Apologies for being slightly off-topic, but I thought these two bits of news would be of interest: =================== From Loral's press release: "According to Sea Launch, the spacecraft separated from the rocket's upper stage prematurely and was placed into a lower than expected transfer orbit. However, current data indicates the satellite has sufficient on-board fuel to bring it to its final orbital position and exceed its 13-year specified life. Telstar 18 has deployed its solar arrays and all systems on the spacecraft are operating normally." ==================== http://www.spacedaily.com/news/debris-04a.html New FCC Orbital Debris Rules Set New Standard for Disposing of Satellites By PETER B. de SELDING Space News Staff Writer PARIS - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stepped into a years-long debate on orbital debris by ordering tough new measures governing how satellites are disposed of by their owners. Over the objections of several of the world's largest commercial satellite-fleet operators, the FCC ruled that all U.S.-licensed satellites launched after March 18, 2002, will have to be placed into so-called graveyard orbits between 200 and 300 kilometers above the geostationary arc, where most commercial satellites operate. The ruling, published June 21, will set a regulatory standard that will be difficult for other nations to avoid. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe info, Frequently Asked Questions, SeeSat-L archive: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/seesatindex.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jul 06 2004 - 11:56:04 EDT