Nimiq 2

[hvdh]

History of (the now junk orbited) Nimiq 1 repeating with Nimiq 2?
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/another-old-yankee-bird-heading-to-european-skies.158018/
http://www.satellites.co.uk/forums/threads/44-5e-nimiq-1.158266/

Nimiq 2 was launched in 2002, and is still not inclined.
Originally located at 91.1 West, then spent just 2 weeks at 72.5 West, and is now rapidly going East with almost 6 degrees per day.

 

[Analoguesat]

Blimey shes in a hurry to get somewhere!

 

[hvdh]

Now near 13° East, and still in a hurry with 6° per day.
Just like with Nimiq 1, can't find a clue on the web where it's going to.
Could be a placeholder again for Arabsat at 44.5° E (arrival 17 Oct), or a temporary addition on Russian DTH position 56° E (arrival 19 Oct).

Bonum 1 and DirecTV 1R, with 1.7° resp. 1.1° inclination, are no good for DTH any more, and only getting worse of course.
The launch of replacement satellite Express AT-1, is already delayed to Feb 2014.

 

[Analoguesat]

56E is my guess.

 

[hvdh]

Yes I also guessed that in March with Nimiq 1, and was wrong!
But now the inclinations on 56° E are much larger, and Nimiq 1 must be enough for ITU to take Arabsat's 44.5° E reservation seriously for a while.
So again I place my bets on 56° E...

 

[Costactc]

High band circular polarity sat which is normally used in North America for subscription service like dish network, directv and bell Canada....what's the point of sending it to Europe or the Middle East?

 

[Analoguesat]

To "activate" a reserved orbital slot.

Orbital reservations expire if no satellite is slotted there and become available for other companies to claim.

 

[hvdh]

Costactc, several orbital positions of Russia have always used circular polarisation, 56 East being one of them.
The Tricolor TV Sibir and NTV Plus Vostok pay-tv packages are there.
http://www.lyngsat.com/Bonum-1-and-DirecTV-1R.html
Hence DirecTV 1R already on this position.

 

[Costactc]

Thanks for the clarification, I haven't been on your side of the pond in over 12 years.

 

[hvdh]

Surprisingly, this afternoon's TLE says Nimiq 2 has arrived at 39° East! It must be there already for a few days.

If again Arabsat is behind this, does that mean Nimiq 2 will be a placeholder for this position, and Hellas Sat 2 will soon move elsewhere?

Nimiq 2 has transponders between 12200 and 12700 MHz, circular pol.

 

[Analoguesat]

39E?! What a weird place to slot.

 

[hvdh]

Well AS as you know OTE has sold Hellas Sat company to Arabsat.
Nimiq 2 also should have some Ka-band payload.

 

[hvdh]

Nimiq 2 left 39 East, moving West.

 

[hvdh]

Nimiq 2 arrived at 62.9º West, co-located with Telstar 14R.

 

[hvdh]

Nimiq 2 loves to travel the world!
Stayed just a few months at 62.9°W, then for a while at 109.2°W, and since a month moving east with 1° per day.
At about 79°W, now, so will soon become visible again from W. Europe.

 

[hvdh]

It appears Nimiq 2 is now stopping at 36.0°W.
Probably another slot reservation mission, because 36°W is a future Hispasat position.
Amazonas 1 did the same thing already 2 years ago.

 

[Terryl]

If they keep burning up it's fuel moving it all around it will be "Junk in the trunk" in a few months, and until Lockheed gets it's "Space Tug" concept up and running there is no way to refill them, and it's at only 2/3'rds its transponder output due to a FUBAR in it's power systems.

 

[hvdh]

That's right, flawed satellites are great for slot reservation purposes!

 

[william-1]

Space tugs are coming but are taking a long while to materialise

 

[hvdh]

Nimiq 2 got bored already of 36.0°W, and is moving East with 2° per day.
Now at about 22°W, inclination 0.6°.