aérospatiale (France), utilizing the Spacebus-3000B2 spacecraft bus.
- **Mass:** 2,950 kg at launch; 1,810 kg at service entry; 1,375 kg dry weight.
- **Service Life:** Designed for 12 years; operated for approximately 10.4 years.
- **Decommissioning:** Retired to a graveyard orbit in March 2010 after a broadcasting equipment failure on January 27, 2010.
- **Identifiers:** COSPAR ID 1998-056A; SCN 25491.

## FAQs
### Q: When was Eutelsat W2 launched and by what rocket?
A: Eutelsat W2 was launched on October 5, 1998, using an Ariane 44L rocket. The launch took place at the ELA-2 launch site.

### Q: Why was Eutelsat W2 decommissioned?
A: The satellite experienced a failure in its broadcasting equipment on January 27, 2010. Consequently, it was decommissioned and moved to a graveyard orbit in March 2010.

### Q: What was the mass and size of Eutelsat W2?
A: The satellite had a launch mass of 2,950 kilograms and a dry weight of 1,375 kilograms. It was built on the Spacebus-3000B2 platform.

## Why It Matters
Eutelsat W2 serves as a representative example of the geostationary communications satellites deployed in the late 1990s to expand global telecommunications infrastructure. Built by the French manufacturer Aérospatiale on the Spacebus-3000B2 platform, it illustrates the technical standards of its era, particularly in terms of launch mass (nearly 3 tons) and design life (12 years).

Its operational history highlights the realities of satellite fleet management. While designed for a 12-year mission, it was retired after roughly 10.4 years due to a specific hardware failure in its broadcasting equipment. The decision to move the satellite to a "graveyard orbit" strictly follows international space debris mitigation guidelines, ensuring that a defunct massive object does not pose a collision risk to active satellites in the geostationary arc. This lifecycle—from launch via Ariane 4 to responsible disposal—provides a clear case study in the deployment, operation, and retirement of commercial space assets.

## Notable For
- Being a specific instance of the **Spacebus-3000B2** platform produced by Aérospatiale.
- Launching aboard the **Ariane 44L**, a workhorse rocket of the late 1990s.
- Being retired to a **graveyard orbit**, a standard procedure for geostationary satellites that have reached the end of their service life.
- Suffering a specific equipment failure (broadcasting equipment) in early 2010 that precipitated its early retirement.

## Body

### Development and Specifications
Eutelsat W2 was constructed by **Aérospatiale** in France as part of the Eutelsat W series. It utilized the **Spacebus-3000B2** spacecraft bus.
*   **Mass:** The satellite had a total launch mass of 2,950 kg. At service entry, it weighed 1,810 kg, with a dry mass of 1,375 kg.
*   **Power:** It was powered by two spacecraft solar arrays capable of generating 5,900 Watts.
*   **Propulsion:** It utilized an S400 thruster system.
*   **Design Life:** The satellite was originally designed to operate for 12 years.

### Launch and Deployment
The satellite was launched on **October 5, 1998**, at 22:51 UTC. The mission used an **Ariane 44L** launch vehicle (designation V111) lifting off from **ELA-2**. It was launched alongside the Sirius 3 satellite. The satellite was assigned the COSPAR ID 1998-056A and the SatCat number 25491.

### Operational Life and Decommissioning
Eutelsat W2 was operated by **Eutelsat** in a geostationary orbit. It provided service for approximately **10.4 years**, falling slightly short of its 12-year design life.
*   **Failure:** On **January 27, 2010**, the satellite experienced a failure in its broadcasting equipment.
*   **Decommissioning:** Following the irreparable failure, the satellite was officially decommissioned in **March 2010**.
*   **Disposal:** To prevent space debris, the satellite was maneuvered into a **graveyard orbit** (a supersynchronous orbit well above the geostationary ring), where it remains as a derelict object.

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/eutelsat-w.htm)
2. [Source](http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_eutelsat_3f2.html)
3. Jonathan's Space Report