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Could a Dirty Rag Take Out a $2 Billion Satellite?

Posted by Soulskill on from the dumb-mistakes-cost-the-most dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The alleged rescue of a U.S. military communications satellite underscores some of the weaknesses in U.S. space efforts. Quoting: 'The seven-ton “AEHF-1,” part of a planned six-satellite constellation meant to support radio communication between far-flung U.S. military units, had been in orbit just one day when the problems began. The satellite started out in a highly-elliptical, temporary orbit. The plan was to use the spacecraft’s on-board engine to boost it to a permanent, geo-stationary orbit. But when the Air Force space operators at Los Angeles Air Force Base activated the engine, nothing happened. The Government Accountability Office would later blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line by a Lockheed worker.'"

19 of 297 comments (clear)

  1. Lockheed gonna get sued? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seems like the gov't should sue lockheed for failing to deliver the working satellite as contracted.

    Hopefully that'll happen (which will probably leave that worker jobless) and we'll get some of our tax dollars back.

    Shhh... I can dream!

    1. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by JonahsDad · · Score: 5, Informative

      TFA states that they are seeking compensation from Lockheed. Hopefully, that'll happen without an actual suit.

    2. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by davester666 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, the gov't will have to pay for that space-rag now. Lockheed forgot to bill them for it.

      --
      Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
    3. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by Ouchie · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yes, the gov't will have to pay for that space-rag now. Lockheed forgot to bill them for it.

      The bill also included the fines levied by the TSA for failing to file an export declariation on the space rag.

      --
      "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." ~Ozzy Osborne
    4. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Seems like the gov't should sue lockheed for failing to deliver the working satellite as contracted.

      Hopefully that'll happen (which will probably leave that worker jobless) and we'll get some of our tax dollars back.

      Shhh... I can dream!

      Lockheed wouldn't piss off their biggest spender. They'll pay back in the form of a "credit" for some kind of services that have the highest margin for Lockheed. The guy who screwed up and his boss will get fired for sure, and then they will have some business analyst examine their QA process and add a little redundancy in the inspection policies. Nothing to see here folks.

      Isn't that what should happen? I mean, when did the world suddenly decide that anytime anyone makes an honest mistake they should be crucified for it forever? If there is restitution for lost funds as well as improvements to try to prevent a repetition of the same problem, shouldn't everyone involved be satisfied? I'm fairly certain that the OP's hope that we all get some kind of tax refund is probably not going to happen, and even if it did, you'd be talking about a few dollars per person at most.

    5. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by z00_miak · · Score: 5, Funny

      TFA states that they are seeking compensation from Lockheed. Hopefully, that'll happen without an actual suit.

      That would be quite the space suit.

    6. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by DJ+Jones · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Actually that whole 49% figure is misleading. The element of "time" is conveniently left out. 49% of Americans at any given "time" do not pay income tax, not because they are lazy, poor, freeloading citizens but because they are either too young to earn income or retired. In actuality, over 90% of Americans pay income tax at some point in their lifetimes.

    7. Re:Lockheed gonna get sued? by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I mean, when did the world suddenly decide that anytime anyone makes an honest mistake they should be crucified for it forever?

      Forgetting a rag is an honest mistake. Failing to plan for honest mistakes by implementing the appropriate checks into your process is negligence.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  2. Hmm...scale does not compute. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 5, Interesting

    blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line

    Must be a really small rag or really big fuel line. Seriously, how would this happen? It's a freaking satellite engine, not the shuttle main.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    1. Re:Hmm...scale does not compute. by localman57 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Yeah. Damn it people! This is just rocket science, not brain surgery!

    2. Re:Hmm...scale does not compute. by Richard_at_work · · Score: 5, Informative

      You can use tiny squares of cloth, impregnated with cleaning solution, to clean the inside of valves and metal lines - gets rid of metal filings which are left over from the boring process.

      Quite easy to leave one behind. Which is why there are processes in place designed to prevent such issues.

    3. Re:Hmm...scale does not compute. by SwedishChef · · Score: 5, Insightful

      More seriously, why wouldn't groundside testing notice that there was a rag in the line?

      Some of these positioning rockets are single-use. If you test one you have to build another to replace it. And then test it. And then.....

      --
      No one ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke!
  3. The answer appears to be a yes. by jandrese · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Isn't this sort of like asking if a $5 wrench could wreck a car engine if it were left inside of a cylinder? Is anybody going to say "no"?

    And yes, I went with the car analogy right from the start. Deal with it.

    --

    I read the internet for the articles.
  4. anything can take out a satellite by apcullen · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's hard. Any little thing that goes wrong will likely cause the whole thing not to work.
    That's why it's rocket science.

  5. Lots of failures there. by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Assembly failure - leave a rag.
    Inspection failure - did not check for rag.
    Pre-flight final inspection - still did not find the rag.

    Wow, complete failure all the way down the line from assembly to mating with the launch vehicle.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Lots of failures there. by Massacrifice · · Score: 5, Funny

      XXI century new space programs motto : It's failures all the way down, man!

      --
      -- Home is where you eat your heart out.
    2. Re:Lots of failures there. by LWATCDR · · Score: 5, Informative

      You left out Slashdot summary failure.

      FTFA
      "On Oct. 24, AEHF-1 reached its originally planned orbit. Testing began soon afterward. The Air Force expects to bring the satellite into service in March. Meanwhile, two more AEHFs are slated to launch in 2012."

      They got it into the correct orbit over two months ago using the small thrusters.
      In other words...
      More sensationalistic headlines to get clicks and comments from the new Slashdot.
      Really? Oh and the answer is "no a dirty rag did not take out a 2 billion dollar commsat."
       

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  6. Send up some Midol? by rts008 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So, the problem is the satellite is 'on the rag'?

    --
    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  7. Heading hyperbole by biometrizilla · · Score: 5, Informative

    Already been established that they were able to overcome the rag and get the satellite into a functional orbit where it can fulfill its mission objective. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av019/120103rescue.html