Topic: Shutdown of 'Zombie' Satellite Unsuccessful

[sam]

A geostationary satellite that had its "brains fried" by a solar flare (love that description by our pal Ian O'Neill at Discovery Space) stopped communicating with ground controllers last month and remains out of control. While the Galaxy 15 communication satellite is still functional, its navigation and communications system are not. The instruments remain "on" but the satellite has drifted out of its assigned orbital slot and will soon be coming close to other satellites. While it likely won't crash into other satellites, the rogue satellite can cause problems when it enters an orbital space occupied by other satellites by "stealing" their signal, thereby interrupting other vendor's services to customers on Earth.

http://www.universetoday.com/2010/05/05/shutdown-of-zombie-satellite-unsuccessful/

[Simon]

So, the lights are on but nobody's home. 

[Rik]

All it's neighbours are waiting for a knock on the door.

[Clive]

They have successfully repositioned satellites  in the past.   

[Rik]

Seems like they need a two truck for this one.