Satellite Preservation

[Article] A communications satellite in orbit still uses small amounts of fuel to keep itself stable. When that fuel runs out, the satellite has to be decommissioned, at great expense. A new technique helps prolong a satellite's lifespan, saving millions of dollars.


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Each satellite has a number of fuel tanks. Usually three or four.Stabilization or changes in the orbit of the satellite can lead to one fuel tank becoming empty faster than the others, meaning that the satellite is in danger of becoming uncontrollable… and all the fuel in the other tanks is wasted...
This article was published Tuesday, 11 September, 2007 by AFP
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Satellite Preservation


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