Arabsat 3A in trouble (December 2001)
This report has been taken from the "SpaceandTech" website (www.spaceandtech.com)
"On December 7 2001 eight transponders (of 20) on Arabsat 3A failed, due to a suspected failure of a power switching panel. (This removed the electrical power input from one solar panel) Ground control was able to restore broadcasts to some of the transponders by frequency re-allocation and using alternate power supplies. Full details have not been disclosed, but it currently seems that the failure may be permanent. The other solar array is reported to be functioning normally. The Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ASCO), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is likely to file a US$180 million claim for the total loss of the three year old satellite.
Many analogue channels and multiplexes were relocated to Arabsat 2A, because of the failure. The Orbit Network was heavily affected by the capacity loss on three transponders.
Arabsat 3A, an Alcatel Spacebus 3000 spacecraft, was launched 26 February 1999 and co-located with Arabsat 2A at 26°E. The satellite had an expected design life of 13 years, so should not have been expected to be replaced until 2012. Arabsat is scrambling for a solution to replace the lost capacity at the 26°E slot."
22nd December 2001 update: Arabsat 3A is still operational, but with a drastically reduced transponder loading. There are currently only 2 analogue channels reported operating on this satellite, Abu Dhabi (11840 H) and Algeria 3 (11897 V).
Al Manar (11823 V) has moved onto Arabsat 2A.
Iraq Satellite TV (11937 V) and Arabic News Network (11977 V) seem to have disappeared from analogue at the moment.
2nd June 2002 update: Arabsat have leased PanAmSat 5 for additional C-band capacity at 26E. PAS 5 itself is in trouble - it had to be replaced by a backup due to solar panel degradation which left it short of power during the eclipse periods.
30th January 2003 update: PAS 5 has been on station at 26E for several weeks, but has not yet been activated.
28th March 2003 update: The final channel transmitting in analogue off this satellite - (Abu Dhabi 11858V) - ceased in the last couple of days
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