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DirecTV filed with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission that using the battery becomes unavoidable when Spaceway-1 starts experiencing eclipses in geostationary orbit in late February, creating a risk of catastrophic battery failure if the satellite is not relocated and decommissioned by then.
DirecTV determined that the risk of a catastrophic battery failure makes it urgent that Spaceway-1 be fully de-orbited and decommissioned prior to the 2020-02-25 start of eclipse season.