Astra 1KR arriving at 19E

[Analoguesat]

This is an interesting video of Astra 1KR arriving at 19E in June 2006. Thanks to a cosmic coincidence the derelict Astra 1B is seen drifting through the shot too 1B wasnt officially retired until July 2006, but its obvious she was well out of position before this.

[madrat]

I cant get anything just a blank screen

[madrat]

working now.

I didn't realise they moved about so much

[Analoguesat]

Oh yes - all geostationary broadcast sats wander around in a box about 70 miles across.

[madrat]

whhhoooww

[madrat]

have any Sat's ever come out of junk orbit to be used again?

[nanochickin]

Can't see it to be honest. They only usually only put them in Junk orbit when they are really low on station keeping fuel,

The nearest thing to it i suppose would be this

Intelsat 603 rescue



Nano

[Analoguesat]

Originally Posted by madrat

have any Sat's ever come out of junk orbit to be used again?

Not yet, although if you google "space tug" you will find details of plans to attach rocket tugboats to sats low on fuel to extend their lives.

[madrat]

seams a good idea, why waist a good bird.

[Analoguesat]

9 times out of 10 a broadcast satellite is retired because shes out of station keeping fuel - in most cases the electronics payload is still fully operational. "Refuelling" would allow it the operators to stetch the operational lifespan of the sats a few years longer.

Proof of concept plans were suggested which included rescuing a graveyard orbit bird and putting her back on station - there are a lot of suitable sats up there that could be rescued.