Afristar

Also called AfriBSS

---

General

Designation	25515 / 98063A
Launch date	28 Oct 1998
Country of origin	United States
Mission	Telecommunications
Geostationary orbit	21°E
Launch vehicle	Ariane V113

In early Jan 1999 it was revealed that one of the 2 payload interface units is not working properly. This could reduce the expected lifetime of the satellite by preventing a backup TWTA to replace a failed primary TWTA.

Operational service started on 1st Oct 1999. Was needing an early replacement (2008) because of degradation of the solar arrays: Afristar 2

Went inclined in August 2012. Licence extension was requested till April 2021.

---

End of life

Out of service	Dec 2017
Cause	Sent to junk orbit

---

External resources

sat-index articles

Technical data

---

Lyngsat transponder loading

Specifications
L-band

Onboard signal processing. Equipped with Fokker-made solar arrays which might have a defect.

Freq: 2.21242 or 2.21415 GHz
Beacon at 1491.7030 MHz

---