Intelsat 19 Solar Array Problem Reported

Last Friday, Intelsat reported “a delay in deploying one of the two solar arrays on the Intelsat 19 satellite.” Intelsat 19 was launched earlier Friday by Sea Launch. 

An Intelsat release said that, “Intelsat and Space Systems/Loral, the manufacturer of the satellite, are investigating the cause and are pursuing corrective actions. The spacecraft is secure at this time in geostationary transfer orbit.” 

Aviation Week reported Tuesday SS/L Reviewing Other 1300 Satellites After Intelsat 19 Issue. The article said, “Engineers at Space Systems/Loral (SS/L) are evaluating whether a solar array deployment problem on the Intelsat 19 satellite launched June 1 will affect other satellites 'under construction.'” 

Space Systems/Loral had no news or additional information about the solar array deployment problem on its Website. 

“Intelsat 19 will host a prime video neighborhood, with C-band capacity providing enhanced performance for distribution of international video content throughout the Asia-Pacific region and increased Ku-band capacity optimized for DTH,” said Dave McGlade, Intelsat CEO. “Additionally, this satellite is a critical element of what will be the world’s first single operator global broadband mobility network when it is completed in early 2013.” 

Intelsat 19 includes three Ku-band beams for the mobility network to provide maritime and aeronautical users with broadband connectivity over the northern and southwest Pacific Ocean. 

Neither Intelsat nor Space Systems/Loral indicated what the impact of the delayed solar panel deployment would have on the planned operation of Intelsat 19. 

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.