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Ulysses Spacecraft Not Dead Yet
Posted by
kdawson
on Sat Jul 12, 2008 04:43 PM
from the it's-chilly-out-there dept.
from the it's-chilly-out-there dept.
iminplaya sends in the good news that reports of the death of the Ulysses mission are premature. (We've discussed the impending shutdown of the 17-year-old mission a couple of times this year.) Ulysses is a joint NASA / ESA mission to study the sun from an orbit inclined almost 90 degrees from the ecliptic. From the Planetary Society blog post: "Ulysses is not dead yet. ESA issued a statement in February saying that, as Ulysses' radioisotope thermoelectric generators were running out of power, the spacecraft would likely die some time this year. The actual death blow to the spacecraft was likely to be the freezing of hydrazine fuel in a cold spot in a fuel line. Mission controllers found creative ways to prevent the freezing, but the solution was not a long-term one, and ESA had a ceremonial send-off and wrap-up of the mission in mid-June, announcing that the spacecraft would be shut down on July 1. However, it now appears that announcement was premature. ESA issued a statement on July 3 titled 'Ulysses hanging on valiantly.' And on Wednesday, the [Ulysses mission operations manager indicated] that Ulysses' voyage could actually continue for some time."
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Ulysses Spacecraft on its Last Legs 121 comments
doconnor writes "JPL announced that Ulysses' mission will be ending after 17 years. The power generated by the decay of a radioactive isotope has been slowly decreasing. To conserve power its main transmitter was shut off. Unfortunately due to a fault in its power supply it cannot be turned back on. The team plans to continue operating the spacecraft in its reduced capacity, using the alternate S-band transmitter, for as long as they can over the next few weeks." Congratulations to all the geniuses involved in this one.
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Groundbreaking Solar Mission Faces Chilly Death 134 comments
iamlucky13 writes "Over 17 years ago, the Ulysses spacecraft was launched aboard the space shuttle Discovery for a unique NASA/ESA mission. While nearly all other probes travel along our solar system's ecliptic plane, Ulysses used a Jupiter gravity assist to swing 80 degrees out of plane, carrying it over the sun's poles for an unprecedented view. During a mission that lasted four times longer than planned, it has flown through the tails of several comets, helped pinpoint distant gamma-ray bursts, and provided data on the sun and its heliosphere from the better part of two solar cycles. Unfortunately, the natural reduction of power from its radioisotope thermal generator means it is now unable to even keep its attitude control fuel from freezing, and NASA has decided to formally conclude the mission on July 1."
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Ulysses Space Mission Finally Coming To an End 45 comments
Dusty writes "After several false alarms, the Ulysses Mission is finally ending. According to the Spacecraft Operations Manager's latest status report, the last track will be on 30th June 2009 from 15:25 until 20:20 UTC. 'We've tried to bolster our dwindling tracking allocation with some success
by grabbing antenna time released on short notice (mostly by the Spitzer Project). However, weekly data return figures are now typically 10% or less. And soon, even 512 bps from 70m antennas will be a thing of the past.'
Further details about Ulysses' 18-year mission are available from NASA and the ESA. We discussed the failing spacecraft last summer when it looked like its fuel was going to freeze, but through clever engineering, experts managed to squeeze out another year.
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Of course it's not dead ... (Score:3, Funny)
At least not until Netcraft confirms it.
And maybe not even then ...
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Not dead [wikipedia.org]. Just takes way too long to read and interpret.
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Of course it's not dead ...
That's right, it's not dead, not even close. In fact the people who said it's dead probably don't even know what something dead looks like.
However in other news, BSD is dead.
Re:Of course it's not dead ... (Score:5, Funny)
I'll tell you what's wrong with it, my lad. 'E's dead, that's what's wrong with it!
No, no, 'e's uh,...he's resting.
Look, matey, I know a dead spacecraft when I see one, and I'm looking at one right now.
No no he's not dead, he's, he's restin'! Remarkable ship, the Ulysses, idn'it, ay? Beautiful solar collectors!
The solar collectors don't enter into it. It's stone dead.
Nononono, no, no! 'E's resting!
All right then, if he's restin', I'll wake him up! (shouting at the cage) 'Ello, Mister Ulysses! I've got a lovely fresh battery for you if you show...(owner hits the retros)
There, he moved!
No, he didn't, that was you hitting the retros!
I never!!
Yes, you did!
I never, never did anything...
(yelling) 'ELLO ULYSSES!!!!! Testing! Testing! Testing! Testing! This is your nine o'clock alarm call!
Parent
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In this case ... (Score:2)
you would need [space] Craft Net to confirm it.
