ASMC-14 Still moving toward geo orbit

[johnch]

The AMC-14 is still moving towards a circular ie geostational orbit.

Here are the latest numbers:

Perigee Height: 17,568 kmApogee Height: 35,639 km

Wonder whats going on?

JC

 

[Viper0580]

Is it going to the orbit that it is suppose to go to, so Dish can use it for programming? Or is it being used for some thing else?

 

[mike123abc]

It is possible they decided to move it to geo orbit to test the new antenna array. Probably figured they could test it for a while before they have to move it to a junk orbit with it being out of fuel.

 

[photoman76]

I have no way of knowing if this information is true or not, but this website seems to indicate that the insurance underwriters sold the satellite to the Pentagon.

Company to Pentagon: Don't Shoot Down Our Sat | Danger Room from Wired.com

 

[SaladShooter]

Here's a link to the original Space News article with additional information on Echostar's share of the insurance settlement and the Pentagon sale:

Insurers Sell AMC-14 Satellite to Pentagon

 

[Tom Bombadil]

I love that "no shoot down" clause.

Was the AMC-14 purchased for target practice? If so, then that's a good deal for the Pentagon, as you can't put up a space target for just $15M.

 

[Smith P.]

They could use for weapon's laser beam practice with reduced energy level . There are a lot of components what required to test: location of target, recognition of the target, fine position of laser beam, etc.

 

[jayn_j]

They could use for weapon's laser beam practice with reduced energy level . There are a lot of components what required to test: location of target, recognition of the target, fine position of laser beam, etc.

or using the reconfigurable phased array antenna as a high tech grappling hook

 

[Smith P.]

See ! Anyone could find which test to perform without blowing up the sat.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

I think they should shoot it down. Because at some point in the future, it could merge with an alien lifeform and come back to destroy the Earth.

 

[Smith P.]

Omg !

 

[digiblur]

I think they should shoot it down. Because at some point in the future, it could merge with an alien lifeform and come back to destroy the Earth.

Nahhh.... they'll just fire up the super transponder array and fine tune the spotbeam towards your town and flip the frequency to 2.4ghz and microwave your town radiating your brain to jello!

 

[Fitzie]

I think the mil and NASA together should just shoot up a space tanker and refuel the darn thing. This idea of having fuel run out on the satellites and no space tanker to refuel them is irresponsible. That would probably be cost feasible if they could refuel 4 or 5 satellites at a time. (I am not an engineer, math junkie, or space hog, but I read Heinlein... )-:...)

Fitzie

 

[digiblur]

The only thing is the electronics on the birds are designed around the lifetime of the fuel. Plus theirs no refuel ports they can get to.

 

[Fitzie]

I see. "Another design flaw, HAL?"

 

[Tyralak]

The only thing is the electronics on the birds are designed around the lifetime of the fuel. Plus theirs no refuel ports they can get to.

Not to mention, any refueling tankers would have to be automated. Geosynchronous orbit isn't a healthy place for humans. Plus its much, much further than the Space Shuttle or Soyuz rockets go.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

The Pentagon was happy to take AMC-14, and all they had to pay for it was the same price as buying a half-dozen hammers from a defense contractor.

 

[Smith P.]

Tom, you're on right track :up ! I like your dedication.

 

[johnch]

Its still moving

Well the satellite is still moving to wards geo. I can't understand why the defense department would want to shoot down a satellite that appears to be stationary. Well anyway I suspect that Dish is somehow involved but then there are always conspiracy theories around right?

JC

 

[Smith P.]

Nobody said Pentagon bought it for shooting.
As we speculated, it could be using as practicing target- take in account how important take care of all GSO satellites when Red Alert will raise.