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
|
|
Senate seeks to add $10 billion to NASA human spaceflight programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 7 10:46 AM ET (1446 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, June 18
Firefly Aerospace Announces New Lunar Imaging Service on its Elytra Spacecraft
Firefly Aerospace — 12:32 am ET (0432 GMT) Firefly Aerospace Unveils Sat-based Lunar Imaging Service
Aviation Week — 12:32 am ET (0432 GMT) Starlink Internet set to launch in Kazakhstan in 3Q2025
Trend News — 12:31 am ET (0431 GMT) VEON’s Kyivstar Advances Direct-to-Cell Services With Starlink Integration and Regulatory Approval for Testing
GlobeNewswire — 12:30 am ET (0430 GMT) Elon Musk’s Starlink goes live in another African country
Business Insider — 12:29 am ET (0429 GMT) |
