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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.
Spaceway-1 was originally used by DirecTV to broadcast television channels and was later dedicated to providing backup capacity over Alaska.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission approved DirecTV’s 2020-01-19 request to relocate Spaceway-1 into a graveyard orbit above GEO and deferred a decision on allowing the operator to forgo expelling the satellite’s remaining onboard fuel before permanent shutdown.
DirecTV shut off Spaceway-1’s Ka-band payload and is operating the satellite using power generated directly from its solar panels.
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.
DirecTV’s current priority for Spaceway-1 is to decommission the satellite prior to 2020-02-25 to limit the risk of an accidental explosion.
AT&T bought DirecTV three years before its 2018-11-29 announcement about ending satellite purchases.
JetBlue’s in‑flight entertainment offerings include 36 channels of free DIRECTV on Embraer 190 and Airbus A320 aircraft.