ESA launch into wrong orbit
Discussion
It is being reported that the two satellites launched by ESA on a Soyuz yesterday have ended up in the wrong orbit. No details yet on how far off they are ( though it is thought the orbits cannot be corrected using onboard propulsion ), nor how the error occurred
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/two-gali...
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/two-gali...
More info - looks like the Fregat upper stage malfunctioned in some way
http://spaceflightnow.com/soyuz/vs09/140825board/#...
http://spaceflightnow.com/soyuz/vs09/140825board/#...
The Greenista Independent said:
The European Union hopes to have its 30-satellite Galileo navigation network operating fully by 2017
But fails to mention Europe wide road tolls controlled by Galileo. b
ds. Will we be out of the EU by 2017?Edited by mybrainhurts on Tuesday 26th August 15:18
Update so far here.
ESA said:
Operations continue smoothly for Galileo Sat 5-6. Both satellites now have both sets of their solar arrays fully deployed and generating power.
The satellites are safely under control, despite having been released on a lower and elliptical orbit instead of the expected circular orbit on 22 August.
The European ground teams deployed at ESA’s control centre ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, in cooperation with satellite manufacturer OHB, confirm that both satellites are in a safe state, correctly pointing to the sun, properly powered and fully under control of the ESA-CNES integrated team.
Controllers are ready to proceed to the next stage of the launch and early operations phase activities.
In parallel ESA teams are investigating the possibilities of exploiting the satellites to maximum advantage, despite their non-nominal injection orbits and within the limited propulsion capabilities. Different scenarios will then be assessed before decisions are taken for a recovery mission.
Galileo is Europe's own global satellite navigation system. It will consist of 30 satellites and their ground infrastructure.
The definition, development and In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase of the Galileo programme were carried out by ESA and co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. This phase created a mini-constellation of four satellites and a reduced ground segment dedicated to validating the overall concept.The four satellites launched during IOV are the nucleus of the constellation that will then be extended to reach the Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase is fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.
Sounds like they still don't know what they are going to do with them yet. Not only have they been injected at the wrong altitude but they are also in an eliptical orbit rather than a circular one.The satellites are safely under control, despite having been released on a lower and elliptical orbit instead of the expected circular orbit on 22 August.
The European ground teams deployed at ESA’s control centre ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, in cooperation with satellite manufacturer OHB, confirm that both satellites are in a safe state, correctly pointing to the sun, properly powered and fully under control of the ESA-CNES integrated team.
Controllers are ready to proceed to the next stage of the launch and early operations phase activities.
In parallel ESA teams are investigating the possibilities of exploiting the satellites to maximum advantage, despite their non-nominal injection orbits and within the limited propulsion capabilities. Different scenarios will then be assessed before decisions are taken for a recovery mission.
Galileo is Europe's own global satellite navigation system. It will consist of 30 satellites and their ground infrastructure.
The definition, development and In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase of the Galileo programme were carried out by ESA and co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. This phase created a mini-constellation of four satellites and a reduced ground segment dedicated to validating the overall concept.The four satellites launched during IOV are the nucleus of the constellation that will then be extended to reach the Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase is fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.
Laplace said:
Sounds like they still don't know what they are going to do with them yet. Not only have they been injected at the wrong altitude but they are also in an eliptical orbit rather than a circular one.
Does that not just mean that the final orbital injection burn failed? Is it not normal to pause in an elliptical orbit until perigee is reached and final burn puts you into the upper desired orbit? A lot of the physics makes my head spin, but that seems to be the gist of what the wiki says.hidetheelephants said:
Does that not just mean that the final orbital injection burn failed? Is it not normal to pause in an elliptical orbit until perigee is reached and final burn puts you into the upper desired orbit? A lot of the physics makes my head spin, but that seems to be the gist of what the wiki says.
I believe so, it sounds like it's in its parking orbit but it's not a field I know much about.Does anyone have any idea what a possible recovery mission may entail?
The mission might be saved but only if the propulsion system on the satellites themselves are powerful enough and have enough fuel to enable the satellites to be slowly nudged into their correct orbits.
This type of situation has occurred many times over the history of satellite launches - sometimes the mission can be saved, sometimes it can't.
This type of situation has occurred many times over the history of satellite launches - sometimes the mission can be saved, sometimes it can't.
Laplace said:
Update so far here.
I don't generally follow much in the wider world on my own projects so apols for taking a while posting on this one but lets just say that is the most positive of positive spin ESA said:
Operations continue smoothly for Galileo Sat 5-6. Both satellites now have both sets of their solar arrays fully deployed and generating power.
The satellites are safely under control, despite having been released on a lower and elliptical orbit instead of the expected circular orbit on 22 August.
The European ground teams deployed at ESA’s control centre ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, in cooperation with satellite manufacturer OHB, confirm that both satellites are in a safe state, correctly pointing to the sun, properly powered and fully under control of the ESA-CNES integrated team.
Controllers are ready to proceed to the next stage of the launch and early operations phase activities.
In parallel ESA teams are investigating the possibilities of exploiting the satellites to maximum advantage, despite their non-nominal injection orbits and within the limited propulsion capabilities. Different scenarios will then be assessed before decisions are taken for a recovery mission.
Galileo is Europe's own global satellite navigation system. It will consist of 30 satellites and their ground infrastructure.
The definition, development and In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase of the Galileo programme were carried out by ESA and co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. This phase created a mini-constellation of four satellites and a reduced ground segment dedicated to validating the overall concept.The four satellites launched during IOV are the nucleus of the constellation that will then be extended to reach the Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase is fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.
Sounds like they still don't know what they are going to do with them yet. Not only have they been injected at the wrong altitude but they are also in an eliptical orbit rather than a circular one.The satellites are safely under control, despite having been released on a lower and elliptical orbit instead of the expected circular orbit on 22 August.
The European ground teams deployed at ESA’s control centre ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany, in cooperation with satellite manufacturer OHB, confirm that both satellites are in a safe state, correctly pointing to the sun, properly powered and fully under control of the ESA-CNES integrated team.
Controllers are ready to proceed to the next stage of the launch and early operations phase activities.
In parallel ESA teams are investigating the possibilities of exploiting the satellites to maximum advantage, despite their non-nominal injection orbits and within the limited propulsion capabilities. Different scenarios will then be assessed before decisions are taken for a recovery mission.
Galileo is Europe's own global satellite navigation system. It will consist of 30 satellites and their ground infrastructure.
The definition, development and In-Orbit Validation (IOV) phase of the Galileo programme were carried out by ESA and co-funded by ESA and the European Commission. This phase created a mini-constellation of four satellites and a reduced ground segment dedicated to validating the overall concept.The four satellites launched during IOV are the nucleus of the constellation that will then be extended to reach the Full Operational Capability (FOC).
The Full Operational Capability (FOC) phase is fully funded by the European Commission. The Commission and ESA have signed a delegation agreement by which ESA acts as design and procurement agent on behalf of the Commission.
The Septa 33 comment is especially impressive fancy verbal footwork!Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff