FUSE spacecraft in safe mode
Posted: Fri, Dec 14, 2001, 8:05 PM ET (0105 GMT)
NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spacecraft entered safe mode earlier this week because of a reaction wheel problem, project officials said Friday. On December 10 the second of four reaction wheels on FUSE stopped spinning, triggering a safe mode condition where the spacecraft stops scientific operations and orients its solar panels towards the Sun. The first reaction wheel shut down last month. Engineers have been unable to spin up the wheels, and are looking at an alternative method for attitude control using magnetic torquer bars on the spacecraft. Engineers and managers at NASA, Johns Hopkins University, and Orbital Sciences Corporation are looking into this alternative but did not mention when they believe when the spacecraft's attitude control will be restored. FUSE was launched in June of 1999 on a three-year mission to study the universe at far ultraviolet wavelengths.
NASA's Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spacecraft entered safe mode earlier this week because of a reaction wheel problem, project officials said Friday. On December 10 the second of four reaction wheels on FUSE stopped spinning, triggering a safe mode condition where the spacecraft stops scientific operations and orients its solar panels towards the Sun. The first reaction wheel shut down last month. Engineers have been unable to spin up the wheels, and are looking at an alternative method for attitude control using magnetic torquer bars on the spacecraft. Engineers and managers at NASA, Johns Hopkins University, and Orbital Sciences Corporation are looking into this alternative but did not mention when they believe when the spacecraft's attitude control will be restored. FUSE was launched in June of 1999 on a three-year mission to study the universe at far ultraviolet wavelengths.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, November 26
Space Force won’t say who got money to start developing orbital interceptors
Defense One — 12:46 am ET (0546 GMT) At Age 6, Space Force Maturing Acquisition Processes
Aviation Week — 12:46 am ET (0546 GMT) Gayle King reveals the reason why Katy Perry sang during 'terrifying' Blue Origin spaceflight
The Daily Mail — 12:44 am ET (0544 GMT) Plans for Blue Origin wastewater treatment plant concern area residents
WFTV Orlando — 12:43 am ET (0543 GMT) Launch of Poland’s first military satellites halted minutes before liftoff
TVP World — 12:42 am ET (0542 GMT) |
