This image is a stack of three images taken of the nucleus of Halley's Comet by the Soviet Vega-1 spacecraft as it flew by on March 6, 1986. The images were badly blurred by optical problems in the camera, so a lot of deconvolution had to be applied. Bright gets can be seen emanating out of the long, skinny nucleus.
Processed Image Copyright Ted Stryk, Raw Data Courtesy the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Update: Phobos-Grunt Status - this does not look good.
Experts assure that "Phobos-Grunt" will not crash on Moscow
MOSCOW, November 11. In the case of a uncontrolled re-entry, Phobos-Grunt’s inclination allows it to crash into half of Eurasia, but in Moscow is not in the area in which it could crash crash. This is according to RAI Navosti magazine News of Cosmonautics editor and columnist Igor Lisov.
"Barring a miracle, and experts fail to establish communications with the mission, it will remain out of control. If it is out of control, then there is the option to shoot down with a missile. We know that China and the U.S. have facilities, which can bring down the spacecraft" - said Lisov.
Recall that the launch of the Phobos-Grunt" took place on 9 November 2011. After separation from the booster, the spacecraft went into a parking orbit around the Earth. It then experience a problem, because of what tits propulsion system did not operate and so it did not end up in a transfer orbit to Mars, but remained in near space.
9 comments:
Are there any more Russian interplanetary probes even on the drawing board now?
Yes, the Met-Net Mars lander network (in collaboration with Finland)is already under construction. Other missions being developed include Luna-Glob, a lunar orbiter/lander mission, and Venera-D, a Venus orbiter/lander mission.
I hope they don't give those the axe now that Phobos Grunt's a bust.
I also hope that they address what appear to be systemic problems that led to this apparent failure.
When are those scheduled to be launched?
Any chance of there being another Phobos orbiter?
Luna Glob in 2015, Venera D in 2018. The MetNet precursor mission was scheduled to piggyback on Phobos-Grunt, with one or two MetNet penetrators. Perhaps fortunately, it wasn't ready on time and got bumped. Plans call for it in the 2013-2016 time frame. It might hitch a ride on planned Chinese, NASA, or ESA orbiters (The Chinese 2015 plan looks most likely). It also might be launched on its own using a small Volna rocket. Because it was only recently apparent that it wouldn't make it to Phobos-Grunt, all this is very vague. It would then be followed by a multitude of MetNet landers.
There have been references to Phobos-Grunt being insured and to there being a lot of spare parts lying around, so there is also the possibility that they might try to mount this mission again.
Well, if they do that it would have to be no later than 2013, which is when Mars would be at the right position again.
Darnit, meant to say no SOONER than 2013.
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