View source for Hot Bird

{{about|the communications satellite series of Eutelsat|other uses|hot bird (disambiguation)}}
{{Short description|French satellite company}}
{{Infobox spacecraft class
| image = Hotbird.jpg
| caption = Hot Bird official logo
| name = Hot Bird
| country = [[France]]
| applications = [[Communications satellite|Communications]]
| orbits = [[Geostationary orbit|Geostationary]], 13°&nbsp;East
| operator = [[Eutelsat]]
| status = Operational
| built = 13
| orders = 0<!--at the moment-->
| launched = 13
| operational = 3
| retired = 9<!--includes satellites moved elsewhere-->
| failed = 
| lost = 1
| first = [[Hot Bird#Hot Bird 1|Hot Bird 1]]<br/><small>28 March 1995</small>
| last = [[Hot Bird#Hot Bird 13G|Hot Bird 13G]]<br/><small>3 November 2022</small>
}}
'''Hot Bird''' (also styled Hotbird<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eutelsat.com/en/satellite-communication-services/broadcasting-solutions-europe.html|title=Premium Orbital Positions in Europe|publisher=Eutelsat|access-date=2022-10-15}}</ref>) is a group of [[satellite]]s operated by [[Eutelsat]], located at 13[[Longitude|°E]] over the [[equator]] ([[Orbital spaceflight|orbital]] position) and with a transmitting [[footprint (satellite)|footprint]] over [[Asia]], [[Europe]], [[North Africa]], [[Americas]] and the [[Middle East]].

Only [[Digital data|digital]] [[radio]] and [[television]] channels are transmitted by the Hot Bird [[Satellite constellation|constellation]], both [[free-to-air]] and [[Encryption|encrypted]]. In addition there are a few [[Interactivity|interactive]] and [[Internet Protocol|IP]] services. The satellites currently operate at 13° East and are numbered 13B, 13E and 13G. The satellites have been broadcasting digital-only since [[TV5Monde]] switched off its analogue signal in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=TV5 Monde Europe wyłączy analog na 13E|url=https://satkurier.pl/news/54209/tv5-monde-europe-wylaczy-analog-na-13e.html|access-date=2021-06-14|website=SATKurier.pl}}</ref>

== List of satellites ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name<ref>{{cite web|title=Comparison of the Hot Bird series satellites|url=http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/comparisons/comparison3.html|access-date=8 June 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415055258/http://www.selkirkshire.demon.co.uk/analoguesat/comparisons/comparison3.html|archive-date=15 April 2012}}</ref>
! Launch location
! Current location
! Launch date
! Status
|-
| Hot Bird 1
| [[Guiana Space Centre|Kourou]]
| [[Graveyard orbit|Junk orbit]]
| 28 March 1995
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 2 (Eurobird 9, Eutelsat 48A)
| [[Kennedy Space Center|Cape Canaveral]]
| [[Graveyard orbit|Junk orbit]]
| 21 November 1996
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 3 (Eurobird 4)
| [[Kourou]]
| [[Graveyard orbit|Junk orbit]]
| 2 September 1997
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 4 (Atlantic Bird 4)
| [[Kourou]]
| [[Graveyard orbit|Junk orbit]]
| 27 February 1998
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 5 (Eutelsat 25B/Es'hail)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Europe, Africa & Middle East - LyngSat |url=https://www.lyngsat.com/europe.html |accessdate=16 November 2022 |website=www.lyngsat.com}}</ref>
| [[Cape Canaveral]]
| [[Graveyard orbit|Junk orbit]]
| 9 October 1998
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 6 (Eutelsat 70D)
| [[Cape Canaveral]]
| [[Graveyard orbit|Junk orbit]]
| 21 August 2002
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 7
| [[Kourou]]
| {{n/a|Launch failure}}
| 11 December 2002
| {{no2|Failed}}
|-
| Hot Bird 7A (Hot Bird 13E)
| [[Kourou]]
| 13°E 
| 12 March 2006
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 8 (Hot Bird 13B)
| [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]]
| 13°E 
| 4 August 2006
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 9 (Hot Bird 13C)
| [[Kourou]]
| 12.5°W
| 20 December 2008
| {{no2|Inactive}}
|-
| Hot Bird 10 (Eutelsat 33E)
| [[Kourou]]
| 33°E 
| 12 February 2009
| {{yes|Active}}
|-
| Hot Bird 13F
| [[Cape Canaveral]]
| 13°E
| 15 October 2022
| {{yes|Active}}
|-
| Hot Bird 13G
| [[Cape Canaveral]]
| 13°E
| 3 November 2022
| {{yes|Active}}
|}

