Definition
Thor is the name of a family of geostationary communications satellites originally developed for British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) and later operated by Norwegian companies, most recently Space Norway.
Overview
The Thor satellite series began as the “Marcopolo” programme, a pair of satellites built by Hughes Space and Communications (now part of Boeing Satellite Systems) for the United Kingdom’s Direct Broadcast Service in the late 1980s and early 1990s. After BSB merged with Sky Television to form British Sky Broadcasting, the Marcopolo satellites were sold to Telenor of Norway and renamed Thor 1 and Thor 2. Subsequent satellites—Thor 3 through Thor 7—were launched between 1997 and 2015 to provide direct‑to‑home (DTH) television, broadband, and maritime communications across the Nordic region, Central and Eastern Europe, and parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Ownership of the fleet transferred from Telenor to Space Norway in 2023.
Etymology / Origin
The name “Thor” is a reference to the Norse god of thunder. While the satellite operator has not published an official explanation, the use of a mythological Scandinavian name aligns with the fleet’s primary service area in Northern Europe. Accurate information is not confirmed.
Characteristics
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Broadcast television (DTH), high‑throughput satellite (HTS) broadband, data communications, and maritime connectivity. |
| Orbital Position | Geostationary orbit, principally at 0.8° W and 1° W longitude. |
| Bus Platforms | Early units (Marcopolo 1/2) used the Hughes HS‑376 bus; later satellites employed platforms from Thales Alenia Space, SSL, and other manufacturers. |
| Frequency Bands | Ku‑band transponders (typically 5–36 active transponders per satellite); later models include higher‑power amplifiers (40–47 W) and increased bandwidth for HTS services. |
| Notable Units | • Thor 1 (originally Marcopolo 2, launched 1990) – 5 Ku‑band transponders, de‑orbited 2003. • Thor 2 (launched 1997) – 15 Ku‑band transponders, retired 2008, graveyard orbit 2013. • Thor 3 (launched 1998) – 14 Ku‑band transponders, retired 2019. • Thor 5 (launched 2008) – 24 Ku‑band transponders, serves Nordic and Central European markets. • Thor 6 (launched 2009) – 36 Ku‑band transponders, provides DTH services from 0.8° W. • Thor 7 (launched 2015) – built by SSL, focused on maritime customers with a total capacity of ~9 Gbit s⁻¹. |
| Coverage | Footprints cover the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, the Baltic states, Central and Eastern Europe, and, for later satellites, parts of the Middle East and North Africa. |
| Operational Status | As of 2024, Thor 5, Thor 6, and Thor 7 remain operational under Space Norway; earlier satellites have been retired to graveyard orbits. |
Related Topics
- British Satellite Broadcasting (BSB) – The original UK broadcaster for which the Marcopolo/Thor satellites were built.
- Geostationary Orbit – The circular orbit at ~35,786 km altitude where Thor satellites reside, allowing continuous coverage of a fixed Earth region.
- Ku‑band – The frequency range (12–18 GHz) used by the Thor fleet for broadcast and data services.
- Space Norway – The current operator of the Thor satellite fleet, responsible for satellite communications services across the EMEA region.
- Direct‑to‑Home Television (DTH) – The primary application of early Thor satellites, delivering television signals directly to consumer antennas.
- High‑Throughput Satellite (HTS) – A service class supported by later Thor satellites, offering broadband connectivity with higher data rates.
This entry summarizes verified information from publicly available sources, notably the Wikipedia article “Thor (satellite)” and related satellite industry references.