Does anyone know a good satellite forum where I can read more about the solar array issues effecting A2100 platform satellites?
SES announced problems that effect at least AMC-16 (used by DISH/SATS).
Here's an article from Aviation Week:
2 SES-operated Sats Hindered | AVIATION WEEK
PARIS - SES says a solar array problem has affected its AMC-4 and AMC-16 satellites and could affect more.
In reporting first-half results on Aug. 4, the Luxembourg-based operator said it has experienced varying degrees of power loss in some of the nine Lockheed Martin A2100 communications satellites it operates.
To date, the anomaly has caused only a "minor reduction in available commercial capacity" on the two satellites, the company said.
SES said it had transferred C-band customers on AMC-4 to AMC-2, an older spacecraft that was recently relocated to AMC-4's 101 deg. W. Long. orbital position. Chairman/CEO Romain Bausch indicated the shift was motivated partly by the solar array problem. SES was forced to accept a reduced monthly revenue payment for AMC-16, which is leased out to EchoStar.
Lockheed Martin officials declined to say which other A2100 satellites may have been affected by the solar array glitch, but insisted that all 35 satellites in orbit "remain functional and continue to provide service capabilities to top customers."
The manufacturer said a comprehensive assessment of the anomaly with customers has identified several root causes, and corrective measures have been introduced on more recent A2100 models to prevent its occurrence. These include implementing improved electrostatic discharge controls and protection against anomaly propagation. Spacecraft built to the modified design have accumulated 20 wing years to date without incident, the manufacturer said.
SES noted that some of the A2100s in its fleet were newer model spacecraft unaffected by the power loss problem. Nevertheless, it cautioned that the assessment showed "there is some potential for future additional degradation" and Bausch said there is "no predictability" in the anomaly, making the likelihood of additional failures "difficult to estimate."
SES announced problems that effect at least AMC-16 (used by DISH/SATS).
Here's an article from Aviation Week:
2 SES-operated Sats Hindered | AVIATION WEEK
PARIS - SES says a solar array problem has affected its AMC-4 and AMC-16 satellites and could affect more.
In reporting first-half results on Aug. 4, the Luxembourg-based operator said it has experienced varying degrees of power loss in some of the nine Lockheed Martin A2100 communications satellites it operates.
To date, the anomaly has caused only a "minor reduction in available commercial capacity" on the two satellites, the company said.
SES said it had transferred C-band customers on AMC-4 to AMC-2, an older spacecraft that was recently relocated to AMC-4's 101 deg. W. Long. orbital position. Chairman/CEO Romain Bausch indicated the shift was motivated partly by the solar array problem. SES was forced to accept a reduced monthly revenue payment for AMC-16, which is leased out to EchoStar.
Lockheed Martin officials declined to say which other A2100 satellites may have been affected by the solar array glitch, but insisted that all 35 satellites in orbit "remain functional and continue to provide service capabilities to top customers."
The manufacturer said a comprehensive assessment of the anomaly with customers has identified several root causes, and corrective measures have been introduced on more recent A2100 models to prevent its occurrence. These include implementing improved electrostatic discharge controls and protection against anomaly propagation. Spacecraft built to the modified design have accumulated 20 wing years to date without incident, the manufacturer said.
SES noted that some of the A2100s in its fleet were newer model spacecraft unaffected by the power loss problem. Nevertheless, it cautioned that the assessment showed "there is some potential for future additional degradation" and Bausch said there is "no predictability" in the anomaly, making the likelihood of additional failures "difficult to estimate."