== Satellite details ==

=== Hot Bird 1 ===
Hot Bird 1 was launched by [[Ariane 4|Ariane 44LP]] on 28 March 1995. The 13° east slot predates the launch, with [[Eutelsat I F-1]] having been located there as early as 1983, and [[EUTELSAT II F-1|Eutelsat II F-1]] having also served time at the location. It has reached end-of-life.

=== Hot Bird 3 ===
Hot Bird 3 was launched by [[Ariane 4|Ariane 44LP]] on 2 September 1997 and intended to be moved to 10°E to become [[Eurobird|Eurobird 10]]. During the drift from 13°E to 10°E, the satellite suffered loss of power from one solar array. It was nevertheless successfully moved to 10°E, but could only operate at a reduced capacity. Since then, it is operating at 4°E under the name Eurobird 4. At last it was moved to 75°E and renamed to ABS_1B. It has reached end-of-life.

=== Hot Bird 4 ===
Hot Bird 4 was launched by [[Ariane 4|Ariane 42P]] on 27 February 1998 and redeployed to 7°W in July 2006, becoming [[Atlantic Bird]] 4 / [[Nilesat 103]].

=== Hot Bird 5 ===
Hot Bird 5 was launched by [[Atlas II|Atlas-2A]] on 9 October 1998 and re-located to 25.5°E and renamed [[Eurobird 2]]. Six transponders are leased to [[Arab Satellite Communications Organization|Arabsat]] under the name [[Badr 2]], after having been called [[Arabsat 2D]].

=== Hot Bird 6 (Hot Bird 13D) ===
Hot Bird 6 was launched by [[Atlas V|Atlas V 401]] on 21 August 2002. Starting on 12 June 2009, the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests|day of Iranian elections]], deliberate interference affecting this satellite was traced to [[Iran]]. Hot Bird 6 is the primary carrier for [[BBC Persian Television]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2009/06_june/19/persian.shtml BBC Persian television combats broadcast interference from Iran], BBC Press Release</ref> As of 2013, it was replaced by Hot Bird 10 (Hot Bird 13D).

=== Hot Bird 7/7A (Hot Bird 13E) ===
Hot Bird 7 was lost in December 2002 during the [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5 ECA]] launch. Its replacement, [[Hot Bird 7|Hot Bird 7A]] (a [[Spacebus]] 3000B3) was successfully launched on 11 March 2006. Hot Bird 7A was renamed Eurobird 9A in February 2009.

In December 2011, Eutelsat announced, that their satellite assets will be renamed under a unified brand name effective from March 2012. This satellite became Eutelsat 9A. In 2016 it was renamed Hot Bird 13E.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hotbird 7A → Eurobird 9A → Eutelsat 9A → Hotbird 13E|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/hotbird-7a.htm|website=space.skyrocket.de|editor=Gunter's Space Page|language=en |access-date=30 December 2020}}</ref>

=== Hot Bird 8 (Hot Bird 13B) ===
Hot Bird 8 was launched by [[Proton (rocket family)|Proton]] on 5 August 2006. With a launch mass of 4.9 tonnes, Hot Bird 8 is the largest and the most powerful broadcast satellite serving [[Europe]].

