. 24/7 Space News .
SPACEWAR
2 SOPS bids farewell to ageing satellite
by Halle Thornton, 50th Space Wing Public Affairs
Schriever AFB CO (AFNS) Jun 16, 2017


Col. DeAnna Burt, 50th Space Wing Commander, gives Senior Airman Brandon Myers, 2 SOPS satellite system operator, the final command to decommission satellite vehicle number 32 at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, Monday, June 12, 2017. First Lt. Col. Peter Norsky, 2 SOPS commander, observes the final command. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class William Tracy)

The 2nd Space Operations Squadron began the disposal of Satellite Vehicle Number 32, Inter Range Operation Number 6809, June 5, and was fully disposed June 12.

The process took several days, and each day focused on a different aspect of the disposal, such as putting the vehicle into a spin-stabilized configuration, firing thrusters to raise the orbit, depleting the vehicle of any remaining fuel and disconnecting the battery chargers and turning off the receivers.

According to 1st Lt. Cameron Smith, 2 SOPS bus system analyst, SVN 32 launched Nov. 22, 1992, and began transmitting its payload, or GPS signal, Dec. 11 of that same year, which means it nearly tripled its design life of 7 0.5 years.

SVN 32 orbited Earth for 24 years, six months and 23 days, according to Smith, but contributed to the mission for 15 years, 3 months and 9 days. SVN 32 was turned off March 17, 2008 due to failing clocks, the main payload component used to provide an accurate signal, and has been in the residual constellation since.

"Our residual constellation are our on-orbit spares if you will. If a vehicle in the primary control needs to be replaced, we can remove the bad satellite from the primary control and add in the residual," Smith said. "Based on bad clocks and a growing supply of new satellites, SVN 32 was moved from the primary ground control system and placed in a residual status. This was done in 2008, hence 15 years serving the mission, but 24 years on orbit."

Because SVN 27 was disposed in mid-April, the short time frame between the two satellites did not allow much expansion on the experimentation done on SVN 32.

"We used this vehicle for some experimentations, but due to the short time frame between the two (satellites 27 and 32), we were unable to venture too far from what we did last time, almost a wash and repeat type deal," Smith said.

"This was my first (disposal) as the Disposal Lead, so for the disposal itself, training our new personnel on the process while managing all the activities needed to successfully complete the maneuvers was the most interesting," Smith said.

Smith explained the vehicle could no longer produce and maintain its position, navigation and timing signal to meet standards.

"To better clarify, a block IIA GPS vehicle (like SVN 32) is launched with four clocks, one active and three redundant. SVN 32 had used three of the four clocks within the first four years of its life. We switched to the fourth clock in August of 1996 and limped through its decommission on March 17, 2008," Smith said.

Senior Airman Brandon Myers, 2 SOPS, satellite system operator, helped with sending commands to the satellite that the contractors and officers requested.

"The officers have to give the SSO's permission to send a command first, but we are the only ones who can physically send them," Myers said.

He added the process was extremely smooth, especially with the support of the Satellite Vehicle Operators and contractors.

"It has been very interesting, to quite literally taking a multi-million dollar piece of equipment in space and moving it into an entirely new orbit and after that, shutting it down," Myers said. "I am glad I was given the opportunity to participate in the disposal."

Airman 1st Class Rachael Alvarez, 2 SOPS SSO, explained she did not notice a significant difference between the normal operations of a satellite and the disposal process, but the process has been sad nonetheless.

"Watching the numbers get lower and seeing different colors flashing is a bitter-sweet death in our satellite family," Alvarez said. "It was mostly bitter considering I've been commanding this one since the beginning of my SSO career in 2015."

The active constellation continues to exceed standards for users around the world.

SPACEWAR
USAF Secretary Heather Wilson determined to stay ahead in Military Space
Mclean VA (SPX) Jun 15, 2017
The White House recently swore in former Congresswoman Dr. Heather Wilson as the 24th Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, the first Air Force Academy graduate to hold the service's top civilian post. Wilson assumes her new position at a time when many believe the U.S. Air Force faces a number of serious readiness and modernization challenges. "Innovation doesn't always come from something the ... read more

Related Links
USAF Space Command
Military Space News at SpaceWar.com


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SPACEWAR
To Be or Not to Be: At 20 ISS Goes Strong, But for How Long

Additional Astronaut on the Space Station Means Dozens of New Team Members on the Ground

Roscosmos Says Cooperation With NASA Unaffected by 'Political Outbursts'

Russia's New 'Federation' Spacecraft to be Launched from Baikonur in 2022

SPACEWAR
Launch Vehicle Rocket Engines

India's Kerosene-Based Semi-Cryogenic Engine to Be Flight Test Ready by 2021

Russia's Next Carrier-Based Rocket Launch Planned for 2018 - Khrunichev Center

Proton returns to flight with US satellite after 12 month hiatus

SPACEWAR
Opportunity Surveying the spillway into Perseverance Valley

Study estimates amount of water needed to carve Martian valleys

Curiosity Peels Back Layers on Ancient Martian Lake

Collateral damage from cosmic rays increases cancer risks for Mars astronauts

SPACEWAR
What China's space ambitions have to do with politics

China to open space station to scientists worldwide

China achieves key breakthrough in multiple launch vehicles

China's space station to help maintain co-orbital telescope

SPACEWAR
Trudeau under pressure to reject China bid for satellite firm

Jumpstart goes into alliance with major aerospace and defence group ADS

Thomas Pesquet returns to Earth

Propose a course idea for the CU space minor

SPACEWAR
Oyster shells inspire new method to make superstrong, flexible polymers

New technique enables 3-D printing with paste of silicone particles in water

Liquids are capable of supporting waves with short wavelengths only

Metal-ion catalysts and hydrogen peroxide could green up plastics production

SPACEWAR
Flares May Threaten Planet Habitability Near Red Dwarfs

A planet hotter than most stars

Hubble's tale of 2 exoplanets - Nature vs nurture

Discovery reveals planet almost as hot as the Sun

SPACEWAR
A whole new Jupiter with first science results from Juno

First results from Juno show cyclones and massive magnetism

Jupiters complex transient auroras

NASA's Juno probe forces 'rethink' on Jupiter









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.