Photo: Harmonic.

Eutelsat Communications announced that the NASA High Definition (NTV-3) and NASA Ultra High Definition (NTV-4) channels are broadcasting in Free-to-Air (FTA) via satellite for the first time across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Viewers from across these regions can now view images from the U.S. space program, including coverage of launches, life on-board the International Space Station (ISS), Earth views from space, deep space exploration, the solar system, Mars, replay of NASA classics such as the Apollo program, and documentaries on NASA’s latest Research and Development (R&D) work.

Eutelsat transmits NASA TV HD from the Hotbird video neighborhood at 13 degrees east for viewers in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and via the 7 degrees east video neighborhood for viewers in Sub-Saharan Africa. NASA TV UHD is also broadcast on the Hotbird and 7 degrees east video neighburhoods, as well as the Fransat TV platform via the Eutelsat 5 West A satellite, for subscribers equipped with an Ultra HD-compatible TV set. The channel, produced by Harmonic, leverages Harmonic’s Ultra HD media processing and delivery technologies, with image resolution levels four times higher than standard HD, the company stated.