PanAmSat Corp. [SPOT] today said that a failure of the Galaxy 10R’s xenon ion propulsion system (XIPS) on Aug. 3 thus far has not affected the service of the satellite. According to a statement by the company, the secondary XIPS on the bird experienced an unexpected shutdown, and the company has not been able to restart the system. The satellite is operating on its backup bi-propellant propulsion system. PanAmSat said Boeing [BA], the manufacture of the satellite, a 601 HP series spacecraft, has determined the XIPS has permanently failed, although the satellite can operate for three years on the bi-propellant propulsion system. The company said the failure will result in acceleration to the 2004/07 timeframe of planned capital expenditures to replace the satellite.

PanAmSat said the satellite is insured, and it will be filing a claim to recoup some of its losses associated with the failure. According to a recent Frost & Sullivan report, 14 of 62 Boeing 601 satellites have insurance claims against them.

Satellite News, sister publication to Satellite Today, will be following the effect of this failure on the satellite industry in an upcoming issue. To subscribe to Access Intelligence’s satellite publications, please visit us on the Web at https://www.satellitetoday.com.