=== Hot Bird 9 (Hot Bird 13C) ===
Hot Bird 9 was launched by [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5 ECA]] in December 2008. Its entry into service enabled the Hot Bird 7A satellite to be redeployed to 9° East and rebranded Eurobird 9A, increasing capacity to 38 {{Ku band}} [[Transponder|transponders]] at this orbital position. From March 2012, Hot Bird 9 became Eutelsat Hot Bird 13C and during the second quarter of 2023 Hot Bird 13G replace Hot Bird 9 at Eutelsats's 13° East position.<ref>[https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/hotbird-13f.htm Hotbird 13f, 13g] space.skyrocket.de</ref>

This satellite renamed Eutelsat 10A now is located at 10.5° East for occasional feeds, data or inactive frequency<ref>[https://en.kingofsat.tv/pos-10.E.php Eutelsat 10A Pos-10.5E] en.kingofsat.tv</ref>

=== Hot Bird 10 (Eutelsat 33E) ===
Hot Bird 10 was launched by [[Ariane 5|Ariane 5 ECA]] in February 2009 with [[NSS-9]], [[Spirale]] A and Spirale B. It was initially commissioned as Atlantic Bird 4A at 7°W. When Atlantic Bird 7 became operational, it was renamed Eutelsat 3C and was colocated with Eutelsat 3A at 3° East. Later it became Hot Bird 13D  and in 2016 Eutelsat 33E.  This satellite is located at 33° East.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hotbird 13B, 13C, 13D → Atlantic Bird 4A → Eutelsat 3C → Eutelsat 33E|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/hotbird-8.htm|website=space.skyrocket.de|editor=Gunter's Space Page|language=en |access-date=2 January 2021}}</ref>

=== Hot Bird 13F ===
Hot Bird 13F was launched by [[Falcon 9 Block 5]] in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spacex.com/launches/eutelsat-hotbird-13f/|title=Eutelsat HotBird 13F Mission|publisher=[[SpaceX]]}}</ref> The launch mass of the satellite is 4,476&nbsp;kg (9,868&nbsp;lb). The satellite has been produced by [[Airbus Defence and Space]] and it's based on [[Eurostar Neo]] bus. The satellite is designed to use PPS5000 [[plasma propulsion engine]] (developed by [[Safran]] and using [[xenon]]) to get to geostationary orbit.<ref name="sfn">{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2022/10/14/spacex-launch-to-deploy-first-in-new-generation-of-airbus-built-satellites/|title=SpaceX launch to deploy first in new generation of Airbus-built satellites|publisher=Spaceflight Now}}</ref>

=== Hot Bird 13G ===
Hot Bird 13G was launched by [[Falcon 9 Block 5]] in November 2022. The satellite is very similar to Hot Bird 13F. Hot Bird 13G is active and replaces satellite 13C at orbital position 13°E.<ref name="sfn"/>

== Packages broadcast on Hot Bird ==
 <!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order  ♦♦♦--->
* {{flagicon|France}} {{Ill|Bis TV|fr|Bis Télévisions}}
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Eurosport]]
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Globecast]]
* {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Kabelio]]
* {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Canal+ (Polish TV provider)|Platforma Canal+]]
* {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Polsat Box]]
* {{flagicon|Greece}} {{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Nova (Greece)|NOVA Greece]]
* {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Orange Polska]]
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Sky Italia]]
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[Télésat|TéléSAT]]
* {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Tivùsat]]
* {{flagicon|Ukraine}} [[Viasat Ukraine]]
* {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} [[Vivacom]]
* {{flagicon|England}} [[CNBC Europe]]

=== Free-to-air channels ===
Up to 300 television and radio channels are available [[free-to-air]].

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071122041134/http://www.eutelsat.com/satellites/satellite-fleet.html Eutelsat Satellites]
* [http://www.eutelsat.com/en/services/broadcast/direct-to-home/video-neighbourhoods/13-east.html Eutelsat Hot Bird]

{{Eutelsat}}
{{coord|0|0|N|13|00|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit]]
[[Category:Communications satellite orbital positions]]
[[Category:Eutelsat]]