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
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
