EUTELSAT II (F1,F2,F3,F4,F5,F6)

EUTELSAT II-F1 was positioned within the shortest possible time and, additionally, due to specially developed optimizing maneuver planning software, the fuel consumption could be minimised, thus extending the operational life-time of the satellite. 17 days after launch the EUTELSAT II-F1 satellite was handed over to the EUTELSAT Satellite Control Centre in Paris for utilization. For a further 4 weeks GSOC was available for "Hot Standby" operations.

During the "Station Acquisition Phase" of the positioning of EUTELSAT II-F2, new strategies and maneuvers were performed (using specially developed collocation software) in which the satellite flies around the operational control boxes of other geostationary satellites to avoid any risk of collisions.

The launch of EUTELSAT II-F3 using an ATLAS II rocket meant a new challenge for GSOC. The satellite was launched into a highly supersynchronous transfer orbit (42.000 km) which required an additional perigee orbit maneuver. By the introduction of new operational procedures and the continuous development of the maneuver software the GSOC operations team was able to meet the customer's request to position the satellite within two weeks.

After another nominal positioning EUTELSAT II-F4 was handed over to the EUTELSAT Routine Control Center in Paris after 11 days for the routine operations. As it is used mainly for business applications it plays a vital role in developing east-west communications for all countries in central and eastern Europe that joined the EUTELSAT organization. The antenna coverage zone was modified to cope for this new customers.

Unfortunately a positioning of EUTELSAT II-F5 could not be performed due to a malfunction of the third stage of Flight 63 ARIANE 4 rocket.