| SPACE MART | SPACE DAILY | SPACE WAR | TERRA DAILY | MARS DAILY | SPACE TRAVEL | GPS DAILY | ENERGY DAILY |
 |
Moscow, Russia (SPX) Mar 30, 2006 The Russian Satellite Communications Company's Express-AM11 telecommunications satellite suffered a sudden failure on Wednesday. "At present, providing services via the Express-AM11 satellite is impossible," the company said in a statement. Telemetry showed the failure, which occurred at 6:55 a.m. Moscow Time, was caused by "a sudden external impact on the spacecraft," RSCC said in a statement. The cause most probably was space garbage of unknown origin. The result was instantaneous depressurization of the satellite's thermal control system fluid circuit, followed by "a sudden outburst of the heat-carrying agent." The spacecraft subsequently lost its geostationary orientation and proper rotation. Although ground engineers were able to maintain marginal control, RSCC said the AM11 "started approaching the crucial values that can result in the total loss of the satellite." Along with the effective loss of the satellite, the company said the presence of space garbage most likely also renders its orbital slot unusable. Therefore engineers have engaged "organizational and technical measures aimed at removing the Express-AM11 from 96.5 East into space disposal orbit." RSCC has downloaded the satellite's backup capacities on the east orbital arc and as a result all Russian commercial TV and radio broadcasting has been restored. In addition, engineers have transferred all official communications channels to the Express-A2 (103 East), Express-AM2 (80 East) and Express-AM3 (140 East) satellites. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Russian Satellite Communications Company Space Technology News - Applications and Research
Goldstone Dish Celebrates 40 Years Of Service
Goldstone CA (SPX) Mar 29, 2006When Neil Armstrong uttered his famous phrase, "That's one small step for … man; one giant leap for mankind," from the surface of the Moon on July 20, 1969, the entire world heard his words because a NASA radio dish in California received and relayed them. |
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |
