A Russian communications satellite in geostationary orbit has apparently taken an “exceptionally rare” meteor impact. The spacecraft’s thermal control system malfunctioned as a result and prompted an attempt by ground controllers to deorbit the spacecraft. Were the satellite to completely fail on station causing the deorbit attempt to be unsuccessful, the residual “space junk” would render a valuable segment of geostationary orbit unusable for re-use for an indeterminate period of time. Available “slots” in the geostationary band are few these days due to high demand.
Don’t think that this is exclusively the Russians’ problem, since many western commercial and military interests vie for slots which are internationally allocated – for military applications, slots are required in view of every location on Earth. For technical reasons (beamwidth and selectivity), geostationary satellites can not be placed at intervals closer than every few degrees. This fact limits the number of satellites that may occupy slots in a thin band of space defined as exactly a specific geostationary distance from the planet and exactly over the equator.
From New Scientist:
Impact suspected for loss of Russian satellite
A Russian communications satellite appears to have been struck by “a sudden external impact”. Its operators say the extent of the damage caused means the satellite will be sent into “space disposal orbit”.
The Russian Satellite Communications Company’s (RSCC) Express-AM11 satellite ran into its trouble at 0341 Moscow time (0041 GMT) on 29 March. Telemetry from the craft indicates that the fluid circuit that is part of the satellite’s thermal control system depressurised very rapidly. Such damage leaves the spacecraft unable to prevent fluctuations in temperature that can cause electronics to fail.
An RSCC statement says that the satellite’s manufacturer, NPO-PM in Krasnoyarsky Krai, Russia, believes the depressurisation was triggered by an external impact on the spacecraft.