Sat-ND, 26.9.1997 – Crashing satellites and porn stars
Until further notice, Sat-ND will appear sporadically rather than daily.
Today's Headlines
Russia's Space Force successfully launched a Molniya-1T ("Lightning") communications satellite.
The satellite, which will provide telecommunications services, was put into orbit from the Russian Plesetsk cosmodrome by a four-stage Molniya-M booster rocket. According to Interfax, it was the 260th launch of that type of booster, which has brought a total of 280 satellites into orbit.
"These are the times of miracle and wonder."
(Paul Simon)
On September 24, Newspapers reported an outbreak of hysteria across Britain as red flaming objects rained down from the skies, accompanied by "whooshing" noises and explosions. The Scotsman reported that "In the Borders it was said to be a plane crash; in Edinburgh it was a meteorite shower; and in Newcastle they feared aliens had landed."
It still seems to be unclear what it really was. The most likely explanation, however, is that the spectacular display was caused by a Russian spy ("reconnaissance") satellite, Kosmos 2343. That's what the Ministry of Defense said. A spokesman admitted that "We don't really know it is a satellite until we have some bits and we don't have some bits at the moment." Interestingly, NASA was contacted early on but experts reportedly said they were not aware of any incidents involving space craft re-entry into the atmosphere.
Launched last May, Kosmos 2343 circled the Earth at an altitude of 200 to 300 kilometres. The Scotsman quoted Alan Pickup, an expert on satellite re-entry, as saying the spacecraft was blown up by the Russians last week to protect military secrets and was expected to land over Ireland and parts of Cornwall. This theory was supported by some ad-hoc Internet research – it seems Kosmos 2343 was deliberately blown up around September 18. The Weekly Satellite Situation Report from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, issued on September 25, lists the satellite as an "object no longer in orbit" – but it also says it decayed on September 18. [The problem is, of course, is the definition of "decay."] The sixty-day forecast of space objects expected to decay, issued the same date, includes NASA's Lewis satellite. The forecast gave September 25 as the date of the decay. Its re-entry is currently predicted for September 28, 18:00 UTC.
Another theory, however, is that the first meteorites of the Leonides shower (originally expected in November [Sat-ND, 20.5.97]) must have arrived early. Ironically, the Leonides swarm is also expected to put some satellites into trouble. There are more explanations, though: scientists in Edinburgh blamed a "sonic event" in the skies above the Moray Firth for the light show, while staff at the Royal Observatory in Edinburgh said the cause was likely to be a meteor soaring through the earth's atmosphere.
http://tele-satellite.com/tse/online/sat_cosmos_2343.html
India will launch its indigenous IRS-1D satellite on September 29 from its Sriharikota launch site.
According to Prof. Kasturirangan, chairman of the Indian space agency ISRO, IRS-1D will be India's first operational satellite to be injected into an 817-km polar sun-synchronous orbit by the launch vehicle PSLV-C1. By adopting certain new technologies, he was quoted as saying by The Hindu, the weight of the launch vehicle had been reduced so that it could carry a larger satellite weighing about 1,200 kg unlike its predecessor which could lift only 950 kg. The weight reduction was made possible by utilising new technologies and materials such as carbon fibre.
Designed to meet the increasing demands of the user community globally and to serve as in-orbit replacement for IRS-1C, IRS-1D will be primarily used for vegetation monitoring – that's at least the official version. Prof. Kasturirangan claimed that India was the only country to have such a "big constellation" of remote sensing satellites useful for a wide range of utilities for the country's socio-economic development.
IRS-1D incorporates enhanced capabilities in terms of spatial resolution, spectral bands, stereoscopic imaging, wide field coverage and revisit capability. It carries a tape recorder onboard to record data when the satellite is not visible to a particular ground station.
[I remember having a discussion with a reader about how satellites are kept cool ages ago. I didn't find much about that on the Internet, although this is a particularly interesting topic. So, here's how IRS-1D does it: a thermal control system keeps the temperature of the payloads between 17 and 23 centigrade with the help of heaters, paints, multi-layer insulation blankets, optical solar reflectors and temperature controllers. Wow!]
Prof. Kasturirangan also said the geostationary telecommunications satellite Insat-2E, due for launch next year, would have 11 transponders which would be leased out to the Intelsat consortium for the next 10 years. Other ISRO programmes include Cartosat for cartographic applications, which would be launched in 1999, while work was under way on the second launch pad at the Sriharikota Launch Centre. This launch pad would facilitate the integration of the space vehicle with the pay load outside the pad.
Here's just one more of those satellite systems that still won't do the dishes for you but at least provide, you guessed it, high-speed data communications services. This one claims to do it cheaper, though.
Orbital Sciences Corporation has applied to the U.S: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for a license to construct and operate a global satellite network providing broadband fixed-site communications services. In a press release, Orbital Sciences said the new network, called OrbLink, will offer high-speed data transmission services with much greater access and at a fraction of the cost of current terrestrial and satellite alternatives. Why? Because of advances in orbital architectures, satellite performance and wireless technology. Subject to FCC approval, the OrbLink network could begin service as early as 2002.
