Related News
Spacewalking astronauts release mini-satellite
SPACEWALKING astronauts released a ham radio satellite outside the International Space Station yesterday despite a missing antenna that will hamper operations.
Russian Sergei Volkov let go of the boxy 57-pound (26-kilogram) satellite with his gloved hands, a few hours after Mission Control had put the operation on hold. But he and his spacewalking partner, Alexander Samokutyaev, ran out of time before they could accomplish the major task: moving a Russian cargo crane from one part of the space station to another.
Soon after the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk began, the astronauts and flight controllers realized one of two antennas had somehow broken off the satellite. Experts on the ground have no idea how it may have broken or when, said NASA spacewalk commentator Josh Byerly.
After debating for three hours what to do, Mission Control instructed Volkov to release the satellite.
The transmitting capability will not be affected by the loss of one antenna, but the receiving of signals from the ground will be degraded, Byerly said. The satellite is designed to operate for a couple of months, and will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up in about nine months.
The mini-satellite is a prototype for a series of educational satellites under development by Radio Amateur Satellite Corp., NASA and a Russian aerospace company.
Russian Sergei Volkov let go of the boxy 57-pound (26-kilogram) satellite with his gloved hands, a few hours after Mission Control had put the operation on hold. But he and his spacewalking partner, Alexander Samokutyaev, ran out of time before they could accomplish the major task: moving a Russian cargo crane from one part of the space station to another.
Soon after the six-and-a-half hour spacewalk began, the astronauts and flight controllers realized one of two antennas had somehow broken off the satellite. Experts on the ground have no idea how it may have broken or when, said NASA spacewalk commentator Josh Byerly.
After debating for three hours what to do, Mission Control instructed Volkov to release the satellite.
The transmitting capability will not be affected by the loss of one antenna, but the receiving of signals from the ground will be degraded, Byerly said. The satellite is designed to operate for a couple of months, and will re-enter the atmosphere and burn up in about nine months.
The mini-satellite is a prototype for a series of educational satellites under development by Radio Amateur Satellite Corp., NASA and a Russian aerospace company.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS
- |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 娌狪CP璇侊細娌狪CP澶05050403鍙-1
- |
- 浜掕仈缃戞柊闂讳俊鎭湇鍔¤鍙瘉锛31120180004
- |
- 缃戠粶瑙嗗惉璁稿彲璇侊細0909346
- |
- 骞挎挱鐢佃鑺傜洰鍒朵綔璁稿彲璇侊細娌瓧绗354鍙
- |
- 澧炲肩數淇′笟鍔$粡钀ヨ鍙瘉锛氭勃B2-20120012
Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.