LANG@UNB.CA (Richard Langley) (01/29/91)
According to a report in the 14 January 1991 issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology, the latest Navstar GPS satellite to be launched (II-10, PRN 23) has experienced a significant problem with its solar panels. The problem developed on 12 December when a fuse blew in the circuitry that controls the solar panels. There is redundant circuitry on the satellite and the panels can be controlled from the ground but this is not an acceptable solution in the long run. In other respects, the satellite is functioning well, and continues to set set "healthy." The malfunctioning satellite was the first of the Block IIA satellites to be launched but used virtually the same control circuits and solar panels as the earlier nine Block II spacecraft. This failure could delay the launch of further satellites until the problem is isolated. The USAF Space Systems Division believes the problem could be generic and may result in a delay in the next launch of up to six months while the spacecraft in the launch pipeline are fixed. The next launch was to have been in February. (Source: AW&ST, 14 January 1991) ============================================================================== Richard B. Langley BITnet: LANG@UNB.CA or SE@UNB.CA Geodetic Research Laboratory Phone: (506) 453-5142 Dept. of Surveying Engineering Telex: 014-46202 University of New Brunswick FAX: (506) 453-4943 Fredericton, N.B., Canada E3B 5A3 ==============================================================================