Orbital's OrbLink network is based on seven operational satellites in a medium-altitude (9,000 km) equatorial orbit, such that the system's capacity is available virtually world-wide. The system will support a wide range of high-speed data communications services, including electronic mail and commerce, video conferencing, computer networking, Internet access, imagery transmission, and other broadband data applications.
David W. Thompson, Orbital's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said the new system "will open the door to super-fast direct Internet access for smaller businesses, schools, libraries, hospitals and other users with low access charges and modest equipment costs."
OrbLink will use the 65.0-71.0 GHz band for inter-satellite communications, providing a "space cable" wireless ring in orbit around the Earth with intercontinental capacity of up to about 15 billion bits (gigabits) per second. By using frequencies in the 37.5-38.5 GHz and 47.7-48.7 GHz bands, OrbLink will offer direct two-way digital connections between terrestrial users within each continent at speeds between 1.5 million bits (megabits) per second and 1.25 gigabits per second, with total regional capacity in excess of 150,000 T-1 high-speed circuits.
The OrbLink satellites will be based on Orbital's STARBus lightweight geostationary spacecraft platform, which the company acquired as part of its recently completed purchase of CTA Incorporated's space system business. These satellites represent a new generation of smaller, more powerful spacecraft technology. The seven operational and one on-orbit spare satellites in the OrbLink network each will generate approximately 4 kilowatts of electrical power. Each satellite will have 100 spot beams for space-to-ground transmissions, along with two east-west inter-satellite links. The satellites will be designed for a lifetime of nine years and will weigh approximately 3,000 pounds in orbit. They can be launched two or three at a time on Delta 3, Atlas 2 or Ariane 4 vehicles, or four at a time on larger vehicles.
TRW Inc. announced the appointment of a review board to investigate the cause of an anomaly on NASA's TRW-built Lewis spacecraft.
The Lewis satellite was developed as part of NASA's Small Satellite Technology Initiative to demonstrate multiple advanced technologies with aggressive cost and schedule targets. TRW was awarded the US$64.8 million contract on June 8, 1994, and the satellite was ready for launch two years later. The 385-kg spacecraft was successfully launched into its initial orbit, but in preparation for its final orbit transfer manoeuvre, an in-flight anomaly led to loss of attitude control (i.e., the satellite started spinning) and a discharged battery. The satellite was lost and is expected to plunge back to Earth soon.
"I am immediately appointing a board of outside experts to critically investigate our Lewis mission development process, identify all factors contributing to the problem, and recommend corrective actions," announced Tim Hannemann, executive vice president and general manager of TRW's Space & Electronics Group.
"The loss of this satellite is the first on-orbit failure of a TRW spacecraft in more than 20 years. Such a mission failure is not acceptable and I will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that we continue to build satellites that meet the excellent quality standards that characterise TRW products," Hannemann concluded.
The Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off as planned today and is now heading for the Russian space station Mir. However, Russians and Americans will use technology supplied by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the docking manoeuvre.
During its approach and departure from Mir, new ESA technology that enables an automated rendezvous and docking will be tested. The equipment is being developed for Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), a craft that will deliver supplies to the International Space Station early in the next century.
The Shuttle will begin its approach to Mir – and the testing of the European equipment – on September 27. The experimental technology uses two different navigation systems to determine the relative position of the two craft. Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) receivers on both the Shuttle and Mir are used when the vehicles are greater distances apart (15 000 to 300 metres). At closer proximity (600 to 0 metres), optical sensors take over: sensors on the Shuttle direct laser beams at reflectors installed on Mir's docking port, providing information on the relative attitude of the two craft as well as on their range and closing rate.
This test onboard STS-86 is the last of three demonstration flights of the technology. The previous tests were on board STS-80 in November 1996 and STS-84 in May 1997, ESA said in a press release,
Industrias Penoles will be the controlling group in an alliance with the US company PanAmSat, which will place a bid in the auction of Mexico's Satmex satellite system, comprising three spacecraft.
The two companies are also negotiating with Multivision, Televisa, and TV Azteca, but none of these would take control. TV Azteca has not yet decided whether it will participate, though any change in the composition of the bidding alliance must be announced by October 10. "No determination has been made" on forming the bidding group, TV Azteca said in a statement. "TV Azteca does not believe that its possible participation in this privatization is strategic for its fundamental goals."
Two other groups will compete in the bidding: Megacable, through its subsidiary Control Sat, and in alliance with GE Americom as well Grupo Villacero; and Telefonica Autrey, with Loral Space & Communications and French company Alcatel as partners.
The Mexican government is selling of 60 percent of Satmex, with the winning bidder getting an option to take an additional 15 percent stake and the remainder traded on the Mexican stock exchange. The winner is scheduled to be announced by Nov. 7.
