Foton returns to Earth, but geckos perish
Posted: Wed, Sep 3, 2014, 2:02 PM ET (1802 GMT)
A Russian research spacecraft returned to Earth on Monday, but its most celebrated payload did not survive the trip. The Foton-M4 spacecraft, launched in mid-July, landed Monday at 5:18 am EDT (0918 GMT, 1:18 pm Moscow time), returning to Earth biological and other experiments. However, five geckos that flew on the spacecraft were found to be dead upon landing. Russian media report that the geckos died of hypothermia, likely because of the failure of a thermal control system. It wasn't clear if that failure was linked to control problems the spacecraft experienced in the days after launch. Other experiments on the spacecraft, including one involving flies, were declared successful by Russian officials.
A Russian research spacecraft returned to Earth on Monday, but its most celebrated payload did not survive the trip. The Foton-M4 spacecraft, launched in mid-July, landed Monday at 5:18 am EDT (0918 GMT, 1:18 pm Moscow time), returning to Earth biological and other experiments. However, five geckos that flew on the spacecraft were found to be dead upon landing. Russian media report that the geckos died of hypothermia, likely because of the failure of a thermal control system. It wasn't clear if that failure was linked to control problems the spacecraft experienced in the days after launch. Other experiments on the spacecraft, including one involving flies, were declared successful by Russian officials.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, October 13
Government criticized for rushed approval of Starlink Korea agreement
JoongAng Daily — 7:04 am ET (1104 GMT) SpaceX plans Starship test flight in Texas as early as Monday
UPI — 7:02 am ET (1102 GMT) Senior barrister: Space industry a trillion-dollar market for HKSAR
China Daily — 7:00 am ET (1100 GMT) Race for Space Law: Inside the Sino-American Cosmic Rivalry
ChinaTalk — 6:57 am ET (1057 GMT) Key ExoMars Rover part ships from Aberystwyth
Eurekalert — 6:45 am ET (1045 GMT) |
