[Palleba2000]

Ja, jeg så på Lyngsat at det var en Ariane 5 raket der sendte Astra 5B op…

Astra har mistet en satellit på en Proton raket i 2002, da den ikke ville sende den højt nok ud i rummet, Astra valgte at lade satellitten styrte ned igen, selv om de “kunne” have reddet den.

Men på Vikipedia har jeg fundet en tekst på, hvorfor de måske bruger Proton i stede for Ariane. Satelliten får længere levetid.

Et uddrag af teksten:
…The satellites are launched into an elliptical “temporary transfer orbit” from where they use onboard propulsion to reach their final circular geostationary orbits, at nearly 36,000 kilometres (22,000 mi) altitude. Proton rockets fitted with a fourth stage propulsion unit are capable of launching the satellites several thousand kilometres higher (at the closest point of the elliptical orbit) than Ariane rockets. As a result most satellites launched in this way have to use less fuel to reach their geostationary orbit, increasing their lifetime.

Men ja, jeg havde nok hellere valgt Ariane raketten alligevel…

MVH
Palleba