Mars Express extends second boom
Posted: Sat, Jun 18, 2005, 3:11 PM ET (1911 GMT)
ESA's Mars Express spacecraft has successfully extended the second of a pair of 20-meter booms that will be used in the search for subsurface water on the planet. Project officials announced Thursday that the second 20-meter MARSIS boom safely extended from the spacecraft on June 14. The deployment was delayed several weeks because of problems extending the first boom: one of the boom's joints failed to lock into place until the spacecraft was reoriented so that sunlight could heat the problem area. Before the second boom deployment the spacecraft was placed in a slow rotation so that the Sun could heat the boom, preventing a similar occurrence. The booms will be used by a radar instrument on the spacecraft that will study the planet's ionosphere as well as probe beneath the surface, looking for traces of water.
ESA's Mars Express spacecraft has successfully extended the second of a pair of 20-meter booms that will be used in the search for subsurface water on the planet. Project officials announced Thursday that the second 20-meter MARSIS boom safely extended from the spacecraft on June 14. The deployment was delayed several weeks because of problems extending the first boom: one of the boom's joints failed to lock into place until the spacecraft was reoriented so that sunlight could heat the problem area. Before the second boom deployment the spacecraft was placed in a slow rotation so that the Sun could heat the boom, preventing a similar occurrence. The booms will be used by a radar instrument on the spacecraft that will study the planet's ionosphere as well as probe beneath the surface, looking for traces of water.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, September 18
Russia developing Starlink rival at 'rapid pace,' space chief says
Reuters — 1:56 am ET (0556 GMT) Rocket Lab Looks To Raise $750M In Share Sale
Aviation Week — 1:53 am ET (0553 GMT) Blue Origin hires Christopher Fuller as marketing and comms head
PRWeek — 1:52 am ET (0552 GMT) Weather Causes SpaceX Team to Scrub Wednesday’s Liftoff Attempt From VSFB
Noozhawk — 1:50 am ET (0550 GMT) Update: SpaceX Launch from Vandenberg Rescheduled Due to Weather
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 1:50 am ET (0550 GMT) |
