Intelsat 19 suffers solar array problem
Posted: Sun, Jun 3, 2012, 9:30 AM ET (1330 GMT)
One of the two solar arrays of a newly-launched communications satellite for Intelsat failed to deploy properly, the company announced late Friday. Intelsat said that one of the arrays on its Intelsat 19 satellite did not deploy as planned shortly after launch early Friday. Intelsat and the satellite's manufacturer, Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), are studying the problem. If the array is not deployed, the spacecraft's operations could be seriously impaired because of the limited power available to it from the single working array. Another SS/L-built satellite, Estrela do Sul-2, also had problems deploying a solar array after launch last year; the operator, Telesat, eventually received an insurance payout because of the reduced capacity and lifetime of the satellite.
One of the two solar arrays of a newly-launched communications satellite for Intelsat failed to deploy properly, the company announced late Friday. Intelsat said that one of the arrays on its Intelsat 19 satellite did not deploy as planned shortly after launch early Friday. Intelsat and the satellite's manufacturer, Space Systems/Loral (SS/L), are studying the problem. If the array is not deployed, the spacecraft's operations could be seriously impaired because of the limited power available to it from the single working array. Another SS/L-built satellite, Estrela do Sul-2, also had problems deploying a solar array after launch last year; the operator, Telesat, eventually received an insurance payout because of the reduced capacity and lifetime of the satellite.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Vast signs contract with SpaceX for ISS private astronaut missions
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:59 AM ET (1659 GMT) Avio signs ESA contracts for Vega upgrades and Earth science satellite launch
Posted: Sat, Dec 21 11:57 AM ET (1657 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, December 27
Space industrial base racing to meet growing demand for military satellites
Defensescoop — 7:42 am ET (1242 GMT) Satellite bailout leaves Britain nursing losses as shares plunge to record low
The Daily Telegraph — 7:41 am ET (1241 GMT) SpaceX will be a better $1 trln bet than Tesla
Reuters — 7:36 am ET (1236 GMT) From new commercial Moon landers to asteroid investigations, expect a slate of exciting space missions in 2025
The Conversation — 7:35 am ET (1235 GMT) A Silk Road in Space: China’s Space Plan for 2050
The Wire — 7:34 am ET (1234 GMT) |
