Comment: Handheld Satellite Phone Solutions for Travellers

Derek

In fact the only satellite ever hit by space junk was, if my memory serves me correctly, Iridium.

Iridium and Globalstar are in low orbits, through which many rockets pass as they head for higher orbits. So their exposure to the risk of collision with space junk is higher than for GEO satellites orbiting at around 36,000 km altitude.

The 66 Iridium satellites (and 48 Globalstar satellites) are not mutually redundant. Each is like a mobile phone tower in the sky. If one dies, for whatever reason, there is a gap in the network's coverage until it can be replaced. That's why these systems have in-orbit spares, which can be relatively quickly maneuvered into position to replace the defective satellite.

GEO satellites, on the other hand, are orbiting so high that a collision with space junk is less likely. I am not aware that there has ever been one. Larger operators (ie those with more than one satellite in service) will have additional satellites in service that can, in the event of a defective satellite, be moved to cover the gap. At the moment, Thuraya has just one satellite in operation. Inmarsat has many.

Bruce M

Hi Derek

I do not want to start a muck fight, but in the event of an emergency and satellites were taken out, all our Emergency beacons, just like our Sat phones will not work....they rely on satellites as well, and even our GPS systems would not work either, so no one will know exactly where they are.

It would then be back to old faithfull.........HF radio as your lifeline to the outside world.

Cheers


Stephen

We should also be concerned that an Alien will come and take away the satellites, and therefore not rely on them.

Too risky.

Also don't watch TV, make a phone call, rely on weather forecasts, or look at google maps anymore.

You can never be too careful I suppose.