The satellite is currently engaged in electrically propelled orbit-raising maneuvers en route to the 28º W.L. orbital location, with arrival anticipated on October 9, 2023.
A second Viasat communications satellite is malfunctioning in orbit, this time from the fleet of recently acquired U.K.-based Inmarsat, the company said on Thursday.The I6 F2 satellite, which Inmarsat launched in February, suffered a failure with its power system while climbing in orbit to where it planned to operate as a backup.Airbus manufactured the satellite and is, alongside Viasat, assessing whether the satellite can be recovered for use.A person familiar with the matter told CNBC that the odds of the satellite recovering are low....
Viasat’s Inmarsat-6 F2 satellite suffers power failure on way to orbital position; total loss fearedwritten by Peter B. de Selding August 24, 2023TUPPER LAKE, NY — Viasat's Inmarsat-6 F2 satellite, launched in February, has suffered a power-system failure that may end its useful life and result in a $350 million insurance claim, industry officials said.The event, which would be the first major satellite failure in London-based Inmarsat’s 40-plus-year history, would also be a rare stain on the reputation of the satellite’s prime contractor, Airbus Defence and Space, which has used its reliability record as a point of sale.
...The Company confirms that it has insurance coverage of $348 million in place for the I6 F2 satellite and will finalize its claim before the end of the year....
Viasat Shareholder Letter: Q2 Fiscal Year 2024 Financial ResultsQuoteOur satellite manufacturer and antenna supplier have made significant progress in determining the root cause of the ViaSat-3 F1 deployment anomaly. The rest of the spacecraft and payload are performing nominally, or better. Detailed analyses of the antenna status indicate we can obtain sufficient bandwidth, speed and coverage, combined with our existing and planned fleet, and partner space resources, to support our growing global mobility business. Even at less than 10% of its original design capacity, the design of ViaSat-3 F1 allows its available capacity to be allocated flexibly across an expanded coverage area. The anomaly does significantly impact the U.S. residential fixed broadband business, which will remain a smaller portion of current revenue until new capacity can be allocated. Eventually ViaSat-3 F2 or ViaSat-3 F3 will replace ViaSat-3 F1 over the Americas given the opportunities in that market, and the combination of ViaSat-3 F1 with the space assets available in other markets. The ViaSat-3 F3 antennas use a different design from a different supplier. It has a launch contract for the fourth quarter of calendar 2024 (about 1 year away) and is not affected by the anomaly. We expect the ViaSat-3 F1 anomaly investigation will conclude next week and will include recommended corrective actions for ViaSat-3 F2. The details of the corrective actions will drive the launch schedule. We expect to file insurance claims for both ViaSat-3 F1 and Inmarsat-6 F2 before the end of calendar 2023.
Our satellite manufacturer and antenna supplier have made significant progress in determining the root cause of the ViaSat-3 F1 deployment anomaly. The rest of the spacecraft and payload are performing nominally, or better. Detailed analyses of the antenna status indicate we can obtain sufficient bandwidth, speed and coverage, combined with our existing and planned fleet, and partner space resources, to support our growing global mobility business. Even at less than 10% of its original design capacity, the design of ViaSat-3 F1 allows its available capacity to be allocated flexibly across an expanded coverage area. The anomaly does significantly impact the U.S. residential fixed broadband business, which will remain a smaller portion of current revenue until new capacity can be allocated. Eventually ViaSat-3 F2 or ViaSat-3 F3 will replace ViaSat-3 F1 over the Americas given the opportunities in that market, and the combination of ViaSat-3 F1 with the space assets available in other markets. The ViaSat-3 F3 antennas use a different design from a different supplier. It has a launch contract for the fourth quarter of calendar 2024 (about 1 year away) and is not affected by the anomaly. We expect the ViaSat-3 F1 anomaly investigation will conclude next week and will include recommended corrective actions for ViaSat-3 F2. The details of the corrective actions will drive the launch schedule. We expect to file insurance claims for both ViaSat-3 F1 and Inmarsat-6 F2 before the end of calendar 2023.
Submitted insurance claims for Inmarsat-6 F2 and ViaSat-3 F1 for $349 million and $421 million, respectively. The claims process is progressing as expected, with initial payments received subsequent to quarter end.