@Entertainment Inc. plans to launch Poland's first digital satellite television bouquet in April 1998, the company's president said.
"In April we will start broadcasting Wizja TV and it will be the first satellite digital television in Poland," Robert Fowler [whose name does not sound too Polish to me] told a news conference.
He said that the company planned to invest a total US$300 million in the launch of the new system and the expansion of its distribution channels in Poland.
Wizja TV will be available on the Astra satellite system and be carried by @Entertainment's fully-owned subsidiary Polska Telewizja Kablowa cable TV operator. (I have a two-page press release from SES, the operators of the Astra satellite system, but unfortunately it's in German, and at this time of day I just don't feel like translating it. Email me if you want any details, and I'll include them in a future issue.)
@Entertainment deputy president Przemyslaw Szmyt [ha ha, sounds just like a Polish transcription for Schmidt (German) {Smith in English}] said the company expected the new service to break even in three to three and a half years with first profits seen after five years.
Wizja TV would carry 21 all-Polish channels on three Astra transponder, with 14 carrying original programming.
Jessica Rizzo is probably Italy's best-known porn actress. (In some European languages, even her last name sounds rather obscene.) Almost exactly two years ago, she even launched her own satellite porn channel – frankly, I have no idea what has become of it, and I'd rather not want to know anyway.
But Jessica is alive – and kickin'! She's signed sponsorship deals with Rome's Lazio Rugby club [men, I suppose] and with the women's football [soccer] team of Montecatini in Tuscany.
Both Lazio and Montecatini will have Rizzo's name emblazoned across their shirts when their respective league seasons begin next month. Lazio Rome described the deal with Jessica Rizzo as lucrative. Rugby experts will know what the slogan "great scrums with a porn star" means; all others please consult your Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of Current English. The explanation they offer is really extremely funny and even includes a ball. Just one, though. [Is there any sport in the world that involves two balls? NO! Just DON'T answer that question!! Nobody wants to know! Disgusting!!]
News agencies report that the shirts will promote the decoder cards needed to access the channel. Just do me a favour and don't ask me on what satellite it is. I don't know as I don't watch any TV anymore at all.
http://www.sexonline.cybercore.com/xdivas/jrizzo.htm
Okay, while we're at it, you may also want to know that Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc. will launch a Playboy TV network in Scandinavia on October 1 through ViaSat, a direct-to-home (DTH) service owned and operated by Modern Times Group (MTG), owned by Sweden's Kinnevik Group.
Playboy TV/Scandinavia will air on ViaSat nightly from midnight to 4:00 a.m. in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. Playboy will provide MTG with 150 hours of new programming per year. Playboy will also provide MTG with an additional package of 20 originally produced feature films per year over the next three years for transmission on services other than PBTV/S.
The Playboy TV/Scandinavia service will be sold to consumers as part of a package called ViaSat Gold that will include Nickelodeon, VH-1, European Business News, Sci-Fi Channel, History Channel, Travel Channel, TV6, ZTV and Danish 3+ and two movie services – TV1000 and TV1000 Cinema.
However, hard-core pornography reportedly belongs to the repertoire of numerous Scandinavian TV channels. So it's not quite clear whether a channel such as Playboy TV that offers soft-porn, at least according to standards in most European countries, will succeed.
It seems as though Arianespace staff have been celebrating their 100th launch a bit too much. Their press release about the launch of Intelsat 803 was not in every part as exact as one would have expected – to put it mildly.
Andrea Fabbri of Intelsat protested that "Intelsat 803 was the 60th satellite launched by the organisation and not the 32th as you say in the article." Sorry – even though I didn't say that but just quoted Arianespace. (Come on! Do you expect me to cross-check that stuff? No way ;-)
Andy Smith, to my knowledge not affiliated to any of the organisations involved, noted that I wrote "803 will be positioned at 21.5°W(sic). This is partially true: It will stop off at 27.5°W on the way to relieve 601, which will relieve 603, which will relieve 605 etc. etc. Intelsat said 803 should be operational on Oct. 5th. At some time in the future it will transfer to 21.3°W. (What's 0.2° between friends?)"
It seems Arianespace should ask their customers for details before issuing press releases ;-) Andy complained about another oddity: "The next Arianespace launch, Flight 102, is scheduled for November 4."
"Eh? 100 + 1 = 102? Surely you can't let this one pass without explanation!"
Now, this is correct for a change as there will be no Flight 101. Flight 101 is actually Flight 502, the second launch of Ariane 5 slated for October 15. This may be an Ariane launch but not an Arianespace launch. Instead, the French space agency CNES is in charge of the Ariane 5 test flights. Or something like that.
Anyway, Ariane flights have not always taken place in numerical order. For instance, Flight 96 took place before Flight 97 for very, very complicated reasons. The bottom line is that Ariane flights are not necessarily numbered in the order in which they take place.
Copyright
09.97 by Peter C. Klanowski, pck@LyNet.De.
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