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FUSE Satellite in Safe Mode
MattHaffner writes "Yesterday, a status report from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) operations center reports that the satellite is in 'safe mode' after losing (another) reaction wheel--the mechanisms used to point the spacecraft. FUSE had been operating with only two of three original wheels for about two years using a creative solution utilizing the earth's magnetic field. Losing a second wheel for good may mean a serious reduction in science, however. For those keeping track, this is the third major blow to UV astronomy in less than a year. The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) was due to be installed on the canceled SM4, and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), a major instrument on HST, failed in 2004 Aug. The infrared is well covered by current and upcoming NASA missions including the Spitzer Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and SOFIA, but ultraviolet astronomy may have a serious dearth of instruments in the near future. While IR is useful for studying dusty environments, star formation, planetary system formation, and red-shifted galaxies, the UV is the best place to study the chemical composition and evolution of interstellar gas, stars, and galaxies since many of the more abundant elements have strong spectral signatures in that region of the spectrum."
When it is in safe mode, a lot of the peripherals don't work right and it is in ugly low-color 640 x 480 pixel mode. They should have rebooted it properly instead if hitting the power switch.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Those wheels didn't happen to have Firestone tires on them, did they?
????
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
Taking out these satellites is all part of the plan by the ultra-violent ultraviolet aliens. This way, they can sneak up on earth undetected.
Ok, I'll take off my tinfoil hat now...
Is it weird in here, or is it just me?
The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) http://www.galex.caltech.edu/ is cranking out great science (and spectacular pictures of galaxies...)
Yes, IAAA.
At this point there are about seven comments (and mostly with would-be "funny" tags).
This situation represents the level of public interest in UV spectroscopy:
Not very much.
It's a pretty sad day to be an UV astronomer.
hi. I'm Troy McClure. You might remember me from such ultraviolet satellite disaster movies as "Use Sunscreen". Or, you might be one of the two people who actually bought "UV Astronomy for Beginners: Impress Girls and Discourage Bullies... Yeah Right".
"Yesterday, a status report from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) operations center reports that the satellite is in 'safe mode' after losing (another) reaction wheel--the mechanisms used to point the spacecraft."
What a waste. Now that it's in safe mode the world can look forward to images taken in 640x480 resolution and 256 colors.
*sighs*
I sincerely hope that Hubble can be repaired and upgraded, if only for the UV science.
karma capped
Yeah, but what's someone who went to JHU and worked on a (different) UV telescope project supposed to say? It happens, it's sad. :(
I must say, having a satellite control system in the basement of the physics building is still cool, even without a satellite!
--LWM
Time to put your tinfoil hats on now.
FUSE is not dead yet. It sucks to operate with a single inertial torquer, but it's far from dead. A Good thing is that it has been operating with the coarse mode for a long time, and it probably continue to do so with one good wheel. So as long as it goes after point-like sources, it should still be useful.
Or so I hope. FUSE had never achieved its maximum operational capacity; but it might as well hang on with the little that it got. A tough figher.
Their hack of using magnetic torque bars in place of the dead gyro is very impressive. How reliable is it compared to gyros? How efficient? Are there thoughts of using these as the primary means of stabilization in any future satellites?
They're limited, in that they can only work around planets with noticable magnetic fields. Interplanetary space has much weaker fields than earth orbit.
"This situation represents the level of public interest in UV spectroscopy:
Not very much."
Yep but then at most book stores there are more Astrology books then Astronomy books.
Hope they can get more good science out of FUSE.
See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
Because this satellite was not properly shut down, one of your spinning disks may have errors. To avoid seeing this message again....
Caveat Emptor is not a business model.