ESA antenna receives signal from Phobos-Grunt
Posted: Wed, Nov 23, 2011, 7:55 AM ET (1255 GMT)
A European Space Agency antenna in Australia has detected a radio signal from Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, the first contract from the Mars-bound spacecraft since it was stranded in Earth orbit two weeks ago. A brief statement on the ESA web site stated that its tracking station near Perth, Australia, detected a signal from the spacecraft at about 3:25 pm EST (2025 GMT) Tuesday. According to reports the station's 15-meter antenna received a radio signal, but "no meaningful telemetry", from the spacecraft during its pass over the station. Another attempt to contact Phobos-Grunt is planned for Wednesday, using the same antenna. Contact with Phobos-Grunt had been lost since shortly after its Zenit rocket placed the spacecraft into a temporary parking orbit. Two engine burns intended to place the spacecraft on a trajectory to Mars did no take place, and no signals had been received from the spacecraft until now. Russian officials had grown increasingly doubtful prior to this latest development that the mission could be salvaged.
A European Space Agency antenna in Australia has detected a radio signal from Russia's Phobos-Grunt spacecraft, the first contract from the Mars-bound spacecraft since it was stranded in Earth orbit two weeks ago. A brief statement on the ESA web site stated that its tracking station near Perth, Australia, detected a signal from the spacecraft at about 3:25 pm EST (2025 GMT) Tuesday. According to reports the station's 15-meter antenna received a radio signal, but "no meaningful telemetry", from the spacecraft during its pass over the station. Another attempt to contact Phobos-Grunt is planned for Wednesday, using the same antenna. Contact with Phobos-Grunt had been lost since shortly after its Zenit rocket placed the spacecraft into a temporary parking orbit. Two engine burns intended to place the spacecraft on a trajectory to Mars did no take place, and no signals had been received from the spacecraft until now. Russian officials had grown increasingly doubtful prior to this latest development that the mission could be salvaged.
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
|
|
Friday, November 15
Sierra Space and DoE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory Revolutionizing Thermal Protection for a New Generation of Commercial Space Transportation Vehicles
Sierra Space — 6:20 am ET (1120 GMT) 1st Space Brigade bolsters tactical interoperability, integration with UK visit
US Army — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) US the greatest threat to space security and the biggest instigator of space arms race: Chinese Defense Ministry
Global Times — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) Rocket Lab to Launch Satellite Constellation Missions from Wallops Island
WBOC-TV Delmarva — 6:15 am ET (1115 GMT) AST SpaceMobile Announces Launch Services Agreements to Enable Continuous Space-Based Cellular Broadband Service Coverage
Business Wire — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) |
