Source: Wired
America’s Space Weakness -- David Axe, The Diplomat
On August 15, 2010, the U.S. Air Force almost lost a $2-billion communications satellite. A team of military and contract space operators eventually saved the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite, built by Lockheed Martin. But the rescue, admittedly an impressive technological feat, is also a window into the greatest weaknesses of the world’s leading space power, according to one space insider.
The seven-ton “AEHF-1,” part of a planned six-satellite constellation meant to support radio communication between far-flung U.S. military units, had been in orbit just one day when the problems began. The satellite started out in a highly-elliptical, temporary orbit. The plan was to use the spacecraft’s on-board engine to boost it to a permanent, geo-stationary orbit. But when the Air Force space operators at Los Angeles Air Force Base activated the engine, nothing happened. The Government Accountability Office would later blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line by a Lockheed worker.
Read more ....
The seven-ton “AEHF-1,” part of a planned six-satellite constellation meant to support radio communication between far-flung U.S. military units, had been in orbit just one day when the problems began. The satellite started out in a highly-elliptical, temporary orbit. The plan was to use the spacecraft’s on-board engine to boost it to a permanent, geo-stationary orbit. But when the Air Force space operators at Los Angeles Air Force Base activated the engine, nothing happened. The Government Accountability Office would later blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line by a Lockheed worker.
Read more ....
More News On How The Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Was Saved
The seven-ton “AEHF-1,” part of a planned six-satellite constellation meant to support radio communication between far-flung U.S. military units, had been in orbit just one day when the problems began. The satellite started out in a highly-elliptical, temporary orbit. The plan was to use the spacecraft’s on-board engine to boost it to a permanent, geo-stationary orbit. But when the Air Force space operators at Los Angeles Air Force Base activated the engine, nothing happened. The Government Accountability Office would later blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line by a Lockheed worker.
Read more ....
Risky rescue for crippled Air Force satellite -- Wired
The fight to save AEHF 1 produces remarkable rescue -- Space Flight Now
Fight to Save US Military Satellite Ends in Remarkable Rescue -- Space.com
The piece of cloth that nearly sank an Air Force satellite -- The Vergehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Space soldiers save satellite from FLAMING DEATH -- The Register
WNU Editor: An excellent post on how the Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite was saved is here.
Read more ....
More News On How The Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite Was Saved
Risky rescue for crippled Air Force satellite -- Wired
The fight to save AEHF 1 produces remarkable rescue -- Space Flight Now
Fight to Save US Military Satellite Ends in Remarkable Rescue -- Space.com
The piece of cloth that nearly sank an Air Force satellite -- The Vergehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Space soldiers save satellite from FLAMING DEATH -- The Register
WNU Editor: An excellent post on how the Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite was saved is here.