Despite hopes to the contrary, it looks like SES AMERICOM is treating the
AMC-14 satellite mishap like the time you rear-ended that bus full of nuns in your Suzuki X90. Stranded at a less than advantageous orbit after an anomaly in its second burn of the fourth stage on
March 15, the company decided that
trying to reposition it at this point was too risky, and would result in a severely shortened lifespan. As a result, SES is cashing in on a $150 million insurance policy, and coming out of this smelling like a rose. DISH Network has
more satellites planned for later this year and claims the failure won't affect its plans, so HDTV owners shouldn't lose out badly either. The only real loser here is AMC-14 itself, destined to decades of floating around as space junk, or a quick and fiery end in Earth's atmosphere -- plans for its retirement are still being "explored".
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tushko @ Apr 11th 2008 7:11AM
The lawyers killed it: http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Boeing_Patent_Shuts_Down_AMC_14_Lunar_Flyby_Salvage_Attempt_999.html
TK @ Apr 11th 2008 7:22AM
Another test subject for the US Military.
Galley @ Apr 11th 2008 8:40AM
It's now target practice for the Star Wars defense system.
Big Wizz @ Apr 11th 2008 9:56AM
Ummm, I don't get the Caveman pic.
What happened to the cool satellite/Alien picture?
syphix @ Apr 11th 2008 10:38AM
Who knew that Boeing owned a "patent" on gravity??
I must owe them MILLIONS!!
(shhh.....)
roflercopterer @ Apr 11th 2008 1:30PM
Screw you writers for killing cavemen.
fuma @ Apr 11th 2008 1:38PM
"result in a several shortened lifespan"
wat?
severley?
Matt Dearman @ Apr 11th 2008 3:32PM
"severley?"
wat?
severely?
Steve Hartman @ Apr 20th 2008 5:37PM
$150 million? Why not ask NASA to retrieve it with the shuttle and offer them say...$75 million to put it where DISH wants it? I'd like to see the taxpayers of America get a little return on our investment.
Justin @ Apr 21st 2008 3:07PM
According to NASA it costs $450mil to launch a shuttle mission, so I'm not sure $75mil would get them to even contemplate it.