Share the wonders of the universe...
Russian Mars Probe in Trouble
A Russian Mars probe is stranded in Earth orbit when the engine intended to send it on its way to Mars failed to ignite.
The Phobos-Grunt probe was intended to collect rock and dust samples from Mars' moon Phobos and return them to Earth for study.
The spacecraft is also carrying China's first Mars satellite, Yinghou-1.
Scientists are working to reestablish contact with the probe to get it to fire, but the outlook is bleak.
More Phobos-Grunt Mars probe info here.
Comment
-
Comment by Pal Virag on November 23, 2011 at 12:42pm -
Yesterday a satellite tracking station in Perth, Australia, has finally been able to make contact with the troubled spacecraft. (Aside from the Mars probe's apparent faults on its own, the main problem is its low orbital altitude - meaning that the craft travels too fast and can be tracked for only a few short minutes.)
© 2012 Created by Garland Coulson.
You need to be a member of Nanaimo Astronomy Society to add comments!
Join Nanaimo Astronomy Society