Incidents such as the failure of the Galaxy 4 spacecraft in 1998, which disrupted pager services to millions of subscribers, have dramatized the need for proven procedures to ensure our spacecraft are as reliable as possible, Aldridge said.

Called SOPSO, for Space Operations Support Office, the new unit will focus on problems that translate to downtime and loss of service. Aldridge said the office incorporates nearly 40 years of experience in helping make the U.S. government�s satellite fleet the most reliable in the world.

"We believe The Aerospace Corporation has the corporate knowledge, technical staff and resources to deal with the many hazards and threats posed by the space environment and the increasing number of man-made objects in space," Aldridge said.

He pointed out that the company has compiled the most extensive database of spacecraft anomalies in the world. The repository includes historical data on more than 400 satellites and current data on more than 100 operating spacecraft. It enables Aerospace to conduct in-depth correlation of anomalies caused by space weather and other factors.

Among other innovative services SOPSO offers to deal with hazards such as radiation, spacecraft charging, micrometeoroids and space debris are

• on-call services to help resolve problems quickly
• consultation on unusual space weather events that might threaten satellite operations
• specialized maneuver-planning assistance
• reliability analysis to determine how a spacecraft�s performance compares with the performance of other satellites
• measures for minimizing the threats posed by hardware reentering the atmosphere
• continuous assessment of on-orbit collision hazards and development of launch vehicle and satellite collision-avoidance strategies

Among resources offered by SOPSO and The Aerospace Corporation are

• the most comprehensive database of spacecraft anomalies in the world
• sophisticated tools for assessing and minimizing on-orbit and reentry hazards
• a proven process for conducting anomaly investigations
• a technical staff recognized as experts in all aspects of spacecraft anomaly investigation and in all aspects of spacecraft operations

Aldridge pointed out that The Aerospace Corporation has established effective and proven procedures to safeguard sensitive and proprietary information during the 39 years it has operated as an independent, nonprofit institution providing objective technical assessments to government and industry customers.

SOPSO will be located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and will be associated with The Aerospace Corporation�s Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies, which has developed advanced tools to help satellite operators cope with threats from the space environment, as well as those posed by objects reentering the atmosphere.

Aerospace Corporation

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