The unfortunate Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa over the asteroid Itokawa, art show
Vidulini
Japanese robotic spacecraft Hayabusa is entered in the ninth circle of hell space. Technical and other problems since the launch in May 2003. follow this craft are now kuluminirali fired and a third of the four ion engines. Block D ion drive was canceled this weekend. Telemetry data validation was established by a complete cancellation of this ion engine.
Scientists from the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) is now ahead only hope that the block C is still in operating condition because he is perceived anomalies off early this year. The spacecraft has since directed and driven to the country only with the D block the ion drive. Blocks A and B were canceled earlier in the year.
Hayabusa is the only aircraft that was (2005.) Landed (even unplanned!) On some asteroid (Itokawa), picked up samples of material (although this is questionable given the communications and other errors that have not confirmed the firing of missiles and collecting samples!) In intent that they are brought back to Earth for analysis.
According to the mission plan it was envisaged that the aircraft returned to the 2007th year. Defective conventional rocket engines, proglem discharging fuel, and anomalies of the orientation, communication and computer system delayed her return to weak ion engines for 2010.
JAXA is now working for months experimenting with the lights off block C ion engine operation, while calculating a new trajectory for a very uncertain return of the spacecraft. All ion engines have been canceled due to problems with power and it is certain that it could happen again at any moment and the only remaining engine of questionable validity. If this happens the spacecraft was lost forever.
Technological life ion engines is the thousands of hours, but Hayabusini engines have already done far more than engineering capabilities. Over 40,000 hours (1700 days!) Successive continuous work, however, seems to be too much for the propulsion system "invented" only a few years ago, first in science fiction films and then in reality.
Will be uncertain until the end, JAXA said on the occasion of these technical problems. Realistically speaking however, the chances that the aircraft (even in the new delay) of shipping samples to Earth is now expressed in per thousand. But mission controllers will attempt the impossible. Experience gathered during the mission of this spacecraft will provide the planning and implementation of any future robotic explorers.
With scientific stjališta, Hayabusa has already done a great job. If he manages to still crawl to the Earth it will be the icing on the cake for at least ten floors.
Otherwise, there is also a nice joke on the cancellation of the third of four (admittedly plane) Engine: Start early in the morning and Muju Haso plane to America where they should arrive about 15 hours. Every now and over the Atlantic, the pilot announces the words, Dear passengers canceled our number 1 engine There is no reason to worry this is a plane with four engines. Due to the number 1 engine failure will be delayed about twenty minutes ... The story of the pilot and when he canceled the engine number two, and shortly after the engine number three ... On to the Muju Hasi .. E Haso painful if we cancel this fourth engine we do not reach Midnight in America ... Well, just being in this or a little more difficult situation now is Hayabusa!
Marino Tumpić