[meteorite-list] Russian Satellite Hit By Micrometeorite?

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Mar 30 21:42:44 2006
Message-ID: <200603310131.k2V1VaE03990_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/060330_am11_satfail.html

'Sudden External Impact' Cripples Russian Satellite
By Peter de Selding
Space News
30 March 2006

PARIS - A Russian telecommunications satellite in geostationary orbit
failed March 29 following what its builder says was a "sudden external
impact" of undetermined origin. The satellite, Express-AM11, is being
moved into a graveyard orbit before on-board temperatures render it
uncontrollable, the Russian Satellite Communications Co. (RSCC)
announced March 30.

RSCC's Express-AM11 telecommunications spacecraft, launched in April
2004, is stationed at 96.5 degrees east longitude. The satellite, built
by prime contractor NPO PM of Krasnoyarsk, Russia, with the electronics
payload provided by Alcatel Alenia Space of France and Italy, carries 26
C-band and four Ku-band transponders. It was designed to operate for 12
years.

RSCC said communications traffic that has Russian government priority
has been transferred to other RSCC spacecraft located at 80 degrees, 103
degrees and 140 degrees east longitude. The company said most commercial
traffic also has been transferred to other spacecraft.

The failure occurred suddenly at 3:41 a.m. Moscow time March 29, RSCC
said in its statement.

"According to the preliminary finding of NPO PM ... the telemetry
information shows that due to a sudden external impact, an instantaneous
depressurization of the thermal control system fluid circuit happened,
followed by a sudden outburst of the heat-carrying agent. This resulted
in ... spacecraft orientation loss and rotation."

One industry official said an external agent such as a micro-meteorite
could have caused a sudden rupture of the satellite's thermal-control
piping, which in a severe case could result in a loss of spacecraft
control. But this official also said NPO PM could conclude that an
external factor was the cause in the absence of any other explanation,
and the absence of earlier signs of trouble on the spacecraft. While
this conclusion would be reasonable, this official said it would not
eliminate the possibility that a soldered thermal-control circuit broke
for other reasons.

RSCC spokeswoman Elena Polischuk said March 30 that the rupture of the
thermal-control lines means the satellite's temperatures cannot be
controlled, and that it must be moved soon to avoid becoming a menace to
the geostationary arc at 36,000 kilometers in altitude. RSCC ground
teams currently have the satellite under control, Polischuk said.

"In order to prevent fatal consequences associated with space garbage
formation ... which would result in the impossibility of using this
orbital slot in future ... measures aimed at removing Express-AM11 from
96.5 degrees east into a disposal orbit have been taken," RSCC said.
Received on Thu 30 Mar 2006 08:31:36 PM PST


Help support this free mailing list:



StumbleUpon
del.icio.us
reddit
Yahoo MyWeb