Aging Landsat satellite may be failing
Posted: Tue, Nov 22, 2011, 6:44 AM ET (1144 GMT)
A 27-year-old Earth observation satellite may be on the brink of failure after a recent malfunction, the US Geological Survey reports. The Landsat 5 satellite stopped acquiring images recently because of a "rapidly degrading electronic component", the USGS said. The satellite, launched in 1984, was originally designed to last only three years, but has been in operation for 27. The aging Landsat 5 satellite and problems with the Landsat 7 satellite, launched in 1999, have raised concerns about a potential gap in Earth sciences imagery. A new Landsat satellite is scheduled for launch in early 2013.
A 27-year-old Earth observation satellite may be on the brink of failure after a recent malfunction, the US Geological Survey reports. The Landsat 5 satellite stopped acquiring images recently because of a "rapidly degrading electronic component", the USGS said. The satellite, launched in 1984, was originally designed to last only three years, but has been in operation for 27. The aging Landsat 5 satellite and problems with the Landsat 7 satellite, launched in 1999, have raised concerns about a potential gap in Earth sciences imagery. A new Landsat satellite is scheduled for launch in early 2013.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, September 26
Why America needs Golden Dome for protection
Washington Post — 7:42 am ET (1142 GMT) Top Colorado Springs leaders are going to Huntsville to make space friends
Colorado Public Radio — 7:41 am ET (1141 GMT) Space Force Challenge Seeks to Strengthen Orbital Resilience
National Defense Magazine — 7:40 am ET (1140 GMT) SpaceX set to launch U.S. Space Force mission early Saturday from Vandenberg SFB
Lompoc Record — 7:39 am ET (1139 GMT) USSF-385 Mission Scheduled for Early Saturday Launch From Vandenberg SFB
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 7:39 am ET (1139 GMT) |
