Re: geo sat in leo orbit

From: satcom (john@satcom.freeserve.co.uk)
Date: Tue Nov 26 2002 - 02:29:54 EST

  • Next message: Kevin Fetter: "Re: geo sat in leo orbit"

    Here's the release from the Astra site........
    of course it doesn't mention that there is now a massive bit of space junk
    up there , waiting to re-enter !
    
    I presume it will be  a fully controlled re-entry..anyone have any further
    info ?
    
    
    John.
    
      Baikonur, November 26th, 2002
    
    
    
    ASTRA 1K SATELLITE FAILS TO REACH CORRECT ORBIT
    
    SES ASTRA regrets to announce the failure of the Proton launch vehicle to
    place ASTRA 1K, the fourteenth satellite in the ASTRA series, into the
    correct orbit.
    
    ASTRA 1K was built by Alcatel Space of France, with Proton launch services
    from the Cosmodrome of Baikonur (Khazakstan) provided by ILS (International
    Launch Services), a US-Russian joint venture. The spacecraft was intended to
    operate at ASTRA's orbital position of 19.2° East.
    
    SES ASTRA has full insurance coverage for the ASTRA 1K programme and the
    launch failure will not affect existing services at 19.2° East. Furthermore,
    ASTRA 2C, already operational at 19.2° East, offers comprehensive back-up
    for the ASTRA low-bands at this slot and will remain there until further
    notice.
    
    Interactive Ka-Band services will continue to be provided by the existing
    Ka-band payload on ASTRA 1H.
    
    With an existing available surplus capacity of roughly 20% of the 13
    satellite strong ASTRA fleet in orbit, SES ASTRA, over the coming months,
    will reassess its future needs and make investment decisions on ASTRA 1K
    replacement capacity accordingly.
    
    For further information please contact:
    
    Yves Feltes
    Press Relations Manager
    Tel +352 710 725 311
    Yves.Feltes@ses-global.com
    
    
    
    
    
    
    From: "Kevin Fetter" <kevin_fetter@hotmail.com>
    To: <SeeSat-L@satobs.org>
    Sent: Tuesday, November 26, 2002 6:03 AM
    Subject: geo sat in leo orbit
    
    
    > The ASTRA 1K satellite failed to reach it's proper orbit when it would be
    > seperated from the Block DM upper stage. It orbit at seperation was to
    > 3342*35786 km with an inclination of 26.3 degrees.
    >
    > The satellite reached a circular parking orbit of 175.5 KM inclined 51.6
    > degrees. For some reason the Block DM upper stage failed to fire, so the
    > satellite was stuck in leo orbit.
    >
    > Since 175.5 km is higher then where satellite's re-entry, I would assume
    > it's still orbiting. Until atmo drag brings it back down to where it
    starts
    > to burn up, what nice passes it might give. What a large geo sat to fail
    to
    > reach geo orbit.
    >
    > No orbit from the oig.
    >
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