Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: MarkS on Apr 14, 2019, 09:42:47

Title: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: MarkS on Apr 14, 2019, 09:42:47
The Intelsat 29e communications satellite (in geostationary orbit) has been hit by something - maybe debris.

Timelapse video here (impact occurs at 26sec)

https://youtu.be/aqPrVn71IqY

In turn it creates its own cloud of debris :(

Mark
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: Carole on Apr 14, 2019, 19:20:07
Wow, I wonder how that got videoed?

Carole
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: MarkS on Apr 14, 2019, 19:37:59
Quote from: Carole
Wow, I wonder how that got videoed?

I wondered the same thing.  So I Googled ExoAnalytic and found they have a global network of small telescopes for monitoring satellites.  They sell their services to satellite operators, or anyone sending stuff into space.

Their Facebook page has the following quote:
"The Intelsat 29e problem comes amid a string of satellite issues in geostationary orbit."

Could it be linked to India's stupid experiment to use a satellite as target practice?
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2019/apr/02/a-terrible-thing-nasa-condemns-indias-destruction-of-satellite-and-resulting-space-junk

Mark

Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: Carole on Apr 14, 2019, 22:13:28
I think you may be right.  I did hear about that but didn't put two and two together.

Carole
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: ApophisAstros on Apr 15, 2019, 09:51:20
Unless theres something else going on up there...???
:alien2: :alien: :alien: :alien: :alien:
Roger
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: Carole on Apr 15, 2019, 12:44:16
QuoteUnless theres something else going on up there...???
:alien2: :alien: :alien: :alien: :alien:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: Hugh on Apr 15, 2019, 17:31:49
Worth looking at the link, as below, which was in the Youtube info.  Explains a little more to the background as the satellite had already started to drift and was being watched after giving trouble with loss of communications ~ may be an internal event was actually the cause.  I wonder if it was already tumbling which might explain why it dims prior to the obvious event at 26 secs?

https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/04/new-video-of-intelsat-29e-satellite-reveals-dramatic-anomaly/

Hugh
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: RobertM on Apr 17, 2019, 21:48:17
That's very impressive satellite tracking !
Title: Re: Intelsat 29e hit by something
Post by: MarkS on Apr 18, 2019, 11:22:54
Quote from: RobertM
That's very impressive satellite tracking !

It's a geostationary satellite ;)