"On 8 August, it was determined that NOAA-12 decommissioning is necessary since we are unable to regulate the bus power. Numerous attempts were made to preserve the mission, but the shunt degradation is not correctable. After more than 16 years of service, NOAA-12 will be decommissioned on Friday, 10 August, at 1710 UTC with the Fairbanks CDA contact. NOAA-12 was launched May 15, 1991."
That is the second Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite decommissioned this year. Hopefully the 3 remaining APT birds will stay healthy.
