US-Argentine Earth science spacecraft fails in orbit
Posted: Sat, Jun 20, 2015, 11:39 AM ET (1539 GMT)
A four-year-old Earth sciences satellite developed by the United States and Argentina has failed in orbit, NASA announced this week. The Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC)-D satellite, built by Argentina and carrying a NASA science instrument called Aquarius, suffered a malfunction of hardware that controls the spacecraft's power and attitude control systems on June 8, and the spacecraft was declared lost June 17. SAC-D/Aquarius launched in June 2011 on a Delta 2 on a three-year mission to study the salinity of the ocean surface. The spacecraft completed its prime mission last November, but continued to operate and had a five-year design life.
A four-year-old Earth sciences satellite developed by the United States and Argentina has failed in orbit, NASA announced this week. The Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas (SAC)-D satellite, built by Argentina and carrying a NASA science instrument called Aquarius, suffered a malfunction of hardware that controls the spacecraft's power and attitude control systems on June 8, and the spacecraft was declared lost June 17. SAC-D/Aquarius launched in June 2011 on a Delta 2 on a three-year mission to study the salinity of the ocean surface. The spacecraft completed its prime mission last November, but continued to operate and had a five-year design life.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
NASA to launch Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope in September
Posted: Sat, Apr 25 10:54 AM ET (1454 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, April 27
Program: PNG Starlink ban to end after National Court ruling
Australian Broadcasting Corporation — 5:26 am ET (0926 GMT) Starlink set to return to Papua New Guinea after court quashes ban, clearing path for connectivity
Radio New Zealand — 5:26 am ET (0926 GMT) U.S. Space Command Commander Gen. Stephen N. Whiting to Host Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Redstone Arsenal
US Space Command — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) Space Command facility ribbon cutting set for Wednesday
WAFF-TV — 5:25 am ET (0925 GMT) SpaceX launches Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base Sunday morning
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 5:24 am ET (0924 GMT) |
