Phobos-Grunt goes silent again
Posted: Sat, Nov 26, 2011, 8:40 AM ET (1340 GMT)
Contact with Phobos-Grunt, the Russian Mars mission stranded in Earth orbit for over two weeks, was lost again late this week. An ESA ground station near Perth, Australia, was able to establish a signal with the spacecraft on Wednesday and received limited telemetry from the spacecraft on Thursday. However, ESA said Friday that they were unable to establish contact with the spacecraft during several passes over that ground station on Friday. It may be until Monday before another attempt to contact the spacecraft will be made. Contact with Phobos-Grunt had been lost since shortly after its Zenit rocket placed the spacecraft into a temporary parking orbit on November 9. Two engine burns intended to place the spacecraft on a trajectory to Mars did no take place, and no signals had been received from the spacecraft until earlier this week. The spacecraft was to travel to Mars and land on one of its moons, Phobos, collecting samples to return to Earth.
Contact with Phobos-Grunt, the Russian Mars mission stranded in Earth orbit for over two weeks, was lost again late this week. An ESA ground station near Perth, Australia, was able to establish a signal with the spacecraft on Wednesday and received limited telemetry from the spacecraft on Thursday. However, ESA said Friday that they were unable to establish contact with the spacecraft during several passes over that ground station on Friday. It may be until Monday before another attempt to contact the spacecraft will be made. Contact with Phobos-Grunt had been lost since shortly after its Zenit rocket placed the spacecraft into a temporary parking orbit on November 9. Two engine burns intended to place the spacecraft on a trajectory to Mars did no take place, and no signals had been received from the spacecraft until earlier this week. The spacecraft was to travel to Mars and land on one of its moons, Phobos, collecting samples to return to Earth.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Retired Air Force officer nominated to be NASA deputy administrator
Posted: Sat, May 10 9:44 AM ET (1344 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 14
Elon Musk says Starlink was approved in Saudi Arabia
CNBC — 6:34 am ET (1034 GMT) Elon Musk: Starlink has been approved in Saudi Arabia
Gulf Business — 6:32 am ET (1032 GMT) Senate confirms next Air Force secretary, potentially clearing way for Space Command decision
WAAY-TV Huntsville, AL — 6:31 am ET (1031 GMT) Senate confirms Troy Meink as 27th secretary of the Air Force
Defensescoop — 6:30 am ET (1030 GMT) Senate confirms Meink as next Air Force secretary
Defense News — 6:29 am ET (1029 GMT) |
