Ligado Networks has filed an insurance claim after suffering issues with one of its satellites.
First reported by SpaceIntelReport, Ligado Networks has declared its SkyTerra 1 mobile communications satellite a total loss and filed a $175 million insurance claim, according to industry officials. The company has confirmed the claim to DCD, but despite its issues and the claim, the satellite is still operational.
Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV) and Boeing announced plans for three satellites called MSV 1, 2, and SA, and associated ground systems in January 2006.
After several rebrands and a bankruptcy, MSV has been rebranded as Ligado Networks, and the satellites are now known as SkyTerra 1 and 2.
SkyTerra 1 – a 5,400 kg Boeing 702 – was launched in November 2010 with a 15-year lifespan; the dish antenna deployment initially failed but was eventually recovered. The satellite features L-band, Ku-band transponders.
“The SkyTerra 1 satellite experienced a sudden anomaly in April 2023, after which Ligado made the immediate adjustment and corrective actions in the reflector position to restore services to current customers,” the company told DCD.
“An extensive one-year investigation found that relative to the satellite’s original design specifications there was a measurable degradation in performance. As a result of the determined performance impact exceeding the insurance parameter thresholds under its policy, Ligado filed a claim.”
Despite the insurance claim, the satellite is continuing to service customers.
“Critically, Ligado’s corrective actions following the anomaly have stabilized service, and we continue to serve our existing customer base; and there is no impact on the expected useful life of SkyTerra 1,” Ligado said.
The news follows a bad year in terms of space insurance claims. Satellite failures from companies including SES, Viasat, Inmarsat, Astranis, and others pushed claims over the last 12 months to more than $1 billion.
In other satellite news:
– After an “unexpected payload anomaly and service outage” on the Thuraya 3 satellite, Yahsat announced it has successfully recovered services within the Indo-China region. However, it is reportedly unable to provide services to Australia.
– Telesat has posted a 17 percent ($31 million) decline in revenue for its Q1 2024 results, to $152 million. The company posted a $52 million net loss for the quarter, compared to net income of $28m the year before.
– Eutelsat Group has announced the appointment of Kevin Steen as president and CEO of Eutelsat America Corp. (EAC), a subsidiary of Eutelsat Group and OneWeb Technologies (OWT). Steen has been serving as the CEO of OWT since 2022.
– AT&T and AST SpaceMobile have entered a definitive commercial agreement to provide a space-based broadband network direct to everyday cell phones until 2030.
– After suffering some issues in the recent solar activity, Starlink is reportedly on track to generate $6.6 billion in revenue this year.
– Carnival Corporation and Seaspan have completed the roll-out of Starlink terminals across their respective fleets. Starlink said it has been installed on more than 200 cruise ships globally.
– Viasat has chosen Loft Orbital (Loft) as its partner for the Real-Time Space Relay (RTSR) service. A Viasat Ka-band space terminal will be integrated into a Loft spacecraft due to launch in 2025, along with multiple commercial payloads.
– Astroscale, a satellite servicing and debris removal company, will go public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in June.
– The recent solar activity caused John Deere’s tractors to suffer GPS issues and could have potentially impacted crop planting accuracy.
