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Groundbreaking Solar Mission Faces Chilly Death

Posted by timothy on from the hardly-knew-ye dept.

iamlucky13 writes "Over 17 years ago, the Ulysses spacecraft was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery for a unique NASA/ESA mission. While nearly all other probes travel along our solar system's ecliptic plane, Ulysses used a Jupiter gravity assist to swing 80 degrees out of plane, carrying it over the sun's poles for an unprecedented view. During a mission that lasted four times longer than planned, it has flown through the tails of several comets, helped pinpoint distant gamma-ray bursts, and provided data on the sun and its heliosphere from the better part of two solar cycles. Unfortunately, the natural reduction of power from its radioisotope thermal generator means it is now unable to even keep its attitude control fuel from freezing, and NASA has decided to formally conclude the mission on July 1."

5 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Not really as bad as the blurb sounds by the_humeister · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The mission lasted 4 times longer than was planned. Not too shabby (unless you compare to those Mars rovers that just keep going and going...). Sure beats having the mission end prematurely due to stupid things like not having enough fuel or computer errors.

  2. NASA-style journalism by TrueJim · · Score: 4, Insightful

    You can always tell when a story is based on a NASA press release. If the spacecraft exceeded its mission expectations, it's a "NASA spacecraft." But if it failed, it's a "Lockheed-built spacecraft" (or whichever contractor they decide to blame).

    For a change it would be nice to see NASA give kudos to whatever contractor built the successful spacecraft for them.

    --
    I hope that after I die the one word people use to describe me is "resurrected."
    1. Re:NASA-style journalism by eggman9713 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's just like they said in the Dilbert TV series, "credit travels up, blame travels down."

  3. Mission's over? by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I think the mission shouldn't officially be over unless useful data stops coming back, and I would assume a probe even just floating around aimlessly might still broadcast back some kinda data.

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    stuff |
    1. Re:Mission's over? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The only problem with maintaining the mission is that the Deep Space Network has a limited capacity for data transfer, if the equipment is utilized to monitor the Ulysses, it can't receive data on other, more useful probes. My guess is that NASA, in order to allocate resources for missions still streaming huge amounts of valuable data, it's better to cut this one loose and focus on the others.