AMC-14 declared a total loss
Posted: Fri, Apr 11, 2008, 9:48 PM ET (0148 GMT)
SES Americom announced Friday that it has given up efforts to salvage a satellite stranded in a useless transfer orbit last month. The AMC-14 satellite launched by a Proton M rocket on March 15, but was left short of geosynchronous transfer orbit when the Proton's Breeze M upper stage shut down prematurely. After studying potential options to raise the satellite's orbit and get some useful life out of the spacecraft, SES Americom concluded that those options had "unacceptable risks" and would instead declare the satellite a total loss and file a claim with insurers. SES was not more specific about what options were considered and their risks, but SpaceDaily reported that they considered a lunar flyby option but were unable to reach a licensing agreement with Boeing, the company that owns a patent on that rescue approach. The satellite is insured for $150 million by SES Americom and an additional $42 million by EchoStar, who had leased the satellite's capacity.
SES Americom announced Friday that it has given up efforts to salvage a satellite stranded in a useless transfer orbit last month. The AMC-14 satellite launched by a Proton M rocket on March 15, but was left short of geosynchronous transfer orbit when the Proton's Breeze M upper stage shut down prematurely. After studying potential options to raise the satellite's orbit and get some useful life out of the spacecraft, SES Americom concluded that those options had "unacceptable risks" and would instead declare the satellite a total loss and file a claim with insurers. SES was not more specific about what options were considered and their risks, but SpaceDaily reported that they considered a lunar flyby option but were unable to reach a licensing agreement with Boeing, the company that owns a patent on that rescue approach. The satellite is insured for $150 million by SES Americom and an additional $42 million by EchoStar, who had leased the satellite's capacity.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, May 11
Spire Global Schedules First Quarter 2025 Results Conference Call
Spire — 4:15 pm ET (2015 GMT) NASA's Webb Lifts Veil on Common but Mysterious Type of Exoplanet
STScI — 9:50 am ET (1350 GMT) Northrop Grumman to Develop Additional Relay Ground Stations to Support US Space Force’s Next-Generation OPIR Program
Northrop Grumman — 9:50 am ET (1350 GMT) AAC Clyde Space wins EUR 570 000 order for power systems
AAC Clyde Space — 9:47 am ET (1347 GMT) Stratolaunch Successfully Completes Reusable Hypersonic Flight and Recovery with Talon-A2 Vehicle
Stratolaunch Systems — 9:46 am ET (1346 GMT) |
