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
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, November 4
Space42 Expands SAR Constellation
Aviation Week — 7:04 am ET (1204 GMT) Intuitive Machines to Acquire Lanteris Space Systems, Creating the Next-Generation Commercial, Civil, and National Security Space Prime
Intuitive Machines — 7:02 am ET (1202 GMT) As Florida doubles down on its support of space discovery, FIU takes a lead in exploring critical governance and security issues
Florida International Univ. — 7:01 am ET (1201 GMT) Why Do We Celebrate UCF Space Week? Because Discovery Starts Here
Univ. of Central Florida — 7:01 am ET (1201 GMT) MDA Space investing in $10 million in Maritime Launch Services
Canadian Press — 6:59 am ET (1159 GMT) |
