The ESA Television Service will make use of an Astra transponder as well as the "classical" Eutelsat 10-degree West transponder. You can follow the transmission from your home, provided you have a digital satellite receiver and a satellite antenna pointed to Astra. The transmission can be received on Astra with a normal consumer satellite reception equipment - provided it is able to receive digital transmissions.
 
Transmission details

Primary satellite path:
Astra 2C at 19 degrees East
Transponder 57, horizontal, MPEG-2, MCPC
Frequency 10832 MHz, Symbol Rate 22000 MS/sec, FEC=5/6

Service name: 'ESA' – please select this on your digital receiver.

Secondary satellite path:
Eutelsat W1 at 10 degrees east
Transponder B5, horizontal, channel C (SCPC, DVB)
F=11.153 MHz, SR=5.632 MS/sec, FEC=3/4

On this channel, colour bars with a superimposed ESA logo will be transmitted from three days before the launch (15 October at 06:00 CET), until the start of the live launch transmission. An audio tone (1 KHz, -9 dB) will also be transmitted during this period.  
 
Transmission schedule
 
18 October: Launch
07:00 CEST Start of mixed launch programme from Moscow
07:37 CEST Live televised launch programme
08:00 CEST End of transmission

20 October: Docking and ingress
09:00 – 09:30 CEST LIVE docking coverage
(estimated docking time 09:17 CEST)

12:00 - 12:45 CEST LIVE Cervantes crew entering ISS
(estimated entry time 12:14 CEST)

13:00 – 13:15 CEST Docking and entry highlights B roll
13:15 End of transmission
 
 
Further information
 
The complete programme of ESA TV transmissions is available on http://television.esa.int
 
 
Last update: 16 March 2005