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Russian solar observer missing
Published: 23 December, 2009, 16:41
Hopes of reestablishing contact with the Russian scientific satellite Coronas-Foton are diminishing. Engineers believe the sun-observing satellite’s battery has degraded and is failing to power its systems.
Sat’s signal was initially lost on December 1, following six months of increasing malfunction reports. Since December 11, there was no contact with Coronas-Foton at all.
Scientists believe the satellite’s chemical battery, which stores power harvested by solar panels, has degraded ahead of time. They say their last chance to get in touch with the equipment will be in early January next year, when it will get a constant power supply directly from the panels thanks to an orbit that will not pass through Earth’s shadow.
Coronas-Foton was launched in January this year. Its mission is to study corona, flares and similar solar atmospheric phenomena.
23.12.2009, 11:20
New Russian strategic bomber expected in 15-20 yearsA new strategic bomber for Russia’s long-range aviation is scheduled to be ready for deployment by 2025-2030, the military branch’s head said. |
23.12.2009, 17:45
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Row over “undeserved” Nobel in PhysicsFormer colleagues at Bell Labs are now involved in a bitter row over who deserved this year’s Nobel Prize for inventing the CCD matrix, the heart of modern digital imaging. |
Sounds like this one, unfortunately, could be at the end of its useful mission life. However, we should press on with more space based research and development. Space is an area we have some advantage in, we have a lead over many nations, we should apply funds and aim to harness our position both in terms of research and revenue opportunities. Science and technology, should be our backbone going forward. Space should be a balanced part of this portfolio. It will be good for our nation, good for our future scientists and good for mankind.