NASA running out of options to contact MGS
Posted: Tue, Nov 14, 2006, 8:03 AM ET (1303 GMT)
NASA is enlisting other Mars orbiting spacecraft to try and determine what has gone wrong with an aging orbiter that has not communicated with Earth for over a week. Controllers last heard from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) on November 5, three days after experiencing a problem with a motor that drives one of the spacecraft's solar panels. On Friday the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will take images of MGS when the two spacecraft pass about 150 km from each other in orbit; the MRO images will be able to resolve details as small as 10 cm across on MGS and help engineers determine what has gone wrong with it. NASA also plans to try to have MGS establish communications with the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on the surface. MGS was launched ten years ago this month and long ago achieved its primary mission, but is still used for both science and communications operations. Project officials remain optimistic that MGS can be recovered, so long as the spacecraft still has power.
NASA is enlisting other Mars orbiting spacecraft to try and determine what has gone wrong with an aging orbiter that has not communicated with Earth for over a week. Controllers last heard from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) on November 5, three days after experiencing a problem with a motor that drives one of the spacecraft's solar panels. On Friday the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will take images of MGS when the two spacecraft pass about 150 km from each other in orbit; the MRO images will be able to resolve details as small as 10 cm across on MGS and help engineers determine what has gone wrong with it. NASA also plans to try to have MGS establish communications with the Spirit and Opportunity rovers on the surface. MGS was launched ten years ago this month and long ago achieved its primary mission, but is still used for both science and communications operations. Project officials remain optimistic that MGS can be recovered, so long as the spacecraft still has power.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA to launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in September
Posted: Sat, Apr 25 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Friday, May 1
FCC Adopts New Satellite Spectrum Sharing Rules
Broadband Breakfast — 6:04 am ET (1004 GMT) New FCC Rules Could Mean 'Sevenfold' Capacity Increase for Starlink
PC Magazine — 6:03 am ET (1003 GMT) Space Command moves into first Redstone building
Axios — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Sierra Space Elects Retired Lieutenant General John E. Shaw to Board of Directors
PR Newswire — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) Spacecom Takes Operational Control of Facility in Alabama
US Dept. of Defense — 6:01 am ET (1001 GMT) |
