https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/05/internet-from-a-small-satellite-in-geostationary-orbit-sure-why-not/QuoteInternet from a small satellite in geostationary orbit? Sure, why not"We now have a new way of connecting very remote places."by Eric Berger - May 24, 2023 1:06pm GMTA startup space company says it has successfully deployed and tested a kitchen-stove-sized satellite in geostationary orbit and begun delivering Internet service to Alaska.
Internet from a small satellite in geostationary orbit? Sure, why not"We now have a new way of connecting very remote places."by Eric Berger - May 24, 2023 1:06pm GMTA startup space company says it has successfully deployed and tested a kitchen-stove-sized satellite in geostationary orbit and begun delivering Internet service to Alaska.
VIASAT 3 [56370, 2023-060A] was launched from the cape by a @SpaceX Falcon Heavy for @ViasatInc on May 1st. Today, I was updating my Ku beacon library and came across the TT&C signal of what I believe is this object. However, something seems off.🧵⬇️
From the previous tweet's video you can see the telemetry signal for the object being tracked fade very deeply in a periodic manner. This is very unusual for a geostationary satellite that should have 3-axis stabilization to aim it's giant antenna and smaller TT&C antennas. ⬇️
An astute reader would wonder why I heard the TT&C beacon on Ku-band and not the operational Ka-Band the spacecraft intends (is) using. They have their TT&C on Ku according to FCC filings. See page 5-6. ⬇️ https://fcc.report/IBFS/SAT-MOD-20190617-00047/1737836.pdf
The plot below shows the odd signal level behaviour from suspected VIASAT 3 over this afternoon when compared to a 'normal' GEO satellite beacon from SES 2 beside it. Notice the suspect VIASAT 3 fades in and out while SES 2 is stable for the ~10 minute period of this plot.⬇️
Here's a plot of the suspected VIASAT 3 signal over four hours showing wild yet usually periodic variations in the central carrier's signal level. The period appears to slowly change over time. It could suggest commissioning activity or an issue with the spacecraft. 👀 🛰️🛑
There is another rideshare passenger on the flight.https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1542096503275196416QuoteIndonesia asks for 8-month deadline extension to launch 16U cubesat into geo orbit on @SpaceX Falcon Heavy with @ViasatInc Viasat-3 Americas sat. @ITU #SpaceInventor #GravitySpace. https://bit.ly/3ytmwJdQuoteIndonesia requests ITU deadline extension for Falcon Heavy launch of cubesat into geostationary orbitwritten by Peter B. De Selding June 29, 2022PARIS — The government of Indonesia, seeking to retain Ka- and Ku-band rights to a geostationary orbital slot through the temporary use of a 16U cubesat, is asking for an eight-month extension of the deadline to start operations following the satellite’s launch delay.The satellite, which Indonesia calls Nusantara-H1-A, will be used by Indonesia for only three months, the regulatory minimum to “bring into use” (BIU) a satellite network. After that, it will move to another location.
Indonesia asks for 8-month deadline extension to launch 16U cubesat into geo orbit on @SpaceX Falcon Heavy with @ViasatInc Viasat-3 Americas sat. @ITU #SpaceInventor #GravitySpace. https://bit.ly/3ytmwJd
Indonesia requests ITU deadline extension for Falcon Heavy launch of cubesat into geostationary orbitwritten by Peter B. De Selding June 29, 2022PARIS — The government of Indonesia, seeking to retain Ka- and Ku-band rights to a geostationary orbital slot through the temporary use of a 16U cubesat, is asking for an eight-month extension of the deadline to start operations following the satellite’s launch delay.The satellite, which Indonesia calls Nusantara-H1-A, will be used by Indonesia for only three months, the regulatory minimum to “bring into use” (BIU) a satellite network. After that, it will move to another location.
.@ViasatInc's Viasat-3 Americas satellite launched May 1 suffers major antenna-deployment anomaly. After more than a month of effort, it's still not fixed. Possible $420M insurance claim and a serious blow to Viasat's near-term growth plans.
Problems with boom & reflector deployment on a new comsat probably have happened in the past.Could anyone remember when the similar issue occurred before?
Viasat plunges toward worst day ever after new satellite malfunctionsPublished Wed, Jul 12 20236:38 PM EDTUpdated 4 Hours AgoMichael Sheetz@in/michaeljsheetz@thesheetztweetzKey Points Viasat disclosed its recently launched Viasat-3 Americas satellite communications satellite suffered a malfunction while deploying its reflector. “We’re disappointed by the recent developments,” Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg said in a statement, adding that the company is attempting to resolve the problem. Viasat did not disclose the identity of the reflector’s manufacturer, but its design appears to match products offered by Northrop Grumman....Shares of Viasat fell as much as 36% in early trading Thursday, putting it on track for its biggest one-day loss since going public in December 1996....
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/12/viasat-stock-drops-after-satellite-malfunction.htmlQuoteViasat plunges toward worst day ever after new satellite malfunctionsPublished Wed, Jul 12 20236:38 PM EDTUpdated 4 Hours AgoMichael Sheetz@in/michaeljsheetz@thesheetztweetzKey Points Viasat disclosed its recently launched Viasat-3 Americas satellite communications satellite suffered a malfunction while deploying its reflector. “We’re disappointed by the recent developments,” Viasat CEO Mark Dankberg said in a statement, adding that the company is attempting to resolve the problem. Viasat did not disclose the identity of the reflector’s manufacturer, but its design appears to match products offered by Northrop Grumman....Shares of Viasat fell as much as 36% in early trading Thursday, putting it on track for its biggest one-day loss since going public in December 1996....Maybe this satellite is on the edge of what is technically feasible, at least for its price?An Orion satellite will probably cost a completely different amount.
Orion I think has an umbrella rib style antenna though. This, and other similar failures are on those expanding double ring types with the stretched catenary mesh grid reflector.
Did ViaSat perform boom & reflector deployment testing on the ground before ViaSat 3 Americas was delivered to Cape Canaveral?I thought the testing results would have a small section that identifies the reason for the deployment issue if they detected the possibility ahead of time.
An MEV (or successor craft) could be very helpful? At least to visualize a stuck antenna.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 07/14/2023 12:08 amAn MEV (or successor craft) could be very helpful? At least to visualize a stuck antenna.It occurs to me that there are almost certainly assets already in orbit that could provide said visualization, although I don't expect Viasat will be able to get access to those images...
Quote from: Yellowstone10 on 07/14/2023 01:54 amQuote from: zubenelgenubi on 07/14/2023 12:08 amAn MEV (or successor craft) could be very helpful? At least to visualize a stuck antenna.It occurs to me that there are almost certainly assets already in orbit that could provide said visualization, although I don't expect Viasat will be able to get access to those images...Maybe loft up a Rocket Lab Photon bus with some cameras on an Electron for visual imaging. Before someone (the insurer?) try to salvage ViaSat 3.1 with something like the MEV.
Quote from: shiro on 07/13/2023 09:36 amProblems with boom & reflector deployment on a new comsat probably have happened in the past.Could anyone remember when the similar issue occurred before?Viasat 2
