Galaxy 26
{{Short description|Communication satellite launched in 2005}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = Galaxy 26
| names_list = G-26
Intelsat Americas 6
IA-6
Telstar 6
| image =
| image_caption =
| image_size = 300px
| mission_type = Communications
| operator = Intelsat
| COSPAR_ID = 2005-005A
| SATCAT = 25626
| website = https://www.intelsat.com
| mission_duration = 12 years (planned)
9 years (achieved)
| spacecraft =
| spacecraft_type = Galaxy
| spacecraft_bus = SSL 1300S
| manufacturer = Space Systems/Loral
| launch_mass = {{cvt|3763|kg}}
| dry_mass = {{cvt|1469|kg}}
| dimensions =
| power = 16 kW
| launch_date = 15 February 2005, 05:12:00 UTC
| launch_rocket = Proton-K / DM-03
| launch_site = Baikonur, Site 81/23
| launch_contractor = Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center
| entered_service = April 2005
| disposal_type = Graveyard orbit
| deactivated = 7 June 2014
| last_contact =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit
| orbit_slot = 93° West
| apsis = gee
| trans_band = 52 transponders:
24 C-band
28 Ku-band
| trans_frequency =
| trans_bandwidth = 36 MHz
| trans_capacity =
| trans_coverage = Canada, United States, Mexico
| programme = Intelsat constellation
| previous_mission = Galaxy 25
| next_mission = Galaxy 27
}}
Galaxy 26 is a communications satellite owned by Intelsat. It was built by Space Systems/Loral, as part of its SSL 1300 satellite bus. Galaxy 26 was formerly known as Intelsat Americas 6 and Telstar 6. It was launched aboard a Proton-K / DM-03 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Site 81/23.{{cite web
|url=https://planet4589.org/space/jsr/back/news.389.txt|title=Report # 389|publisher=Jonathan's Space Report|date=18 February 1999|access-date=14 April 2021}}
It spent most of its operational life at the 93° West longitude orbital position, serving the North American market. Clients included ABC, CBS, CNN and FOX.
The ailing bird
Galaxy 26, known as Telstar 6 at the time, had its share of problems since its 15 February 1999 launch. It had lost a backup command and control receiver, the back up computer, and had completely shut off twice. The satellite first shut down on 22 April 2001 causing the Fox network to relocate feeds to Telstar 5 at 97° West. Then on 11 April 2002 it shut down again and went into a very slow spin.{{cite web |title=Mr. Video's Satellite Slates|url=http://www.vidiot.com/SatSlates.html|website=vidiot.com|date=22 April 2001|access-date=14 April 2021}}
On 29 June 2008, Galaxy 26 had a power failure in one of its solar panels. It lost 15 kilowatts out of a possible 37 kilowatt capacity, which is very important for charging the batteries.{{cite web |title=Wattlessness Has Afflicted Intelsat's Galaxy 26|url=http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/display_story.cgi?number=264085338|publisher=SatNews|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716010845/http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/display_story.cgi?number=264085338|archive-date=16 July 2011|url-status=dead}} Also, there were multiple transponder failures.
Several cable television networks immediately took action to move their feeds to backup satellites in order to keep themselves on air in the event of total failure. Fox News moved operations to Galaxy 16 transponders 7, 9, and 11, and to AMC-5 transponder 4K Slot F according to a Fox News internal email. Within a week, CBS had moved all main feeds to Galaxy 25, and all secondary feeds to Galaxy 28, according to an internal email.
In February 2009, following an urgent call from the Pentagon's Joint staff, Intelsat moved the satellite to the 50.8° East orbital position for use by the United States Department of Defense for unmanned aerial vehicle support.{{cite web|url=http://www.intelsat.com/news/intelsat-repositions-satellite-to-serve-military-units-in-asia-mideast/|title=Intelsat Repositions Satellite to Serve Military|website=intelsat.com|date=24 March 2009|access-date=April 18, 2015|archive-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418102419/http://www.intelsat.com/news/intelsat-repositions-satellite-to-serve-military-units-in-asia-mideast/|url-status=dead}} This repositioning of the Galaxy-26, which could be reached by U.S. drone operators by using the relay station at Ramstein Air Base, facilitated the rapid expansion of the U.S. drone program.{{cite web|url=https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/17/ramstein/|title=Germany is the Tell-Tale Heart of America's Drone War|publisher=The Intercept|author=Jeremy Scahill|date=17 April 2015|access-date=14 April 2021}}
End of mission
Galaxy 26 was officially decommissioned on 7 June 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.intelsatgeneral.com/blog/old-satellites-never-die-they-just-fade-away/|title=Old Satellites Never Die, They Just Fade Away|last=Sears|first=Kay|publisher=Intelsat General Corporation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014092717/http://www.intelsatgeneral.com/blog/old-satellites-never-die-they-just-fade-away/|archive-date=October 14, 2016|url-status=dead|date=July 14, 2014|access-date=14 April 2021}} The satellite was originally scheduled for decommissioning around 15 March 2014, but that date was extended following delays in the launch of two replacement satellites.{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/myibfs/download.do?attachment_key=1039286|title=STA Request|date=12 March 2014}} {{PD-notice}}
References
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- Gunter's Space Page - information on [http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/telstar-5.htm Galaxy 26]
- {{satbeams footprint|5279|Galaxy-26 Ku-band North America Beam}}
- {{satbeams footprint|5280|Galaxy-26 C-band North America Beam}}
{{Intelsat|state=collapsed}}
{{Orbital launches in 1999}}
Category:Communications satellites in geostationary orbit
Category:Spacecraft launched in 1999