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Intelsat Loses Another Satellite

Posted by timothy on from the space-is-a-harsh-realm dept.

Alarash writes "Intelsat reported a few days ago that its IS-804 Satellite is lost in space. According to the press release, the '[...] satellite experienced a sudden and unexpected electrical power system anomaly on January 14, 2005, at approximately 5:32 p.m. EST that caused the total loss of the spacecraft.' The satellite was in charge of the South Pacific's media delivery. As a reminder, Intelsat-7, another satellite from Intelsat, got lost a couple of months ago."

5 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. Technical info by JS_RIDDLER · · Score: 5, Informative

    All links are from their site. Here is a image of the coverage area of the satellite:

    http://www.intelsat.com/resources/coveragemaps/sat _foot.aspx?name=804&loc=174&spot=global
    Here is some technical data on the satellite:
    http://www.intelsat.com/resources/coveragemaps/sat _foot_details.aspx?name=804&loc=174

    Also here is some Satellite Basics :
    http://www.intelsat.com/resources/satellitebasics. aspx

    --
    _JS
  2. Perhaps they should have used AMDsat by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or even Cyrixsat... altough that would have probably overheated long before now :)

  3. Poll options by eclectro · · Score: 5, Funny


    1) Solar Flux
    2) Those darn Russians
    3) Sensor installed upside down
    4) Kids with laser pointers
    5) Meteorite
    6) Tax purposes
    7) Unfriendly UFO
    8) Overheating
    9) Autodestruct after two-weeks of reruns

    --
    Take the cheese to sickbay, the doctor should see it as soon as possible - B'Elanna Torres, "Learning Curve"
  4. Where to look by dave-tx · · Score: 5, Funny
    Just keep an eye out on ebay - like all "missing" merchandise, it'll show up eventually. Shipping charges will be a bitch, though.

    --

    >> "What would the robut do? Frame someone!"

  5. Re:Sunspot by digitalchinky · · Score: 5, Informative

    The problem with sunspot activity and satellites is that there are a few 'thousand' functional satellites orbiting (or geostationary) at any given moment. If it's a numbers game, then the tin foil hat croud will need to re-think, since there is no consipracy. It just broke. A random failure in a sea of success. These things are shielded up pretty good. I've worked this trade for a long time (Military/Civil), I've not heard of many failures put down to the sun.

    Sure there are numerous little problems - failed transponders and such - but these things fly with backups of most things.

    You can download small programs that plot the locations of most known birds - real time 3d graphics, based on ephemeris.

    Of course, SBRS and ADSCS will be mildly inconvenienced at having to 'work' for a few days - heh. It's their area of operations.