Eutelsat 80A goes to graveyard orbit
November 5, 2021
By Chris Forrester
Eutelsat’s 80A satellite has reached its end-of-life having more than exceeded its minimum design life of 12-years of operation.
Eutelsat 80A was launched from Florida in May 2000. It was also called Eutelsat W4 and has thus completed well over 20 years service.
Various technical data suggests that the satellite was being raised by about 35-36 kms a day above its geostationary orbital location into a so-called ‘graveyard orbit’ and out of any potential conflict with its geostationary neighbours.
One report (from TS Kelso at CelesTrak) said the satellite was decommissioned around the beginning of October.
The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin and launched by International Launch Services on an Atlas IIIA rocket
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