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NASA Struggles To Contact Lost Mars Probe

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the lost-in-space dept.

David Shiga writes "Just when NASA was about to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft, the probe suddenly lost contact with Earth, New Scientist Space reports. NASA last heard from the MGS probe on November 5, two days before the 10th anniversary of its launch from Earth. The MGS team is not sure yet what the problem is, but a micrometeorite could have jolted the spacecraft's main antenna out of alignment with Earth, or it might have a solar array problem and too little power to talk to Earth as a result. If they can't re-establish communication this week, NASA may try to diagnose the problem by taking pictures of MGS with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The two spacecraft come within about 100 kilometers of each other several times each week."

6 of 125 comments (clear)

  1. China/Martian technology exchange program: by demallien2 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    http://www.defensetech.org/archives/002794.html

  2. Threading system broken. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Yep, still broken.

  3. That was no glitch! Spirit is going Rampant! by demallien2 · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6300590/

  4. Orbital Traffic Jam... by Atlantis-Rising · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Why do we have so much space traffic in orbit around MARS that they can take pictures of each other as they go past? hell, we don't even have that much traffic in orbit around EARTH for heaven's sake!

    Can you say martian traffic jam? I bet they're pissed...

    --
    "It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life." -Peak Performance
  5. Re:Not another space accident!? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    here you go

  6. OBAMA/BLOOMBERG '08 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Spread the word!