Mars Odyssey instrument fails
Posted: Thu, Nov 27, 2003, 8:32 AM ET (1332 GMT)
A radiation monitoring instrument on NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft has failed, apparently because of the effects of a powerful solar storm. The Martian Radiation Environment (MARIE) experiment on the spacecraft is designed to measure the radiation environment in the vicinity of Mars to help planners for later human missions to the planet. MARIE shut down on October 28 during an intense solar storm, according to a project status report issued Wednesday. Engineers to date have been unable to fix the instrument, but plan to continue their efforts "for the next several weeks or months." MARIE experienced problems during the spacecraft's flight to Mars in 2001, but the instrument was fixed and had been operating continuously since March 2002. MARIE is one of three instruments on the spacecraft; no problems have been reported with the other two instruments.
A radiation monitoring instrument on NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft has failed, apparently because of the effects of a powerful solar storm. The Martian Radiation Environment (MARIE) experiment on the spacecraft is designed to measure the radiation environment in the vicinity of Mars to help planners for later human missions to the planet. MARIE shut down on October 28 during an intense solar storm, according to a project status report issued Wednesday. Engineers to date have been unable to fix the instrument, but plan to continue their efforts "for the next several weeks or months." MARIE experienced problems during the spacecraft's flight to Mars in 2001, but the instrument was fixed and had been operating continuously since March 2002. MARIE is one of three instruments on the spacecraft; no problems have been reported with the other two instruments.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, February 10
Europe Turns to Russia as NASA Cuts Loom
Wall Street Journal — 7:07 pm ET (0007 GMT) Commercial Spaceflight Federation Announces Formation of The Suborbital Coalition
Commercial Spaceflight Federation — 7:05 pm ET (0005 GMT) NASA Glenn Completes Space Hardware for Launch to International Space Station
NASA/Glenn — 7:04 pm ET (0004 GMT) Glenn Director to Discuss NASA's Fiscal Year 2013 Budget
NASA/Glenn — 7:04 pm ET (0004 GMT) NASA Deputy Administrator Holds Space Coast Media Availabilities
NASA/KSC — 7:03 pm ET (0003 GMT) |