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SATELLITE WATCH Compiled by GARRY CRATT* Magnetic storm claims Telstar 401 A violent magnetic storm on January 11th, believed to be caused by a coronal mass ejection (a magnetically charged cloud of hydrogen and helium) from the Sun on January 6th, is the most likely cause of the failure of Telstar 401. This was an AT&T television relay satellite located at 97° W, serving continental USA. All control of the satellite was lost, although the space­ craft remains on station, with no observable signal emissions and no response to ground control. Telstar 401 was one of two primary spacecraft in AT&T’s Skynet network. The spacecraft was insured for about US$145 million. AT&T has applied to the FCC for permission to move Telstar 302, a 12-year old satellite used for telephone traffic into the 97° W slot. In 1994, solar storms caused electrical failures in two Canadian Anik satellites, as well as Intelsat K. Two of the three spacecraft recovered while the third suffered a permanent power reduction. JCSAT 5, 150° E longitude: Japan Satellite Systems has announced a November launch for JCSAT 5, a Hughes HS-601 that will be located at 150° E. The satellite will be used to carry television, voice, data and inter­ net services from Japan to the Pacific. Present information indicates that the satellite will carry 32 K-band transponders only. The effect (if any) of this new satellite on the operation of Palapa C1, located at 150.5° E, remains to be seen. JCSAT4, 124° E longitude: JCSAT4 was successfully launched by an Atlas rocket on February 17th and will be located at 124° E. The satellite has 12 C-band transponders, 28 K-band transponders and has a footprint covering Japan, India, Australia and New Zealand. Late December saw the disappearance of two Chinese analog signals on Asiasat2, HN TV and Quandong TV. Replacing these two services are nine digital services, including HN TV and GD TV, previously available as analog services. CCTV4, RTPI, TVSN and the Egyptian channel RTE remain in analog format. RTE commenced transmission on Asiasat 2 in mid December. It requires a 3m dish for good reception along the east coast of Australia and New Zealand. Asia Satellite Telecommunications has filed a claim for US$58 million against the launch insurers of Asiasat 2 for the loss of nine K-band transponders. The loss has been attributed to excessive vibration during a “rough ride” on the Long March launch vehicle in November 1995. Elsewhere, Laotian TV has appeared on Gorizont 30 (142.5° E) at an IF of 1375MHz, LHCP and at good signal strength across Australia. Curiously, re-broadcasts of Australian regional soccer matches have appeared on this channel, bearing the Optus Vision logo, as well as that of Laos TV channel 3. This channel was previously located on the old Rimsat G1 satellite at 130° E. This brings the number of active transponders to three, as EMTV and Asia Music/Zee education continue to operate on this satellite. Optus B3, 156° E longitude: Details of the new “Aurora” digital satellite platform utilising the Optus B3 satellite at 156° E were released by Optus at the Sydney Cable Show held in February. The platform would seem ideal for a satellite-based pay TV service, competing with Galaxy. It is also probable that this platform will be used to carry ABC and SBS in digital format on a national beam, giving central and western Australians their first taste of SBS program­ming. Earliest projected operational start is given as September 1997. For readers equipped with internet facilities, two new sites have appeared this month. Star TV can be found at http://www.startv.com while Asiasat is at http://www.asiasat.com.hk. SC * Garry Cratt is Managing Director of AvComm Pty Ltd, suppliers of satellite TV reception systems. Phone (02) 9949 7417. http://www.avcomm.com.au April 1997  53