A wobbling satellite that's lost its way in a solar storm is "unfortunate," but contrary to earlier reports, should not be catastrophic to U.S. cable programming, satellite companies are now saying.
Intelsat last month lost control of satellite Galaxy 15 in a solar storm and the bird started to drift in a collision course with AMC 11, a satellite run by SES World Skies that serves a number of cable providers. First reports were that cable service could be disrupted for at least hours and possibly days as the two birds battled in space.
Now Intelsat reports, "Given the number of technical alternatives that can be executed from the earth, we are confident that potential disruptions to television programming will be minimal or even avoided entirely."
Whew!
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