May have to stop at 70% though
by
iang
·
· Score: 2
According to this article on the BBC News web site there's a problem with the mast supporting the radar equipment: a stabilising thruster has stopped working.
They've already mapped 17 million square miles, but may have to stop short at 70% because of the failure of this thruster. They've been able to keep making measurements, compensating for the thruster's failure by firing the shuttle's own boosters. But it doesn't have enough fuel on board to carry on doing this for the rest of the mission.
Slashdot Mirror
The first images from this are here.
They've already mapped 17 million square miles, but may have to stop short at 70% because of the failure of this thruster. They've been able to keep making measurements, compensating for the thruster's failure by firing the shuttle's own boosters. But it doesn't have enough fuel on board to carry on doing this for the rest of the mission.
Ian Griffiths