http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/index.php?smp=&lang=engGalaxy 15, one of 15 satellites that until recently transmitted the SyFy channel signal, has been replaced in space by its colleague Galaxy 12 after being zapped by a solar flare, going AWOL from its assigned duty location, and ignoring communications from its owner Intelsat. But the interesting part of the story is that Galaxy 15 continues to orbit Earth even without instructions. A satellite with a mind of its own? According to Buzz Log, scientists note that the fully functioning Galaxy 15 is capable of theft, in particular theft of another satellite's signal. Were that to happen, television viewers tuned to a channel whose signal was pilfered by Galaxy 15 could face dark screens. Though the solar flare zapped Galaxy 15 on April 5, Intelsat still has not reigned in the rogue satellite. On Sunday, Intelsat attempted unsuccessfully to shut down Galaxy 15's transponders. Seems Galaxy 15 isn't willing to go quietly. According to Slashdot, the errant satellite carries a Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS ) repeater that contributes to the accuracy of GPS device functioning. Galaxy 12 carries the same C-band payloads as Galaxy 15, but not the L-band payload used by the Federal Aviation Administration to guide landing airplanes. Despite its status as a rogue satellite, there are no indications that the Galaxy 15 satellite poses any threat of falling to earth. Numerous other satellites have fallen to earth in the past. Because the earth's surface is ¾ water, the odds are against a falling satellite coming down in a population center. The most notorious falling satellite scare occurred in the summer of 1979 when Skylab, an abandoned NASA space station, plummeted toward earth. The 78-ton station broke into pieces and quietly settled into the Indian Ocean for the most part, with some debris scattered across western Australia.
--------------------------
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
