[FPSPACE] Phobos mission delayed for two years - source

[James Oberg]

Confirming what Anatoliy write last month -- there are such rumors,

but no official announcement [nor should one be expected for awhile].

But this is the first such explicit rumor report I've seen in the Russian media.



Phobos mission delayed for two years - source

10:53 GMT, May 04, 2009

     MOSCOW.  May  4  (Interfax-AVN) - The mission of Russia's automatic

research  module  Fobos  Grunt  to  the  Martian moon of Phobos is being

delayed  for  two  years, as the module is not ready, an informed source

told Interfax-AVN on Monday.

     "The  Fobos  Grunt launch is delayed for two years due to technical

problems.  The  Lavochkin  Research and Production Center is technically

unable to  finish the works by the end of this year. The next convenient

time for the launch will be in 2011," he said.

     Financial  problems  have  nothing to do with the delay, the source

said. "The  funding  is absolute, but the center lacks skilled personnel

to complete the work on time," he noted.

     Meanwhile,  Lavochkin  spokesman Mikhail Sherstnev told Interfax he

had no information  about the delay of the mission. "We are on schedule.

I have heard nothing about a delay," he said.

     The launch of Fobos Grunt was planned for October 2009. The vehicle

is due to reach the Martian orbit in eleven months and land on Phobos in

April 2011. It will take samples of Phobos soil and return to Earth. The

return is  planned  for  July 2012. The total duration of the mission is

three years.

     Scientists  hope  that studies of the Phobos soil will help resolve

some mysteries in the formation of the solar system.





Also: 

May 04 // 16:49 gmt   // 

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 http://www.newsru.com/russia/04may2009/foebus.html


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