Phobos-Grunt is above Baikonur right now. Let's see if we have any news on the next minutes.
I can understand why Russia might want to try and get away with using only their limited domestic tracking and telemetry assets in order to save costs, but I don't understand how that consideration wasn't nullified immediately when the spacecraft encountered a potential LOM situation and they clearly could benefit from additional coverage in resolving the problem. They should have asked for help, and I don't understand why they haven't. The cost of this mission far exceeds the cost of securing international assistance in saving it. If this is viewed as a matter of national pride, then that concerns me. Would they insist on making do with their domestic resources if there were cosmonauts on that spacecraft? I sincerely hope they save this very ambitious mission. I wish they would pursue every available resource and not rely completely on the one and only ground station in the world that can provide insight into the situation.
Just to know, Russia has only one tracking station? What about data relay satellites to use?
If this is viewed as a matter of national pride, then that concerns me. Would they insist on making do with their domestic resources if there were cosmonauts on that spacecraft?
Looking ahead, and assuming they get a successful trans-Mars insertion, my next big concern is the operation of the Fregat stage for Mars Orbit Insertion after an eleven month cold cruise. NASA probes have been badly bit by problems caused by using hypergolic engines after such an exposure to flight conditions. Since [for the first time?] the same engine is being used both for Earth departure and Mars arrival [Mars-96 apparently intended to do the same -- did Phobos-1 and -2?] , I am deeply concerned over the state of its engine valves when the probe finally [we hope] gets to Mars.
Hi folksDoes anybody know which radio frequencies are being used by the spacecraft? Greetings from SwitzerlandAlex
According to the ground track info at http://digilander.libero.it/SATrack/Phobos.html?q=phobos%20#MAP , the spacecraft is passing right over Baikonur right now, so hopefully they can communicate properly with it and figure out a workaround.
на офф канале тв студии роскосмоса на трубе написали вот что:Первая попытка запустить двигательную установку межпланетной станции "Фобос-грунт", которая не вышла на траекторию отлета к Марсу, состоится сегодня в 21:16 мск.
Ten minutes from a first propulsion test, supposedly.Quoteна офф канале тв студии роскосмоса на трубе написали вот что:Первая попытка запустить двигательную установку межпланетной станции "Фобос-грунт", которая не вышла на траекторию отлета к Марсу, состоится сегодня в 21:16 мск.
Quote from: Skylab on 11/09/2011 08:06 pmTen minutes from a first propulsion test, supposedly.Quoteна офф канале тв студии роскосмоса на трубе написали вот что:Первая попытка запустить двигательную установку межпланетной станции "Фобос-грунт", которая не вышла на траекторию отлета к Марсу, состоится сегодня в 21:16 мск.Are you sure about this? 21:16 МСК was two hours ago...
Can someone check this Russian post? Propulsion test at 21:16 MSK?Quoteна офф канале тв студии роскосмоса на трубе написали вот что:Первая попытка запустить двигательную установку межпланетной станции "Фобос-грунт", которая не вышла на траекторию отлета к Марсу, состоится сегодня в 21:16 мск.