DebateGate

General Category => 3DHS => Topic started by: Plane on December 07, 2011, 05:20:17 AM

Title: Phobos-Grunt
Post by: Plane on December 07, 2011, 05:20:17 AM

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45574868/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/phobos-grunt-dead-water-pieces-falling-earth/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45574868/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/phobos-grunt-dead-water-pieces-falling-earth/)

Quote

  Phobos-Grunt was launched Nov. 8 on a mission to collect rock samples from the Mars moon Phobos. Shortly after launch, the spacecraft suffered a malfunction that stranded it in Earth orbit.

Despite repeated attempts, mission controllers have not been able to communicate with Phobos-Grunt.

Unless engineers can regain control of the spacecraft, the 14.6-ton (13.2 metric tons) probe is headed for an uncontrolled plunge into Earth’s atmosphere.

"I estimate that Phobos-Grunt will decay on Jan. 13, 2012, plus or minus eight days," said Ted Molczan of Toronto, a leader in the community of citizen satellite watchers.