Express-AM11 spacecraft failure
29.03.2006
March 29, 2006 at 3:41 a.m. (Moscow time), the Express-AM11 satellite located at 96.5 East orbital slot had an accident. According to the preliminary finding of the NPO PM spacecraft manufacturer the telemetry information showed that due to a sudden external impact an instantaneous depressurization of the thermal control system fluid circuit had happened, followed by a sudden outburst of the heat-carrying agent. This resulted in a significant disturbing moment generation followed by the spacecraft orientation loss and rotation.
29 March at 6:55 a.m. (Moscow time), RSCC downloaded its backup capacities on the east orbital arc and as a result the all-Russian and commercial TV & Radio broadcasting was restored. All communications channels of a state importance have been transferred to the Express-A2 (103 East), Express-AM2 (80 East), and Express-AM3 (140 East) satellites. Practically all commercial communications channels are restored since the RSCC’ satellite constellation was made up considering necessity of a backup for contingency cases.
At present, providing services via the Express-AM11 satellite is impossible.
RSCC request the Express-AM11 customers to appreciate with understanding this difficult situation associated with interrupting the communications channels operation.
Express-AM11 satellite is being put into space disposal orbit
30.03.2006
March 29, 2006 at 3:41 a.m. (Moscow time), the Express-AM11 satellite had an accident. According to the preliminary finding of the NPO-PM spacecraft manufacturer the telemetry information showed, that failure had been caused by a sudden external impact on the spacecraft (space garbage) resulting in an instantaneous depressurization of the thermal control system fluid circuit followed by a sudden outburst of the heat-carrying agent. Due to the external impact and outburst of the heat-carrying agent from the thermal control system a significant disturbing moment was generated followed by the spacecraft orientation loss and rotation.
Thanks to the measures taken the satellite was pointed but in the current situation the temperature regime of the satellite, as per the telemetry data, started approaching the crucial values that can result in the total loss of the satellite, according to the accident investigation commission findings.
Considering the threat of the total controllability loss and in order to prevent fatal consequences associated with space garbage formation due to the Express-AM11 satellite (96.5 East) destruction, which will result in impossibility of using this orbital slot in future, a set of organizational and technical measures aimed at removing the Express-AM11 from 96.5 East into space disposal orbit have been taken in accordance with standard algorithms.
30.03.2006 Express-AM11 satellite is being put into space disposal orbit
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29.03.2006 Express-AM11 spacecraft failure | * Source from - http://www.rscc.ru
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