AMC-14 A Complete Loss…

SES AMERICOM, the North American subsidiary of SES S.A., has announced their recently launched AMC-14 satellite is now considered to be a total loss. The reason is due to a lack of any ability to reposition the vehicle to its proper, geostationary orbit. According to Edward Horowtiz, the President and CEO of SES AMERICOM, “SES and Lockheed Martin have carefully examined all the available options for repositioning this satellite into its intended geostationary orbit. Unfortunately, none of those options would allow effective use of the spacecraft. The various repositioning scenarios presented carry unacceptable risks and would result in a severely shortened life of the satellite. Therefore, we have no choice but to claim a total loss of the satellite with our insurers.” AMC-14 was built by Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems and launched on a Proton/Breeze M rocket provided by International Launch Services (ILS) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. An anomaly during the second burn of the fourth stage of the rocket on March 15th resulted in the satellite being placed short of the planned orbit. After the study of several repositioning scenarios, it was determined none would provide a reasonable chance of success. The company is currently exploring plans to retire AMC-14.