U.S. Satellite Saved; Russian Satellite Lost

Delicate rescue saves stranded $1.7B US satellite

During the 14-month effort, the satellite had to battle gravity and dodge space junk

U.S. Air Force/AP

This artist rendering provided by the U.S. Air Force, shows the AEHF-1 satellite in orbit above the earth. Air Force ground controllers executed a delicate rescue to save the $1.7 billion military communications satellite that was stranded in the wrong orbit and at risk of blowing up -- all possibly because a piece of cloth had been left in a critical fuel line during manufacture.

By Dan Elliott

updated 3/17/2012 4:47:07 PM ET

 

DENVER — Air Force ground controllers delicately rescued a $1.7 billion military communications satellite last year that had been stranded in the wrong orbit and at risk of blowing up — all possibly because a piece of cloth had been left in a critical fuel line during manufacture.

During the 14-month effort, the satellite had to battle gravity and dodge space junk while controllers improvised ways to coax it more than 21,000 miles higher to its planned orbit.

MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46770788/ns/technology_and_science-space/#.T2VfbPnlsbY

Dead Russian Satellite to Fall From Space on Purpose Next Week

Peter B. de Selding, Space News

Date: 16 March 2012 Time: 12:01 PM ET

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An artist's illustration of the Russian Express-AM4 telecommunications satellite in Earth orbit. CREDIT: EADS Astrium View full size image

WASHINGTON — The Russian government will guide the large Express–AM4 telecommunications satellite, which was launched into a useless orbit in August, into a controlled atmospheric descent starting March 20 so that any surviving pieces will land in the Pacific Ocean, a senior official from Russia’s state-owned satellite telecommunications operator said March 15.
The 5,800-kilogram satellite has been stuck in a too-low orbit following the failure of the Breeze M upper stage of the Russian Proton rocket.



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