AMC14 The Rescue mission: Lunar Burn may be a reality.

[K9SAT]

While AMC 14 only has 5,000km to go! Its not that far compared to Asia sat wich was the first satellite to use a lunar burn succesfully. While Fuel is an issue, Its not much of an issue in this case as Asia sat's original orbit was 350Km and with the moons gravity was brought to a 36,000KM orbit. That burn used most of the satellite's fuel but there is hope that this bird can retain most of its fuel being that it's so close.

Here is a bunch of press releases on this historic mission.


AsiaSat 3

[goober22]

You know, my 84 year old mother "could" become a ninja warrior! Will this happen, doubtful.

I hate to rain on your parade but AMC14 is lost. They will write it off to recover the insurance, otherwise they will have to accept a 2/3rds loss of life to get it into a functional orbit due to fuel consumption.

[K9SAT]

You know, my 84 year old mother "could" become a ninja warrior! Will this happen, doubtful.

I hate to rain on your parade but AMC14 is lost. They will write it off to recover the insurance, otherwise they will have to accept a 2/3rds loss of life to get it into a functional orbit due to fuel consumption.

How do you know it would even be that much as ASIA sat burned that much just getting to its spot. With this one, Its a hellva alot closer than asia sat was to begin with. Its only at 28,000KM orbit right now, where as Asia sat started at a 350KM orbit. For a diffrence of 27,650KM less that AMC14 has to travel. That is alot of fuel. If I was the insurance people looking at this, I wouldnt write it off untill this was tryed and give a partial payment for the fule used and the life taken wich could have amounted to a few years of fuel. I think they still can get 10+ out of this bird if it's truely that close and it isnt lost as everyone is making it out to be!

The target goal is 33,000KM

[digiblur]

I thought it was 5,000 miles?

It's not going to be about if it can be done, it's all going to be down to the insurance. If AMC can't get some insurance or ILS to pay for the lost lease time then they'll just scuttle the whole bird to claim the mission as an entire loss.

[cforrest]

I thought it was 8000 kilometers away or close to 5000 miles away from it's intended orbit. Not 5000 kilometers as stated by OP.


Spaceflight Now | Breaking News | Proton rocket suffers launch failure

In an update posted on its Web site, Roscosmos said the stage and the AMC 14 payload reached an orbit with a high point of about 17,400 miles, about 5,000 miles short of the intended altitude at the end of the burn

[RandallA]

I thought it was 5,000 miles?

It's not going to be about if it can be done, it's all going to be down to the insurance. If AMC can't get some insurance or ILS to pay for the lost lease time then they'll just scuttle the whole bird to claim the mission as an entire loss.

I agree with you. Why would AMC try to place the satellite into the correct orbit when they can just declared the mission a total loss and get the insurance. If they try to use the satellite's own engine to raise it to the higher orbit, it will reduce the lifetime of the satellite and probably lose the opportunity to claim the insurance.

BTW, I'm just finding out about this. Man, big blow to Dish Network. Hope they have a plan B.

[K9SAT]

You guys are right.. I thought it was KM. but the point is still there as Asia sat was at a 217 mile orbit when they rescued it. Our bird is only 5000 miles short. The diffrence is about 17,200 miles less that our bird needs to travle.

Wich is alot of fuel saved. While I understand that it all depends on insurace and ect. I think the insurance could make them try this and compinsate for the years lost for the fuel burned. Also, in this situation the fuel consumption wont be as much as its alot closer to the target! That would extend the life of the bird!

[K9SAT]

I agree with you. Why would AMC try to place the satellite into the correct orbit when they can just declared the mission a total loss and get the insurance. If they try to use the satellite's own engine to raise it to the higher orbit, it will reduce the lifetime of the satellite and probably lose the opportunity to claim the insurance.

BTW, I'm just finding out about this. Man, big blow to Dish Network. Hope they have a plan B.

Why waste a perfectly good bird in space that took time and money to get there in the first place. There is physically nothing wrong with the bird other than its not in its intended spot. The insurance company could deney the claim as it made it into space full functionaly even though its not in the proper orbit. Hell if it was health insurance and somebody's body they wouldnt hesitate to deney the clame in a second.

[digiblur]

Depends on the clauses in the insurance. It might be stated where AMC could burn 5 years of fuel and still get 10 years out of the bird, but then the insurance wouldn't pay a penny for that type of loss. If they lost the entire thing then it would get paid, AMC would just mash the de-orbit button.

[digiblur]

It doesn't matter if it is the right thing to do to keep the bird, they will make the decision based on the money.