Are More Satellite Outages Ahead?NORWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1998--The sudden failure of PanAmSat's Galaxy IV Galaxy IV was a model HS-601 satellite built by Hughes Space and Communications Company (HSC). The satellite, which carried a payload of both C band and Ku band transponders, was launched on June 24, 1993 and operated by PanAmSat Corporation. has made everyone aware of just how vulnerable satellites--and the delivery of a growing range of telecom services--are. Though the Galaxy IV's problem was attributed to an internal system error, industry observers say such occurrences may increase in frequency due to a little-known phenomenon: space weather, a topic covered extensively in the May '98 issue of Telecommunications(R) magazine. In the article, written and researched by Jared Bazzy, engineers from the industry share their expertise and candid can·did adj. 1. Free from prejudice; impartial. 2. Characterized by openness and sincerity of expression; unreservedly straightforward: In private, I gave them my candid opinion. opinions regarding the potentially disastrous effects of solar surges, atomic particles, and electromagnetic fields electromagnetic field Property of space caused by the motion of an electric charge. A stationary charge produces an electric field in the surrounding space. If the charge is moving, a magnetic field is also produced. A changing magnetic field also produces an electric field. . Donald Margolies, a NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. engineer, said, "There have been a number of satellites damaged or destroyed. If the (satellite operators) had known, it's possible they might have taken action and avoided it." Margolies manages the Advanced Composition Explorer Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) is an Explorer satellite mission to study matter in situ, comprising energetic particles from the solar wind, the interplanetary medium, and other sources. , an unmanned satellite that orbits the Earth to determine the composition of space weather and transmits data to Earth in an attempt to provide accurate and updated forecasts for satellite ground operations. Other sources for the article include Carl Jeffcoat, vice president of engineering at COMSAT Comsat: see Communications Satellite Corporation; communications satellite. (COMSAT General Corporation, Bethesda, MD) Formerly Communications Satellite Corporation, COMSAT was a private company that was created by the U.S. World Systems, and Bruce Burlton, director of satellite operations for Telsat Canada. For more information on satellite performance or to read the entire article, call for a copy or view it on our Web site, www.telecoms-mag.com. Telecommunications(R) magazine is available on the Web at www.telecoms-mag.com. Portions of this or other articles in Telecommunications(R) may be reproduced with prior written permission. Direct all inquiries to Janice Stillman, telephone (781) 769-9750. Telecommunications(R) is a leading monthly publication covering telecom technology, its market, and related business trends and developments. The magazine has an Americas edition based in Norwood, Mass., and an International edition based in London. Telecommunications(R) is published by Horizon House Publications Inc., a high-tech publishing company. Horizon House also publishes Microwave Journal(R) and Journal of Electronic Defense and includes a book publishing book publishing. The term publishing means, in the broadest sense, making something publicly known. Usually it refers to the issuing of printed materials, such as books, magazines, periodicals, and the like. subsidiary, Artech House.
CONTACT: Telecommunications Magazine
Janice Stillman, 781/769-9750
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