DirecTV satellite is at risk of explosion due to battery issues
DirecTV has one month to remove a satellite from geostationary orbit, so it doesn’t take other satellites down with it if it ends up exploding.
The AT&T-owned TV service
fears that its Spaceway-1 satellite (a Boeing 702HP model) might explode due to battery issues that started manifesting in December.
According to SpaceNews,
DirecTV explained in an FCC filing dated January 19th that an anomaly caused “significant and irreversible thermal damage” to the satellite’s batteries.
The company already switched the batteries off and has been operating Spaceway-1 using power generated by its solar panels. However, it’s expected to pass through
SpaceNews says DirecTV fans don’t need to worry, though. No customers were affected (and will presumably be affected) by the event, since Spaceway-1 was merely a backup satellite
Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/2020/01/22/directv-satellite-at-risk-of-explosion/
TV satellite is about to explode following ‘irreversible’ battery damage | Live Science
https://www.livescience.com/amp/exploding-directv-satellite-graveyard-orbit.html