I couldn't help but notice that on this website http://www.intelsat.com/resources/galaxy-15/faqs.asp about "zombiesat" Galaxy 15, Intelsat figures that the lack of RF on thr transponder package since their loss of control earlier this year, will actually make it take longer to saturate it's momentum-wheel orientation stablizer system. This, compared to the manufacturer's original estimate of achieving the saturation condition beuing several months sooner having assumed normal full-load of RF on the transponders.
My question is: How is this possible? Does the RF put acceleration-forces on the transmitting antenna of the satellite similar to ion propulsion, or does the uplink RF push on the receiving antenna? Is there some other mechanism that can electronically alter the forces acting on the body of the satellite based on the amount of RF power?
Auke