Back last Wednesday, we learned that a NASA scientific research satellite in orbit at Mars called MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) had gone radio quiet instead of contacting Earth again.
In the last 24 hours we've learned it's not just that the radio link isn't working, it's worse.
"Analysis of that signal suggests that the MAVEN spacecraft was rotating in an unexpected manner when it emerged from behind Mars," NASA officials wrote in the update. "Further, the frequency of the tracking signal suggests MAVEN's orbit trajectory may have changed."
Apparently, MAVEN is spinning around some untold axis affecting the radio signals from the probe. There are other spacecraft on and around Mars that can help, so they're not sounding desperate. At least, not yet.
"For the next two weeks of scheduled surface operations, NASA is arranging additional passes from the remaining orbiters, and the Perseverance and Curiosity teams have adjusted their daily planning activities to continue their science missions," NASA officials wrote in the update.
NASA's update explains:
Four orbiters at Mars, including MAVEN, relay communications to and from the surface to support rover operations. NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Odyssey, and ESA’s (European Space Agency’s) ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter all remain operational.
It's not sounding very good for MAVEN.
The MAVEN spacecraft at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of its launch in 2013. Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
It's dead, Jim.
ReplyDeleteSigh. We need better, more modern Mars comm and surveillance satellites. But I don't see anything in NASA's pipeline, and even if there was it would be decade late and tens-to-hundreds of dollars more expensive than quoted.
I'm seriously wondering what SpaceX is thinking? Are they going to send one of their first Mars Starships loaded with satellites and kick them out in orbit?
SpaceX must be planning a Mars coms network, I can’t see them relying on legacy NASA coms all competing for share of the little bandwidth there is there. They’ll need both down link to surface capability as well as deep space relays; whether these can be on the same bus or require different satellites is hard to say as it’s an area SpaceX have been less than forthcoming about based on what I’ve read to date. I doubt they’ll be deployed from one starship intended as a lander though given the engineering complexity to share the pez deploying satellite system with the proposed payload bay to surface elevator. Also, given the growing build rate of Starship and likely launch cadence I suspect it’ll be less complex to send multiple ship versions. Speculation of course but as we know, SpaceX are pretty much capable of anything.
ReplyDelete