Booster problem blamed for solar sail failure
Posted: Sun, Jul 22, 2001, 6:05 PM ET (2205 GMT)
A problem with the computer in the upper stage of a Russian missile is considered the likely cause of the failure of a suborbital test flight of a solar sail Thursday night, the Planetary Society reported Saturday. A preliminary review of the telemetry from the Volna booster found that the command to separate the Cosmos 1 spacecraft from the upper stage of the booster was countermanded by the booster's computers because "dynamic variations" were recorded in the stage. Because the separation command was not executed, the Cosmos 1 spacecraft remained attached to the upper stage and its reentry shield did not deploy. Project officials believe the spacecraft and attached upper stage reentered over the Kamchatka Peninsula of the Russian Far East; efforts continue to recover any debris from the spacecraft and booster. The flight was intended to test the technique for deploying the blades of the Cosmos 1 solar sail spacecraft that the Planetary Society planned to place in orbit later this year. Planetary Society president Bruce Murray said he was optimistic that the Society would still be able to launch Cosmos 1 this year.
A problem with the computer in the upper stage of a Russian missile is considered the likely cause of the failure of a suborbital test flight of a solar sail Thursday night, the Planetary Society reported Saturday. A preliminary review of the telemetry from the Volna booster found that the command to separate the Cosmos 1 spacecraft from the upper stage of the booster was countermanded by the booster's computers because "dynamic variations" were recorded in the stage. Because the separation command was not executed, the Cosmos 1 spacecraft remained attached to the upper stage and its reentry shield did not deploy. Project officials believe the spacecraft and attached upper stage reentered over the Kamchatka Peninsula of the Russian Far East; efforts continue to recover any debris from the spacecraft and booster. The flight was intended to test the technique for deploying the blades of the Cosmos 1 solar sail spacecraft that the Planetary Society planned to place in orbit later this year. Planetary Society president Bruce Murray said he was optimistic that the Society would still be able to launch Cosmos 1 this year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, September 30
U.S. Trying To Seal Leaks To China's Space Program
Forbes.com — 7:40 pm ET (2340 GMT) Governor urges voters to support spaceport tax
AP — 7:35 pm ET (2335 GMT) Snow Falling From Martian Atmosphere
Voice of America — 7:33 pm ET (2333 GMT) SpaceX Private Rocket Blazes Post-Shuttle Trail
TechNewsWorld — 7:32 pm ET (2332 GMT) Senate would require NASA to upgrade IT
Federal Computer Week — 7:31 pm ET (2331 GMT) |