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Japanese Mars Probe Failing

Posted by michael on from the warranty-expired dept.

Anonymous Coward writes "After months of silence and a week of hopeful half-truths, Japanese space officials have finally confirmed that their Mars-bound Nozomi probe is teetering on the brink of failure in its five-year quest to explore the Red Planet. The Nozomi orbiter is one of four spacecraft that are due to converge on Mars in the next two months. The other three probes -- the European Space Agency's Mars Express and NASA's two Mars Exploration Rovers -- are still on track and in good working order, according to the latest status reports. Mars Express is due to enter Martian orbit on Christmas Day and send a British-built Beagle 2 lander to the surface, while the NASA rovers should arrive on Jan. 3 and Jan. 24."

5 of 242 comments (clear)

  1. the question is... by zr-rifle · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...will it commit harakiri?

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    Hack your mind out of its sandbox.
  2. Re:Real contamination risk would be small by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    >>So they are worried about a man made meteor >>seeding the planet but sending rovers to the >>surface is somehow alright???

    By Jove i think you've got it! Not.

    The japanese probe was never intended to touch down so was never decontaminated.

    The laders were intended to reach the surface, and so were decontaminated appropriately.

  3. Re:Real contamination risk would be small by snake_dad · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Bacteria survived being on the moon for years. Parts from (IIRC) a Surveyor probe were brought back by an Apollo mission. Granted, these bacteria were found inside an instrument, but since the Japanese probe may shatter on impact there is a contamination risk, I think.

    About the reentry, I'm not sure it will burn up completely. Meteorites crashing on Earth are said to be warm, not scalding hot. Could some rocket scientist jump in and give his view on the reentry? Metal vs stone, Earth vs Mars atmosphere? (Hmm.. re-entry sounds wrong. It's going to enter the Mars atmosphere for the first time)

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    karma capped .sig seeking available Slashdot poster for long-term relationship.
  4. Battle On! by jmkaza · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is going to be the best episode of Batttlebots ever!

  5. Re:I see by D-Cypell · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sure, laugh at us!

    Do you have any idea how much of the great british public's tax money went on the research required to get water boil correctly in those kind of inhospitable conditions...

    Not to mention the whole earl grey vs english breakfast fiasco!