Russia deorbits Express-AM4 satellite
Posted: Mon, Mar 26, 2012, 6:14 AM ET (1014 GMT)
Controllers deorbited Sunday a Russian communications satellite that was launched into the wrong orbit last year despite a last-minute bid to salvage the spacecraft. A Proton rocket launched Express-AM4 last August, but a problem with the booster's upper stage stranded the satellite in a transfer orbit. With no chance of putting the spacecraft into its intended position in geosynchronous orbit, the satellite's owners declared the spacecraft a total loss and moved to lower its orbit to allow a reentry. One venture, Polar Broadband Systems, sought to keep the satellite in orbit, moving it into an elliptical, inclined orbit to provide broadband communications services for Antarctica. However, Russian officials elected to proceed with the spacecraft's deorbiting, and the spacecraft reentered over the North Pacific on Sunday.
Controllers deorbited Sunday a Russian communications satellite that was launched into the wrong orbit last year despite a last-minute bid to salvage the spacecraft. A Proton rocket launched Express-AM4 last August, but a problem with the booster's upper stage stranded the satellite in a transfer orbit. With no chance of putting the spacecraft into its intended position in geosynchronous orbit, the satellite's owners declared the spacecraft a total loss and moved to lower its orbit to allow a reentry. One venture, Polar Broadband Systems, sought to keep the satellite in orbit, moving it into an elliptical, inclined orbit to provide broadband communications services for Antarctica. However, Russian officials elected to proceed with the spacecraft's deorbiting, and the spacecraft reentered over the North Pacific on Sunday.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, July 9
Air Force review spotlights risks in space agency’s go-fast approach
Defense News — 8:12 am ET (1212 GMT) James Horne Takes the Helm as Commander at Vandenberg SFB
Noozhawk — 8:12 am ET (1212 GMT) New report predicts daily U.S. commercial space launches within decade
Huntsville Times — 8:11 am ET (1211 GMT) Report: ‘Catastrophic loss of life’ real threat for Brownsville firefighters at SpaceX explosion grounds
KVEO-TV Rio Grande Valley, TX — 8:10 am ET (1210 GMT) SpaceX heads to $400bn valuation in share sale
Financial Times — 8:02 am ET (1202 GMT) |
