Re:Galaxy 4
Michael Comiskey (grc@spica.usno.navy.mil)
Wed, 20 May 98 16:05:09 -0500
According to the reports I've seen, the failure stems from the demise of a
microprocessor chip in the attitude control system. There was a slightly
elevated solar K-index yesterday, but for the most part the geomagnetic field
was quiet. While a meteoroid could conceivably cause such a failure, there does
not appear to be a sudden change in the satellite's attitude as would be
expected from an impact. Looks like it just fried its li'l ol' brain...
Geoff
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Subject: Galaxy 4
Author: <SeeSat-L@cds.plasma.mpe-garching.mpg.de>
Date: 20-May-98 8:56 PM
Hi all
The TV people are not the only ones who are having problems.
See:
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9805/20/satellite.outage.ap/index.html
http://satellite.miningco.com/library/daily/blgalaxy4.htm
for stories about pager user having a hard time as well.
Does anyone know what would cause such a failure?
Would a meteoroid strike cause such a problem?
Michael Comiskey, at Home in Belfast
mjc@number8.dnet.co.uk (preferred)
mjc@number8.demon.co.uk (home)
michael.comiskey.um@nics.gov.uk (work)