:08:11
It just isn't responding.
:08:20
Ladies and gentlemen, this is
mission director Sara Holland.
:08:23
She's been monitoring
the situation closely...
:08:26
...and she assures me
that the problem is well in hand.
:08:30
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
:08:32
As you may know, 11 days ago,
atmospheric tracking determined...
:08:36
...that Russian communications
satellite Ikon...
:08:39
...has initiated orbital degradation.
:08:41
Computer trajectory models
predict a steady acceleration...
:08:44
...in sequence with
the gravitational constant.
:08:47
There's a systems failure in online
navigation and guidance avionics.
:08:51
All redundant systems
are non-responsive.
:08:54
Without active course correction
in the next 30 to 40 days...
:08:58
...the satellite will reenter
the Earth's atmosphere.
:09:01
And crash?
:09:05
General, Ikon has given you
14 years of service.
:09:08
That is in the performance range
of a communications satellite.
:09:12
It will probably crash in the ocean
or burn up in the atmosphere.
:09:17
I think it's best that we let it.
:09:21
My country's grateful for the efforts
of NASA and the State Department.
:09:26
However, losing Ikon is not an option.
:09:30
Ikon is not just a communications
satellite to the Russian Federation.
:09:34
Ikon is the communications satellite.
:09:38
You are undoubtedly aware
of our restructuring programs.
:09:42
Losing all telecommunications...
:09:44
...until we're able to replace Ikon
could plunge us into chaos.
:09:49
And perhaps even civil war.
:09:55
Hard to believe you fellas
only have one bird up there.