[FPSPACE] Fw: [JAXA:0216] Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA" Ion Engine Anomaly

[LARRY KLAES]

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: JAXA Press Release Mail Service <jaxapr at jaxa.jp>
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:47:19 
To: <ljk4 at msn.com>
Subject: [JAXA:0216] Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA" Ion Engine Anomaly

----------------------------------------------------------------------
                        ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
                    Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
              Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA" Ion Engine Anomaly
 
                                                 November 9, 2009 (JST)
                              Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
 
 On November 4th (Wed., Japan Standard Time), the Japan Aerospace 
 Exploration Agency identified that one of the main ion engines 
 (Thruster D) aboard the Asteroid Explorer "HAYABUSA" had autonomously 
 stopped detecting a high neutralizer voltage owing to degradation. The 
 HAYABUSA was during the second propulsion period in its return cruise 
 back to the Earth in June 2010. Since the anomaly was identified, the 
 project team has been trying to restart the engine while investigation 
 of the causes; however, the engine has not been restarted yet as of 
 today.
 
 JAXA is currently under diagnostic investigation of the ion engines 
 system aboard the HAYABUSA and trying to build an alternative 
 sequence that helps the HAYABUSA return back to the Earth safely. JAXA 
 will inform you of the update as soon as available.
 
 (Note) The HAYABUSA is equipped with four ion engines (Thrusters A 
 through D,) and each thruster is in the following status. In the 
 current plan, two thrusters, Thrusters C and D, would be used in the 
 second propulsion period in return cruise back to the Earth. 
 
 Thruster A: operation suspended due to instability just after the 
             launch 
 Thruster B: operation suspended due to high neutralizer voltage owing 
             to degradation (since April 2007) 
 Thrusters C and D: Both of them have indicated slight high 
             neutralizer voltage owing also to degradation. Thruster C 
             is currently not driven, but it is operable. 
 
 
 This page URL:
 http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091109_hayabusa_e.html <http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2009/11/20091109_hayabusa_e.html> 
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Publisher : Public Affairs Department
             Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
             Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building,
             1-6-5, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8260
             Japan
             TEL:+81-3-6266-6400
 
 JAXA WEB SITE :
 http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html <http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html> 
 
 About This Mail Service :
  To change registered e-mail address, or to cancel this service,
  please access to 
 http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/mail/index_e.html <http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/mail/index_e.html>