OT: Satellite malfunction

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  • Evan
    Senior Member
    • May 2003
    • 41977

    OT: Satellite malfunction

    The Anik F2 satellite that provides my internet access decided to shut off and pout for 36 hours. For reasons unknown on 6:30 am Wednesday it turned off, went into safe mode and rotated to point at the sun instead of at the Earth. That ensures it gets enough solar power but of course it also stops all traffic except for the low gain antenna control link.

    Anik F2 was launched in 2004 and is owned by the Canadian company Telesat. When it went off line a huge number of people were affected including about 1/2 million internet subscribers on Wild Blue, Hughes and Galaxy Broadband. It shut down some ATMs, some news wires, Shaw Satellite TV, TV backhauls for programming content and news feeds, Airports in northern Canada, schools in remote areas, weather information, Bank data transfers and much more.

    Fortunately they were able to control it and restart the system. That take at least 24 hours to allow time for the satellite to return to normal pointing. That is usually done by using flywheels so it is a slow process.

    I now have my internet service back along with all the other users of the data services it provides.

    It brings up a very big question though. What the heck is plan B?

    The unfortunate thing about this "anomaly" is they say they have no idea what caused it. That is not a good thing. I am a firm believer in the idea that machines do not fix themselves unless explicitly designed to do so.

    If that satellite croaks for good it will be a very big problem for a large number of people and businesses as well as governments. It is one of the largest and most powerful communications satellites in the sky with the possible exception of some military hardware.

    If Anik F2 goes down for good the cost will be in the multi-billions and it will takes years to replace the capacity.

    This isn't your ordinary comm satellite. It has a total raw bandwidth of 7.3 gigahertz not including compression techniques. Including the solar panels it is about 150 ft wide and weighs about 6.5 tons.

    Free software for calculating bolt circles and similar: Click Here
  • EddyCurr
    Senior Member
    • May 2009
    • 3471

    #2
    Oops - already mentioned by Evan in his second sentence.

    .

    Comment

    • PixMan
      Senior Member
      • Sep 2009
      • 2077

      #3
      How did a satellite that big get there in the first place? Was that a Delta 2 lift or a Shuttle mission?

      I would think that the incident should be enough to get Plan B into the planning stages.

      Comment

      • John Stevenson
        Senior Member
        • Mar 2001
        • 16177

        #4
        Originally posted by Evan

        Fortunately they were able to control it and restart the system. That take at least 24 hours to allow time for the satellite to return to normal pointing. That is usually done by using flywheels so it is a slow process.

        It brings up a very big question though. What the heck is plan B?
        One of those rope starts like on a lawnmower ?
        .

        Sir John , Earl of Bligeport & Sudspumpwater. MBE [ Motor Bike Engineer ] Nottingham England.



        Comment

        • Evan
          Senior Member
          • May 2003
          • 41977

          #5
          It was launched on an Aérienne 5. One thought occurs to me; If "they" can develop telescopes powerful enough the sure way to find inhabited (or formerly inhabited) planets is to look for a ring of garbage at approximately the geosynchronous orbit. These orbits are forever, they will never decay.
          Free software for calculating bolt circles and similar: Click Here

          Comment

          • MotorradMike
            Senior Member
            • Nov 2009
            • 1087

            #6
            CBC news reported the problem as a software bug in a recently applied upgrade.
            Mike

            My Dad always said, "If you want people to do things for you on the farm, you have to buy a machine they can sit on that does most of the work."

            Comment

            • Evan
              Senior Member
              • May 2003
              • 41977

              #7
              If so then they were very lucky. The Russians managed to permanently turn off one of their comm satellites the same way a while back.

              Sounds like there is more than one bug. The spacecraft simulator should have caught it.
              Free software for calculating bolt circles and similar: Click Here

              Comment

              • JoeLee
                Senior Member
                • Aug 2009
                • 10873

                #8
                Either the Russians hacked it or it's going to be loaned to China.

                JL.............

                Comment

                • Evan
                  Senior Member
                  • May 2003
                  • 41977

                  #9
                  One would assume that the password isn't "password".
                  Free software for calculating bolt circles and similar: Click Here

                  Comment

                  • JoeLee
                    Senior Member
                    • Aug 2009
                    • 10873

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Evan
                    One would assume that the password isn't "password".
                    No, that would be too easy........ it's probably something like "welcome guest"

                    JL...............

                    Comment

                    • jkilroy
                      Senior Member
                      • Oct 2001
                      • 1494

                      #11
                      root
                      root

                      James Kilroy

                      Comment

                      • Arcane
                        Senior Member
                        • Oct 2002
                        • 4027

                        #12
                        Originally posted by John Stevenson
                        One of those rope starts like on a lawnmower ?
                        That's the way a man hating nurse removed my garden hose sized catheter...
                        Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

                        Comment

                        • precisionmetal
                          Senior Member
                          • Dec 2009
                          • 187

                          #13
                          Originally posted by MotorradMike
                          CBC news reported the problem as a software bug in a recently applied upgrade.
                          Maybe it's running on Windows ME.

                          This might provide some comfort Evan: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/08/v...ng-high-speed/

                          Comment

                          • lynnl
                            Senior Member
                            • Jan 2002
                            • 7181

                            #14
                            This raises the question: How many countries now have satellite launching capability? How much of it is done commercially?

                            I've never heard of Canadian launches, so assume this one (Canadian owned) was done under contract. ...or am I wrong?
                            Lynn (Huntsville, AL)

                            Comment

                            • Evan
                              Senior Member
                              • May 2003
                              • 41977

                              #15
                              Canada doesn't have a rocket program all though we have an advanced aerospace capability. Some major players are located here. The first domestic geostationary communications satellite, Anik A, was developed in Canada by Telesat. About 20% of it was built in Canada. It was launched by the US on a Thor Delta in 1972. Out of necessity Canada has always been a leader in communications. The telephone was invented by a Canadian and so was long range radio.
                              Free software for calculating bolt circles and similar: Click Here

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