Tags: Artificialsatellite, Satellite.
Astra 5A was one of the Astra communications satellites owned and operated by SES at the Astra 31.5°E orbital slot. Launched in 1997 to the 5°E position by NSAB (later SES Sirius and now a non-autonomous part of SES) as Sirius 2 operation of the satellite was transferred to SES in April 2008 and the craft renamed and moved to 31.5°E to open up a new orbital position for the company for the development of markets in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.Astra 5A failed in orbit in 2009.