Key statistics
Satellite ASTRA 1B at a glance.
Uptime
12660
Days in orbit
Revolutions
≈ 1.0
Per day
Orbit
OTHER
Other
Inclination
13.1
Latest
Satellite identification and parameters
Extended collection of information and parameters for ASTRA 1B.
Object identification
Identified? True
Debris? False
Object name: ASTRA 1B
International designator: 1991-015A
Object number (NORAD): 21139
Object ID (CCSDS): 21139
Country: SOCIÉTÉ EUROPÉENNE DES SATELLITES (SES)
Current information (Y/N): Y
RCS size: LARGE
Orbital parameters
Period: 1461.784 minutes
Inclination: 13.0802 deg
SMA: 42666.041 km
Apoapsis: 36310.357 km
Periapsis: 36265.456 km
RAAN: 23.8982 deg
Eccentricy: 0.00052619
Argument of periapsis: 358.4011 deg
Mean anomaly: 8.9772 deg
Mean motion: 0.98509755 rev/day
Mean motion (dot): -0.00000078 rev/day2
B* drag term: 0.0 1/REarth
Two-line elements (TLE)
Creation date: Oct. 28, 2025, 7:11 p.m.
Reference frame: TEME
Reference center: EARTH
Epoch: Oct. 28, 2025, 4:24 a.m. UTC
TLE line 0: 0 ASTRA 1B
TLE line 1: 1 21139U 91015A 25301.18390784 -.00000078 00000-0 00000-0 0 9999
TLE line 2: 2 21139 13.0802 23.8982 0005262 358.4011 8.9772 0.98509755114008
Live tracking on map
Real-time ground track for satellite ASTRA 1B.
In-orbit conjunctions
There are no conjunctions computed for ASTRA 1B, at the moment. Check back to stay up to date, as we update our databases every day.
Go to all conjunctionsAssociated space launch
Astra 1B was the second of the Astra communications satellites launched and operated by SES (Société Européenne des Satellites). It was believed to have been launched in a faulty condition, and suffered a thruster failure early in its life, causing minor drift, meaning that it became permanently difficult to obtain a steady lock on the satellite. This was most notable on analogue transmissions where the picture would move from clear to carrying sparklies and back again.
ASTRA 1B was lifted into orbit during the mission ‘Ariane 44LP | Astra 1B & Meteosat 5’, on board a Ariane 44LP space rocket.
The launch took place on March 2, 1991, 11:36 p.m. from Ariane Launch Area 2.
For more information about the launch, click the button.
Ariane 44LP | Astra 1B & Meteosat 5
Agency: N/A
Status: Launch Successful
Launch date: March 2, 1991, 11:36 p.m. UTC
Rocket: Ariane 44LP
Launch pad: Ariane Launch Area 2
Location: Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana
...
Latest news about this satellite
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