[FPSPACE] India's first lunar probe, Chandrayaan-1, rescued from failure

[LARRY KLAES]

July 17, 2009
 
Chandrayaan-1 Rescued from Failure

 

Written by Nancy Atkinson

 


The Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, India's moon orbiting satellite was almost lost earlier this year, Indian Space Research Organization revealed, as the star tracking system overheated and malfunctioned. The system helps determine and maintain the spacecraft's orientation. 

 

Engineers were able to patch in the gyroscopes and another instrument to help maneuver the spacecraft, but they are not sure how long this jury-rigged system will work. At this point, determining the spacecraft's future might be difficult, and differing statements from various officials reflect that.

"We are not sure how long we will be able to sustain it. The life of Chandrayaan-I designed for two years may be reduced," said ISRO spokesman S. Satish. 

ISRO chief Madhavan Nair said the star tracking system cannot be recovered, but he dismissed suggestions that the sensor's failure might reduce the life span of the spacecraft.

 

"The life (of the spacecraft) is not dependent on this instrument. This instrument is used only for orientation of the spacecraft," he said. "The sensor cannot be recovered at this stage and we hope that the remaining part of this mission will be completed."

 

Full article here:

 

http://www.universetoday.com/2009/07/17/chandrayaan-1-rescued-from-failure/

 

 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.friends-partners.org/pipermail/fpspace/attachments/20090719/fee500a1/attachment.html