It has just been brought to my attention that the ‘zombie’ satellite Galaxy 15 (built by Orbital Sciences Corporation and operated by Intelsat) was brought back under control sometime after December 23rd.
For a yet to be explained reason, in April the Galaxy 15 satellite refused to communicate with its ground control station. The satellite began to drift slowly out of control (tugged gently by the Sun and Moon’s gravity) and threatened the operation of other satellites around it. The actual threat wasn’t from a collision but from the ongoing transmissions from the satellite itself. Other satellites where moved as necessary.
Apparently, engineers have been waiting for the satellites batteries to go flat. This happened once the satellite’s solar panels were no longer pointing at the Sun for a sufficiently long period to keep them charges. Once the battery went flat, the computer reset itself and started accepting instructions from its ground station. The satellites owners Intelsat now plan to determine what operational life is left in the satellite following its adventures.
Further information can be found here on the Intelsat website.
