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http://www.steves-homepage.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi Satellite >> Transponder news and Feeds >> Rogue satellite on the loose http://www.steves-homepage.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1228428961 Message started by Steve on Dec 4th, 2008, 10:16pm |
Title: Rogue satellite on the loose Post by Steve on Dec 4th, 2008, 10:16pm Things are set to get a bit hairy over the next few weeks as a US military satellite DSP-23 ( USA 197 ) drifts through one of the most crowded slots in geo orbit. The bird has been the subject of discussion amongst amateur observers for a few weeks , but it is now starting to make main stream news. It was launched last November , but failed and is now meandering towards 13 east and the Hotbirds...eventually it will become entangled with the 19 east Astras and there's not a lot anyone can do as the DoD will not release precise details of where it is! ( However there are ways and means....thats how we know its around 12.25 east at present ) So if one of the Hotbirds suddenly drops out in the next week...you'll know the reason why ! Joking apart , DSP-23 still has rather a lot of fuel aboard , in fact nearly a full tank ! Whilst it is highly unlikely a collision will take place , if it does it could be catastrophic for European satellite owners. The resulting devastation would leave a huge part of the arc unuseable ! DSP-23 is about 3 degrees inclined but is passing through the equatorial plane midday and midnight . |
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