Hotbird 13G, the sister communications satellite to Hotbird 13F, has been successfully launched by a Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 rocket flying out of Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launch took place at 0522 GMT on 3 November 2022. The Eurostar NEO bus spacecraft was built by Airbus Defence and Space plant in Toulouse for the satellite operator Eutelsat S.A. to provide High-powered direct-to-home communications (Ku-band) satellite. The satellite payload has 80 Ku-band transponders, offering a 36 MHz bandwidth equivalent of 74 transponders. In addition, unlike its sister -13F satellite, Hotbird 13G is also carrying a navigation overlay EGNOS payload.
Like the October Falcon 9 launch of its sister satellite Hotbird 13F, the initial orbit was a super-synchronous transfer orbit which has a higher apogee than a normal geosynchronous transfer orbit making the inclination removal easier to do in terms of fuel use.
The 4.5 metric ton satellite, which will use its electric thrusters for final positioning into a geostationary Earth orbit, was insured as was its launch. Falcon 9 launches command some of the lowest rates in the market due to their high reliability and constant use.
Falcon 9v1.2FT Block 5 lights up the night sky as it launches Hotbird 13G. Courtesy: SpaceX/Eutelsat
The B1067 reusable first stage, on its seventh flight, successfully landed on the drone barge “Just Read the Instructions” which was stationed downrange in the Atlantic Ocean. This was the 51st Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy launch this year, making SpaceX launch rate/cadence nearly once per week, easily holding the record for the most launches from an individual launch provider.
