Eutelsat Communications has lost its W3B satellite, following an anomaly detected on the satellite’s propulsion subsystem after its launch on an Ariane 5 rocket.
W3B was due to be positioned at 16°E to replace Eutelsat’s Eurobird 16, W2M and SESAT 1 satellites.
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With W3B’s failure, the three satellites will remain in full service at 16°E until the W3C satellite is placed in orbit in mid-2011.
The firm will immediately initiate a new satellite programme, W3D, for a planned launch in the first quarter of 2013.
