Off Topic-Metor Showers and DTN-What me worry

[Donald Thompson <detomps@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Subject: 
              Web Inquiry/Send Brochure of a DTN Product
        Date: 
              Thu, 15 Oct 1998 13:24:00 -0500
        From: 
              Stephen Griffin <stepheng@xxxxxxx>
Organization: 
              DTN
          To: 
              detomps@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


======== Original Message ========






A Customer Service Inquiry was posted to the DTN Web site.
The following person has questions about
DTN Real-Time products.

----------------------------------------------------

Name:      Donald  Thompson
Company:
Address1:  6189 Mancuso ST
Address2:
City:      San Jose
State:     ca
Zip:       95120
Phone:     408-997-2566
Email:     detomps@xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Questions from customer:

Hi,

Please check this website out:

http://www.eisa.net.au/~ippoz/17nov1998.html

It is talking about a huge metor show to hit November 17th,,
Hate to bring it up.  But does DTN now have redundancy in its satellite
operation?

regards

----------------------------------------------------

Please make sure a response is sent immediately!

Thank you,

Joshua Avison
DTN Internet Services/Webmaster
======== Fwd by: Stephen Griff ========
We are aware of the prediction. DTN has been working with the owners of
T5
and SBS6 on contingency plans in the event that the shower does cause a
threat to the satellites we broadcast from. Manuvering of the satellite
has
been discussed. This would cause an outage but should save damage to the
satellites. DTN does have "land line" feed websites. As during the
unexpected outage of GIV, DTNIQ and DTN/AgDayta would be open to our
satellite users.
Hopefully none of this will be necessary. The bothersome thing about it
all
is the uncertainity of what satellites are in jepordy. How wide spread
will
the threat be. If our main satellite, T5, is damaged; who's to say SBS6
would not come under the same threat. T5 and SBS6 are separated by 1500
earth miles but when you take in the size and magnitude of all the
predictions, is that sufficient? I did look at the website you reference
and
 find them a bit on the extremist side of the event. Their claim that
GIV
was done in by a meteor is rubbish. It was a motor failure on board
along
with the back ups failing. If what they claim comes true, redundancy in
our
system will be the least of our worries.

Hoping we all enjoy a good Thanksgiving.

Steve G