Orbital Express suffers anomaly
Posted: Thu, May 17, 2007, 6:29 AM ET (1029 GMT)
A pair of spacecraft launched earlier this year to test satellite servicing technologies are drifting apart from one another after suffering a computer problem. The Orbital Express mission, launched in March, consists of a pair of satellites, NextSat and ASTRO, designed to autonomously rendezvous and dock with each other and test the ability to service spacecraft in orbit. After several earlier, successful tests, the two spacecraft drifted apart last week after ASTRO suffered a problem with a flight computer and moved away from NextSat to avoid a potential collision. Satellite watchers have noticed that the two spacecraft are now as much as five kilometers apart. Project officials said while they're uncertain of the root cause of the problem, they plan to bring the two spacecraft closer together soon, using a backup flight computer on ASTRO.
A pair of spacecraft launched earlier this year to test satellite servicing technologies are drifting apart from one another after suffering a computer problem. The Orbital Express mission, launched in March, consists of a pair of satellites, NextSat and ASTRO, designed to autonomously rendezvous and dock with each other and test the ability to service spacecraft in orbit. After several earlier, successful tests, the two spacecraft drifted apart last week after ASTRO suffered a problem with a flight computer and moved away from NextSat to avoid a potential collision. Satellite watchers have noticed that the two spacecraft are now as much as five kilometers apart. Project officials said while they're uncertain of the root cause of the problem, they plan to bring the two spacecraft closer together soon, using a backup flight computer on ASTRO.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX launches more than 100 smallsats on Falcon 9 rideshare mission
Posted: Sat, Jan 15 10:56 AM ET (1556 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, January 16
The US and China Could Soon Be In Race For Nuclear-Powered Satellites
Defense One — 8:40 am ET (1340 GMT) Cadets connect with astronaut aboard the International Space Station
Colorado Springs Gazette — 8:39 am ET (1339 GMT) Former spaceport official finds attorney for whistleblower suit
Santa Fe New Mexican — 8:33 am ET (1333 GMT) Challenging tasks ahead for India's new space sector chief
IANS — 8:31 am ET (1331 GMT) Pebbles Before Mountains
NASA/JPL — 8:29 am ET (1329 GMT) |
