Intelsat 10-02 is a geostationary communications satellite of the American operator Intelsat at orbital position 1.0° W. The spacecraft serves broadcasters, telecommunications operators and corporate clients in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. In 2021, the MEV-2 (Mission Extension Vehicle) spacecraft from Northrop Grumman docked with it — and the satellite continued commercial operations at its nominal position despite the depletion of its own fuel.
On board are 37 active transponders in C and Ku bands. Up to 110 channels are transmitted simultaneously. Position 1.0° W is technically accessible from all of Ukraine provided the antenna is properly oriented towards the west-southwest.
Launch and technical specifications
The satellite was launched into geostationary orbit on 24 July 2001 by the Proton-M launch vehicle from the Baikonur cosmodrome. Manufacturer — Lockheed Martin, platform A2100. The design life was 15 years. NORAD ID — 28358.
MEV-2 took over the orbit correction function, compensating for the lack of fuel on board the main spacecraft. For the subscriber, this simply means: the signal at the familiar position has not disappeared.
Coverage areas and reception in Ukraine
The satellite forms several spatial beams. For Ukrainian antenna installers, the primary practical interest is the European Ku-band beam.
| Beam | Coverage | Antenna diameter (Ukraine) |
|---|---|---|
| Ku Europe | All of Europe, including Ukraine | from 90 cm |
| C Global | Europe, Africa, Middle East, Asia | from 1.2 m |
| Ku Africa / Middle East | Africa, Middle East | not applicable for Ukraine |
| Ku Asia-Pacific | Asia-Pacific region | not applicable for Ukraine |
The antenna is oriented at azimuth 220–230°, elevation — 28–32° depending on the region: in western Ukraine the elevation angle is somewhat higher, in the east — lower. In practice, when adjusting a 0.90 m dish in Kyiv, the elevation is approximately 30°, which is quite sufficient for confident reception of Ku-band signal even when measuring signal levels in cloudy weather.
Recommended diameter: 90 cm for Ku-band, 1.2 m for C-band with appropriate converter.
Transponders and frequency bands
C-band is more resistant to rain attenuation — which is why it is chosen for backbone telecommunications channels and corporate networks. Ku-band is oriented towards direct broadcasting and VSAT services.
A total of 37 active transponders support DVB-S and DVB-S2 modulation standards. Symbol rates vary from 2 to 45 Msym/s — depending on the configuration of the leased capacity. The sathub database records 110 channels via this satellite.
Television packages and free-to-air channels
Content on Intelsat 10-02 covers several regional directions:
- European television channels — news, entertainment and thematic channels for audiences in Western and Central Europe.
- African television channels — regional broadcasting for countries south of the Sahara and North Africa.
- Asian television channels — content for diaspora and regional broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific region.
- Corporate data transmission channels — dedicated lines for enterprises, banking sector and government structures.
- Telecommunications backbones — inter-operator communication channels between countries.
Some transponders operate in free-to-air (FTA) mode, the rest are protected by conditional access systems (CAS) of the leasing operators.
Frequently asked questions
What antenna is needed to receive Intelsat 10-02 in Ukraine?
For Ku-band, a 90 cm dish is sufficient. For C-band — a mirror from 1.2 m with C-band LNB.
Where should I point the antenna from position 1.0° W?
Azimuth 220–230°, elevation 28–32° depending on location in Ukraine. Exact values can be conveniently checked in an online calculator or mobile antenna pointing application.
What is MEV-2 and how does it affect reception?
MEV-2 is a mission extension vehicle from Northrop Grumman that docked with Intelsat 10-02 in 2021 and took over the orbit maintenance function. For the subscriber, there is no difference: the satellite remains at its nominal position, the signal is stable.
How many channels are available via Intelsat 10-02?
According to sathub data — 110 channels via 37 transponders. The number of FTA channels varies depending on the current configuration of broadcasting operators.