But a source told AFP the satellites did not detach from the rocket in the correct place after the craft followed an "imperfect trajectory".Arianespace said they were currently "repositioning the satellites in the right place using their propulsion systems" adding that the current status was "reassuring after strong concerns".
Some (I've found at least 2 so far) news sites are reporting that AFP (French news) was told that the satellites are not in the correct orbits:https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ariane-5-satellites-orbit-not-location-031339516.htmlQuoteBut a source told AFP the satellites did not detach from the rocket in the correct place after the craft followed an "imperfect trajectory".Arianespace said they were currently "repositioning the satellites in the right place using their propulsion systems" adding that the current status was "reassuring after strong concerns".I can't find the original AFP source - but I also don't know French, so that isn't helping. But take it with a grain of salt til more reputable news sites pick it up.
I'm told SES 14, with its fully electric propulsion system, will be able to reach its orbital station at geostationary altitude 22,000 miles over the equator. Still unclear whether or not Ariane 5 delivered SES 14 and Al Yah 3 to the targeted transfer orbit.
It's still unclear whether it can be called a success or not.
Quote from: Kosmos2001 on 01/26/2018 06:37 amIt's still unclear whether it can be called a success or not.Yes true, the lack of contact with the satellites after they were predicted to separate and contact ground receivers is a little ominous. But things look a little better than they did when I went to bed last night, when it looked like the mission had been a total loss.
Guiana Space Centre, Kourou, 26 January 2018 – Following the anomaly that occurred during the launch on an Ariane 5 rocket last night, SES announces that it has successfully established a telemetry and telecommand connection to its SES-14 spacecraft and is setting up a new orbit raising plan now. SES-14 would thus reach the geostationary orbit only four weeks later than originally planned. SES confirms that the spacecraft is in good health, all subsystems on board are nominal, and the satellite is expected to meet the designed life time.SES-14 will be positioned at 47.5 degrees West to serve Latin America, the Caribbean, North America and the North Atlantic region with C- and Ku-band wide beam coverage and Ku-band high throughput spot beam coverage.
AL YAH 3 1 43174U 18012A 18039.17423199 -.00000082 00000-0 00000+0 0 99982 43174 21.5526 244.2118 6248756 209.5298 353.4445 1.42826076 247SES-14 1 43175U 18012B 18039.78902189 -.00000096 00000-0 00000+0 0 99922 43175 19.1399 228.0802 7421353 239.0858 293.1427 1.70452830 251
The Al Yah 3 and SES-14 satellites continue slow orbit raising, but without significant inclination change so far; current orbits 6111 x 47721 km x 21.5 deg and 1337 x 45374 km x 19.1 deg.
The Al Yah 3 satellite put in the wrong orbit by the last Ariane launch is now approaching GEO; current orbit 22.5hr period, 20828 x 47262 km x 6.2 deg.
CEO @Eutelsat says expects @yahsatofficial Al Yah 3 sat, put in bad orbit by @ArianeGroup Ariane 5 Jan 25, will be in service by midsummer.
