EchoStar III in Graveyard Orbit After July Communications Loss

EchoStar's EchoStar III satellite, which suffered communications problems after an anomaly in July (see 1708030037), was recovered and retired, the company and manufacturer Lockheed Martin said Wednesday. EchoStar said a command and control link was re-established and deorbit maneuvers performed, putting the satellite in a graveyard orbit more than 350 kilometers above the geostationary arc. It also said EchoStar III's fuel and pressurants have been depleted, its batteries drained and its systems shut down. The satellite was launched in 1997.