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From: ota+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU (Ted Anderson)
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: GEOS-6 dies.
Message-ID: <AXrTkzy00UkZI0RUwa@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: 25 Jan 89 16:56:31 GMT
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Organization: The Internet
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From the Tuesday January 24, 1989 New York Times, page 22 reproduces without
permission and without comment.

                      "Weather Satellite Dies of 'Old Age'"
  Washington, Jan 23 (AP) - A satellite that provided cloud pictures for
television weather forecasts failed Saturday, depriving customers of views of
the Western United States, officials said.
  The failure occurred aboard GEOS-6, a National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration satellite that was launched in April 1983, said Milton Mortman, a
shift supervisor at the agency's satellite operations control center.
  "It's just old age," he said.
  Al Brown, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said weather
map-making would be little affected because forecasters rely most on data
gathered from the ground.
  He said partial pictures can be provided from a companion satellite, GEOS-7,
which covers the Eastern United States.
  "Eventually we will move the eastern satellite over so it can cover the entire
country," Mr. Brown said.  Mr. Mortman said that maneuver would be completed
around Feb. 21.
  Until the satellite is moved, weather watching will also be augmented by other
existing satellites operated by NOAA and by satellites from the European and
Japanese space agencies, said Thomas N. Pyke Jr., NOAA's assistant administrator
for satellite and information services.
  NOAA said GEOS-7 would perform double duty for about 18 months, until the next
GEOS satellite is expected to be ready for launching.