Antenna glitch threatens SOHO mission
Posted: Thu, Jun 19, 2003, 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT)
A problem with the high-gain antenna on the NASA-ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft could drastically reduce the amount of data the spacecraft can return. A SOHO status report published this week noted that a problem with the antenna drive motor is preventing it from moving so it can remain pointed at the Earth. A number of efforts have been taken to date to try to get the antenna to move, without success. Project officials are planning to put the spacecraft's instruments into a safe mode for the next four to six weeks while working on the problem. If the antenna motor cannot be fixed, the spacecraft can still communicate with the Earth using a low-gain antenna, but this would greatly reduce the amount of data it can return. Spacecraft controllers are looking at other options, including maneuvering the spacecraft to allow the high-gain antenna to be in line with the Earth two months out of every three, or altering the spacecraft’s orbit around the Earth-Sun L1 point to increase coverage time.
A problem with the high-gain antenna on the NASA-ESA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft could drastically reduce the amount of data the spacecraft can return. A SOHO status report published this week noted that a problem with the antenna drive motor is preventing it from moving so it can remain pointed at the Earth. A number of efforts have been taken to date to try to get the antenna to move, without success. Project officials are planning to put the spacecraft's instruments into a safe mode for the next four to six weeks while working on the problem. If the antenna motor cannot be fixed, the spacecraft can still communicate with the Earth using a low-gain antenna, but this would greatly reduce the amount of data it can return. Spacecraft controllers are looking at other options, including maneuvering the spacecraft to allow the high-gain antenna to be in line with the Earth two months out of every three, or altering the spacecraft’s orbit around the Earth-Sun L1 point to increase coverage time.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, November 17
Telesat making ‘strong progress’ on Lightspeed, CEO says as firm’s revenues fall in Q3
Ottawa Business Journal — 3:16 am ET (0816 GMT) MDA Space Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results
MDA — 3:15 am ET (0815 GMT) To the moon and back: Alumnus prepares for Blue Ghost Mission One
Virginia Tech — 3:15 am ET (0815 GMT) Rivada suffers Liechtenstein blow
Advanced Television — 3:14 am ET (0814 GMT) MDA reports $29.5M Q3 profit, revenue up nearly 40 per cent from year ago
Canadian Press — 3:13 am ET (0813 GMT) |
