Hard luck for satellite industry last week

As much as we love to live in our own little bubbles, consuming gobs of bandwidth and never giving back, there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes -- as evidenced by that recent internet hacking attempt that was rebuffed so brilliantly. That's why it pains us to hear of recent satellite failures that are not only damaging to the companies involved to the tune of millions of dollars, but could also even impact us in the long run. Totally unacceptable. Sea Launch got the travesties started with a dramatic explosion at its ocean launch platform and the complete disintegration of the Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket that was carrying a Boeing-built communications satellite designed to bring broadband to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Asia. Not only does this put the kibosh on those plans, but could also impact DirecTV satellite launches later this year. The other bad news comes from GlobalStar, whose recent SEC filing reveals problems with S-band antennas across its satellite fleet, possibly due to irradiation in orbit. The upshot of this is that even with eight spare satellites being launched in 2007, GlobalStar's 2-way phone coverage is in serious jeopardy, with call quality and times already on the outs, and no-coverage patches soon to emerge. There's no fix in sight yet, so GlobalStar might have to accelerate plans to launch its next-gen wave of satellites, which could seriously impact the bottom line. So peep the Sea Launch explosion video after the break, mourn the hardship it implies for the satellite industry, and then go back to your own little "crossing the street while listening to your iPod" world.

[Via Techdirt]

Read - Sea Launch explosion
Read - GlobalStar service problems

[Evan @ Feb 7th 2007 1:25PM]

Engadget: "The upshot of this is ... GlobalStar's 2-way phone coverage is in serious jeopardy"

I guess you really dislike GlobalStar.

[Brian @ Feb 8th 2007 12:15AM]

Ummm...

Its got nothing to do with disliking GlobalStar. Its got to do with crappy service on a really expensive system of last resort.

We started noticing significant degradation on our phones last summer. GlobalStar's answer? "Yeah, we've got a few problems that will be fixed by our launches in 2007. But until then, have a few more free minutes."

What good are additional free minutes were when you cant't connect or your calls are dropped?

[fashionista @ Feb 7th 2007 1:47PM]

Was the satellite named "Icarus" perchance?

[Kev50027 @ Feb 7th 2007 1:51PM]

"that was rebuffed so brilliantly."

I don't think you're using that word in quite the right way there, Paul.

[Dan @ Feb 7th 2007 2:12PM]

I didn't SEE any launch ... get it? Failure to See Launch!

[TVGenius @ Feb 7th 2007 2:16PM]

Like I keep saying, at least it wasn't Sea Launch's last payload, XM-4, Blues.

[Ayle @ Feb 7th 2007 2:20PM]

Hum we've already got broadband in Africa soooooo..... what was this really for? And who in is right mind build launching pad on the see?????

[Jason @ Feb 7th 2007 3:22PM]

It's really cheap to launch satellites from the equator, out in the ocean where if there's a launch failure nothing gets destroyed.

[Josh @ Feb 7th 2007 8:42PM]

And, indeed, in Europe and, no doubt, Asia. The US isn't the only developed nation in the world, you know, Engadget. Yes you probably meant satellite broadband, but if you don't say it we can't hear it.

[kaztm @ Feb 7th 2007 2:42PM]

Latest work by SmashMySatellite.com?

[BatteryAcid @ Feb 7th 2007 11:46PM]

No this is actually a whole other dsivivion that blows things up. Its by BlowupMySatellite.com. :)JJ

[Ayle @ Feb 7th 2007 3:26PM]

Beside a XX billions payload,launcher and launching pad?

[roundy @ Feb 7th 2007 6:18PM]

Actually, the pad wasn't totally destroyed. It's currently making it's way home for repairs under it's own power. These things happen all the time. That's what insurance is for. Nobody launches a satellite these days without insurance.

[Liam Dunaway @ Feb 7th 2007 10:01PM]

Ah, the good ol' days when we could launch a satellite without insurance. miss 'em!

[futurepastnow @ Feb 7th 2007 11:19PM]

What's impressive is that damage to the launch platform ship was superficial, singed paint and destroyed blast deflectors. It's sailing home under its own power.

[Phred @ Feb 8th 2007 1:00AM]

rebuff: (v) repel, repulse, fight off, rebuff, drive back (force or drive back) "repel the attacker"; "fight off the onslaught"; "rebuff the attack"

Sounds right to me.

(from http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=rebuff)