Newly-launched satellite declared a total loss
Posted: Fri, Oct 29, 2010, 9:11 PM ET (0111 GMT)
A commercial communications satellite launched on Thursday has been declared a total loss by its owner because of a propulsion problem that will prevent the spacecraft from reaching its final orbit. Eutelsat W3B was launched Thursday evening by an Ariane 5 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and at the time all seemed well with the Thales Alenia Space-built satellite. However, on Friday morning Eutelsat announced it was declaring the satellite a total loss because of a propellant leak in the spacecraft that would keep the spacecraft from reaching its final orbit in GEO. Eutelsat instead plans to deorbit the spacecraft next week. The cause of the propellant leak is unknown but Thales officials suggested the tank was damaged some time after being installed on the launch vehicle. The spacecraft was fully insured, and Eutelsat plans to order a replacement satellite.
A commercial communications satellite launched on Thursday has been declared a total loss by its owner because of a propulsion problem that will prevent the spacecraft from reaching its final orbit. Eutelsat W3B was launched Thursday evening by an Ariane 5 into a geosynchronous transfer orbit, and at the time all seemed well with the Thales Alenia Space-built satellite. However, on Friday morning Eutelsat announced it was declaring the satellite a total loss because of a propellant leak in the spacecraft that would keep the spacecraft from reaching its final orbit in GEO. Eutelsat instead plans to deorbit the spacecraft next week. The cause of the propellant leak is unknown but Thales officials suggested the tank was damaged some time after being installed on the launch vehicle. The spacecraft was fully insured, and Eutelsat plans to order a replacement satellite.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, April 8
U.S. Space Force launches DoW STP-S29A mission, delivers experimental and research payloads
US Space Force — 5:20 am ET (0920 GMT) Doubling ESA’s deep space capabilities at New Norcia with deep space antenna 4
ESA — 5:20 am ET (0920 GMT) Student experiments launched on sounding rockets
ESA — 5:19 am ET (0919 GMT) Minotaur IV Launches STP-S29A Mission from Vandenberg, Marking Base’s 23rd Liftoff of 2026
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 5:17 am ET (0917 GMT) SDA Makes Second HALO Europa Award
Space Development Agency — 5:16 am ET (0916 GMT) |
