The current paper describes the detailed operational planning process required for the decommissioning of the Inmarsat 2F3 satellite. The background to events which lead to the decision to decommission this satellite is presented and descriptions of the methods used to monitor the onboard propellant reserves are included in order to explain their role in determining the date of service termination. Orbital and operational factors are elaborated and then folded into a baseline plan for executing a sequence of orbit raising manoeuvres that would be necessary to increase the satellite altitude above the busy geostationary arc. Subsystem passivation activities to be performed on arrival at the final graveyard orbit are discussed and the paper concludes with the story of what actually happened with the first ever Inmarsat satellite decommissioning.


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    Title :

    Decommissioning of the Inmarsat 2F3 satellite


    Contributors:
    Hope, D R (author)


    Publication date :

    2007-06-01


    Size :

    14 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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