Foton returns to Earth, but geckos perish
Posted: Wed, Sep 3, 2014, 2:02 PM ET (1802 GMT)
A Russian research spacecraft returned to Earth on Monday, but its most celebrated payload did not survive the trip. The Foton-M4 spacecraft, launched in mid-July, landed Monday at 5:18 am EDT (0918 GMT, 1:18 pm Moscow time), returning to Earth biological and other experiments. However, five geckos that flew on the spacecraft were found to be dead upon landing. Russian media report that the geckos died of hypothermia, likely because of the failure of a thermal control system. It wasn't clear if that failure was linked to control problems the spacecraft experienced in the days after launch. Other experiments on the spacecraft, including one involving flies, were declared successful by Russian officials.
A Russian research spacecraft returned to Earth on Monday, but its most celebrated payload did not survive the trip. The Foton-M4 spacecraft, launched in mid-July, landed Monday at 5:18 am EDT (0918 GMT, 1:18 pm Moscow time), returning to Earth biological and other experiments. However, five geckos that flew on the spacecraft were found to be dead upon landing. Russian media report that the geckos died of hypothermia, likely because of the failure of a thermal control system. It wasn't clear if that failure was linked to control problems the spacecraft experienced in the days after launch. Other experiments on the spacecraft, including one involving flies, were declared successful by Russian officials.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA IG cites overconfidence and unrealistic schedules for Starliner woes
Posted: Sat, Jul 4 8:11 PM ET (0011 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, July 17
Serbia joins NASA's space exploration partnership Artemis Accords
SeeNews — 5:11 am ET (0911 GMT) The Italian Space Agency announces the passing of President Teodoro Valente
ASI — 5:09 am ET (0909 GMT) Deep space pioneer Henon signs to launch with Plato
ESA — 5:08 am ET (0908 GMT) Taiwan lawmakers to remove legal hurdles for Starlink to operate
The Standard (Hong Kong) — 5:06 am ET (0906 GMT) UK to field offensive space squadrons in national first
UK Defence Journal — 5:05 am ET (0905 GMT) |
