Spaceway 1 Satellite Damaged
- Thread starter CycloneSat
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The story is a lot less interesting if it doesn't explode. Dish needs to get a satellite near it and get it to turn back on the battery charger and then film it exploding. While the costs would be prohibitive (as well as the plan virtually impossible), the marketing value would be unlimited. 
Another Boeing product malfunctioning?New info:
I doubt the age of the satellite had any factor in what happened.
- Boeing will update operating procedures to other spacecraft of the same model to prevent SW1’s issue from occurring again
- AT&T will relocate one of its satellites to replace SW1 as backup
Boeing-built DirecTV satellite may explode in orbit after suffering unexpected malfunction
The large broadcast satellite is owned by AT&T's DirecTV, was built by Boeing and is operated by Intelsat.www.cnbc.com
What are you saying is the mission then? It is (or was since it has probably started moving) directly over Alaska, and AT&T said they were retasking it to provide internet in Alaska. It is not providing any TV, and hasn't for several years.
It might be over the equator on a meridian that lines up with Alaska, but the satellite can't sit directly over Alaska.
Spaceway 1 was moved from the 102.295 area (I think) to 138.9 months ago. The mission for Spaceway 1 was for backup service in Alaska, true. At 139 AT&T Alaska (and other names over the years) has provided rural long distance service statewide since the mid to late 70's. Yes there is some limited internet service, this is not the primary service though.
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The satellite is notably several years beyond its intended lifespan, as Boeing told CNBC the incident happened “beyond-contract-life operation.”
Yes, in addition to the below...
"The proposed relocation of SPACEWAY 1 to 138.9° W.L. will also serve as a Ka-band back-up for the AMC-8/AURORA III (“AMC-8”) satellite, which is currently operating in the C- band at 139° W.L.10 AMC-8 is jointly licensed to SES Americom, Inc. and Alascom, Inc. (“AT&T Alaska”), an affiliate of DIRECTV. AT&T Alaska uses AMC-8 to provide telephony services to locations throughout Alaska, including those that cannot be reached by traditional wireline and terrestrial services." At any rate, it is dead now. If interested, watch the filings for more changes.
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As to why the satellite isn’t de-orbited so it would burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, too much delta-V is needed and Spaceway 1 doesn’t have enough fuel remaining to perform the maneuver. Plus, moving closer to Earth puts the satellite into Earth’s shadow more often, increasing the likelihood the batteries drain and recharge, leading to the thermal runaway that causes an explosion.
No, once they retire it it is powered off. The batteries will never drain or recharge.
It's 130+ km above geostationary (about 1/2 of desired displacement from geo-orbit) and moving west at about 1.68 degrees/day ( 145.8W now)
DIRECTV files request to move SW2 over to 138.9W to replace the disposed former SW1 ...
Should have been expected as the most logical move after SW1's recent mishap and demise I suppose ....
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Should have been expected as the most logical move after SW1's recent mishap and demise I suppose ....
Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk
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