Could a Dirty Rag Take Out a $2 Billion Satellite?

[YosemiteSam]

All I can say is WOW. How in hell does something like that happen? When you are talking about that much money and time. You don't double check, not even triple check. You check it every day until that portion of the system is closed up. AND you check it right before it's closed up. :bang2:

This isn't the first stupid thing either. I seem to recall a screw up where they mixed the measurements on the bolts. (using both metric and standard sizes) That mixing made it where they couldn't service the craft or some crap.

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On August 15, 2010, the U.S. Air Force almost lost a $2-billion communications satellite. A team of military and contract space operators eventually saved the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite, built by Lockheed Martin. But the rescue, admittedly an impressive technological feat, is also a window into the greatest weaknesses of the world’s leading space power, according to one space insider.

The seven-ton “AEHF-1,” part of a planned six-satellite constellation meant to support radio communication between far-flung U.S. military units, had been in orbit just one day when the problems began. The satellite started out in a highly-elliptical, temporary orbit. The plan was to use the spacecraft’s on-board engine to boost it to a permanent, geo-stationary orbit. But when the Air Force space operators at Los Angeles Air Force Base activated the engine, nothing happened. The Government Accountability Office would later blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line by a Lockheed worker.

Complete Story.

 

[Khartun]

But that really is impressive that they were actually able to get it into position afterwards.

 

[MapleLeaf]

All I can say is WOW. How in hell does something like that happen? When you are talking about that much money and time.

...to deal with such a potential failure mode.

It's based on the concept that you have to come out at the end of the day with what you go in. It designed to deal with materials or tools that have a tendency to be ignored as everyday sundry items.

It takes a bit more labour with a standardization of tools, clothing, etc. But it helps control the embarassment of a expensive project being derailed by the proverbial $0.25 button that falls off into the machine and leads to catastrophic failure.

 

[Yeagermeister]

All I can say is WOW. How in hell does something like that happen? When you are talking about that much money and time. You don't double check, not even triple check. You check it every day until that portion of the system is closed up. AND you check it right before it's closed up. :bang2:

This isn't the first stupid thing either. I seem to recall a screw up where they mixed the measurements on the bolts. (using both metric and standard sizes) That mixing made it where they couldn't service the craft or some crap.

=====================================

On August 15, 2010, the U.S. Air Force almost lost a $2-billion communications satellite. A team of military and contract space operators eventually saved the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite, built by Lockheed Martin. But the rescue, admittedly an impressive technological feat, is also a window into the greatest weaknesses of the world’s leading space power, according to one space insider.

The seven-ton “AEHF-1,” part of a planned six-satellite constellation meant to support radio communication between far-flung U.S. military units, had been in orbit just one day when the problems began. The satellite started out in a highly-elliptical, temporary orbit. The plan was to use the spacecraft’s on-board engine to boost it to a permanent, geo-stationary orbit. But when the Air Force space operators at Los Angeles Air Force Base activated the engine, nothing happened. The Government Accountability Office would later blame the failure on a rag left inside a fuel line by a exLockheed worker.

Complete Story.

fixed