Contact lost with Envisat
Posted: Fri, Apr 13, 2012, 9:54 AM ET (1354 GMT)
The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed Thursday that it has lost contact with its Envisat earth observing satellite. ESA announced in a statement that contact with Envisat was unexpectedly lost on April 8, and has yet to be restored. The loss of communications raises concerns that the spacecraft could be lost permanently. The spacecraft appears to be intact and stabled, based on radar images of it taken from the ground. ESA launched Envisat in 2002 on what was planned to be a five-year mission, but the spacecraft has more than doubled that lifetime. ESA hoped to keep Envisat operational through the launch of the first Sentinel earth observing satellites in 2013 and 2014.
The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed Thursday that it has lost contact with its Envisat earth observing satellite. ESA announced in a statement that contact with Envisat was unexpectedly lost on April 8, and has yet to be restored. The loss of communications raises concerns that the spacecraft could be lost permanently. The spacecraft appears to be intact and stabled, based on radar images of it taken from the ground. ESA launched Envisat in 2002 on what was planned to be a five-year mission, but the spacecraft has more than doubled that lifetime. ESA hoped to keep Envisat operational through the launch of the first Sentinel earth observing satellites in 2013 and 2014.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, September 11
The grief of a fandom: on Starship, Musk and losing the spark
Space News — 5:48 am ET (0948 GMT) Musk confident Starship will start launching 100 tons to orbit next year
Space News — 5:48 am ET (0948 GMT) Japan’s IHI expands constellation plans with SatVu thermal imaging partnership
Space News — 5:48 am ET (0948 GMT) How is the Space Force doing on getting the resources it needs?
Space News — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) SpaceX launches 21 satellites for Space Development Agency ‘Transport Layer’ military network
Space News — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) |
