Posted: Mon, Jan 19, 2009, 5:49 PM ET (2249 GMT)
The Astra 5A communications satellite, operated by European company SES Astra, suffered a "technical anomaly" last week that led to the spacecraft's failure, the company reported. The spacecraft had been operating in GEO at 31.5 degrees east when the spacecraft suffered a malfunction that led the owner to declare the spacecraft's mission to be at an end. Customers, including a German cable operator, were switched to another SES Astra satellite at 23.5 degrees east. Astra 5A was launched in November 1997 as Sirius 2; it was moved to the 31.5-deg slot last year.

Related Links:

•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  SatNews.com article
•  Reuters article
•  SES Astra press release