Contact lost with Envisat
Posted: Fri, Apr 13, 2012, 9:54 AM ET (1354 GMT)
The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed Thursday that it has lost contact with its Envisat earth observing satellite. ESA announced in a statement that contact with Envisat was unexpectedly lost on April 8, and has yet to be restored. The loss of communications raises concerns that the spacecraft could be lost permanently. The spacecraft appears to be intact and stabled, based on radar images of it taken from the ground. ESA launched Envisat in 2002 on what was planned to be a five-year mission, but the spacecraft has more than doubled that lifetime. ESA hoped to keep Envisat operational through the launch of the first Sentinel earth observing satellites in 2013 and 2014.
The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed Thursday that it has lost contact with its Envisat earth observing satellite. ESA announced in a statement that contact with Envisat was unexpectedly lost on April 8, and has yet to be restored. The loss of communications raises concerns that the spacecraft could be lost permanently. The spacecraft appears to be intact and stabled, based on radar images of it taken from the ground. ESA launched Envisat in 2002 on what was planned to be a five-year mission, but the spacecraft has more than doubled that lifetime. ESA hoped to keep Envisat operational through the launch of the first Sentinel earth observing satellites in 2013 and 2014.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, June 21
Revealing how and when a black hole’s mighty winds can squash star formation
Univ. of Michigan — 11:36 am ET (1536 GMT) How an oddball ‘hot Jupiter’ shows us new possibilities for planets beyond our solar system
Univ. of Michigan — 11:35 am ET (1535 GMT) GMV will develop Satellite Control System for CAMILA, Poland’s largest satellite initiative
GMV — 11:35 am ET (1535 GMT) Gilat to Acquire Comtech’s Satellite & Space Communications Segment Creating a Leading Provider of Advanced Defense and Satellite Communications Solutions
Gilat Satellite Networks — 11:33 am ET (1533 GMT) Stars of physics descend on Westminster to halt catastrophic funding cuts
Royal Aeronautical Society — 11:32 am ET (1532 GMT) |
