SkyTerra 1 Antenna Deployment Problems


Space News reported SkyTerra 1 is having trouble with its 22-meter antenna, the largest commercial reflector of its kind ever launched. Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems and antenna builder Harris Corp. are trying to find a way to completely deploy the antenna.

One solution, mentioned in the article, was to use a ground-commanded spacecraft movement to gently "shake" the antenna.

Space News quoted an industry official as saying, "The situation does not look good but it's too early to say whether it's a major issue or something that will be forgotten in a few months."

SkyTerra 1 is a key component in LightSquared's combined space and terrestrial wireless communications system providing nationwide coverage. FCC authorizations for satellites have milestones and service deadlines licensees must meet to keep the license.

It isn't clear if the FCC will allow LightSquared, the licensee of the satellite, to build out the terrestrial part of the system before the satellite is operational.

The Space News article, Boeing Space Wrestling with Antenna Glitch on SkyTerra 1 by Peter B. de Selding describes how the large antennas are deployed and the problems other satellites have had with smaller 12-meter reflectors.

I did not find any details about this on the SkyTerra , Boeing or Harris news release pages.

Doug Lung

Doug Lung is one of America's foremost authorities on broadcast RF technology. As vice president of Broadcast Technology for NBCUniversal Local, H. Douglas Lung leads NBC and Telemundo-owned stations’ RF and transmission affairs, including microwave, radars, satellite uplinks, and FCC technical filings. Beginning his career in 1976 at KSCI in Los Angeles, Lung has nearly 50 years of experience in broadcast television engineering. Beginning in 1985, he led the engineering department for what was to become the Telemundo network and station group, assisting in the design, construction and installation of the company’s broadcast and cable facilities. Other projects include work on the launch of Hawaii’s first UHF TV station, the rollout and testing of the ATSC mobile-handheld standard, and software development related to the incentive auction TV spectrum repack.
A longtime columnist for TV Technology, Doug is also a regular contributor to IEEE Broadcast Technology. He is the recipient of the 2023 NAB Television Engineering Award. He also received a Tech Leadership Award from TV Tech publisher Future plc in 2021 and is a member of the IEEE Broadcast Technology Society and the Society of Broadcast Engineers.