פורום הלווינים והטכנולוגיות הישראלי

EUTELSAT W1 SATELLITE 


Date: 11 August 2005

To all customers:

Eutelsat have advised the W1 satellite is stable. AP and APTN will migrate all services from W6 to W1.

We are currently transmitting the Global Video Wire and AP Data on W1 as normal.

Direct and the contribution channels are currently on W6 along with the Global Video Wire and AP Data.

At 1400 GMT Direct, Global Video Wire and AP Data will cease transmission on W6. No new transmissions on the W6 contribution channels are expected to start after this time.

Any new contribution transmissions can start on W1 from this point on.

EUTELSAT STATEMENT ON W1 SATELLITE

Paris, 11 August 2005

Eutelsat confirmed that a depointing of its W1 satellite located in geostationary orbit at 10 degrees East occurred during the day of 10 August from 14.47 Paris time.

During the nine hours following the identification of the anomaly acceptable service was progressively resumed for the vast majority of users, and optimum operational pointing of W1 was reestablished on 11 August at approximately 01.00 Paris time. Nevertheless, during this period, and as a precautionary measure, Eutelsat immediately proposed alternative satellite solutions to clients who were technically in a position to operate on another satellite of its fleet.

The preliminary analysis of the investigation indicates that the incident was related to a power subsystem anomaly. The consequence of this incident, impacting on the power distribution within the satellite, has resulted currently in two operational transponders being unavailable for service. A technical investigation on this anomaly is continuing in collaboration with the satellite's manufacturer, EADS Astrium.