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Of course it's not dead...
It's resting!
*ducks*
Re:Of course it's not dead ... (Score:4, Funny)
probably pining for the fjords.
And now...
http://www.mwscomp.com/movies/grail/grail-02.htm [mwscomp.com]
Parent
Of Course Ulysses' Not Dead! (Score:5, Funny)
It'll probably return after twenty years or so, Poseidon be damned!
Re:Of Course Ulysses' Not Dead! (Score:5, Interesting)
An appropriate poem [utoronto.ca] for a dieing spacecraft.
Come, my friends,
'T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,
And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.
Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Parent
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Re: Of Course Ulysses' Not Dead! (Score:2)
Well that certainly beats the lines I was going to post:
Ulysses, Ulysses, soaring through all the galaxies, in search of Earth, flying into the night!
Ulysses, Ulysses, fighting evil and tyranny with all his heart and with all of his might!
Ulysseee-eee-eees, no-one else can do the things you do!
Ulysseee-eee-eees, like a bolt of thunder from the blue!
Ulysseee-eee-eees, always fighting all the evil forces, bringing peace and justice to all!
It's me Nono, small robot you know, friend of Ulysses!
Uly-
It's a rewrite of the original by Dante (Score:3, Interesting)
Written over 700 years ago and still brilliant. This is just a small extract:
"O frati", dissi "che per cento milia
perigli siete giunti a l'occidente,
a questa tanto picciola vigilia
d'i nostri sensi ch'è del rimanente,
non vogliate negar l'esperienza,
di retro al sol, del mondo sanza gente.
Considerate la vostra semenza:
fatti non foste a viver come bruti,
ma per seguir virtute e canoscenza''.
Li miei compagni fec'io sì aguti,
con questa orazion picciola, al cammin
Of Course Ulysses's Dead! (Score:3, Funny)
Ulysses S. Grant died at 8:06 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 1885, at the age of 63 in Mount McGregor, Saratoga County, New York. His last word was a request, "Hydrazine."
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Ulysses S. Grant died at 8:06 a.m. on Thursday, July 23, 1885, at the age of 63 in Mount McGregor, Saratoga County, New York. His last word was a request, "Hydrazine."
Yeah, he may be dead, but who's buried in Grant's tomb?
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Well, to be fair, Odysseus was a general of sorts too. :-)
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It's the "last voyage" (Score:2)
In Dante (Commedia,Inf 26) his voyage beyond the
Tales of Brave Ulysses (Score:3, Insightful)
You thought the leaden winter would bring you down forever,
But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun.
And the colors of the sea blind your eyes with trembling mermaids,
And you touch the distant beaches with tales of brave Ulysses:
How his naked ears were tortured by the sirens sweetly singing,
For the sparkling waves are calling you to kiss their white laced lips.
And you see a girl's brown body dancing through the turquoise,
And her footprints make you follow where the sky loves the sea.
And when your fingers find her, she drowns you in her body,
Carving deep blue ripples in the tissues of your mind.
The tiny purple fishes run laughing through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
Her name is Aphrodite and she rides a crimson shell,
And you know you cannot leave her for you touched the distant sands
With tales of brave Ulysses; how his naked ears were tortured
By the sirens sweetly singing.
The tiny purple fishes run lauging through your fingers,
And you want to take her with you to the hard land of the winter.
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Always hard to beat The Cream!
On a related note, give Symphony X's "The Odyssey" a listen. It's a true rock opera.
today's NASA kids could learn from this. (Score:5, Interesting)
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It's entirely possible that lack of funding could kill it before the hydrazine freezes over.
Re:today's NASA kids could learn from this. (Score:5, Insightful)
Well there's a tagline: "Lack of funding, kills stuff faster then outer space". I reckon the military might even pay to turn that into a weapon.
Parent
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Isn't separating an enemy from his funding one of the oldest military tactics in existence?
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How do the inflation-adjusted costs of previous missions compare to current mission costs?
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ESA says [esa.int] the total cost of Ulysses has been about 1 billion Euro, which is about $1.5 billion US. Might want to try a different example.
Re:today's NASA kids could learn from this. (Score:5, Insightful)
that's bargin basement space exploration. it's the perfect example, thank you very much.
Parent
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Well, I can't believe you put down this as accurately as 0.1 of a cent, but:
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to put this in perspective it costs 1.3 billion PER MISSION for the shuttles, and it's predicted the shuttle program will have cost 173 bi
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I understand his point fine. I even agree with it. But the fact of the matter is that this mission cost well over one billion dollars, which contradicts the basic statement he made in the original post.
What is it with space advocates and facts, never the twain shall meet? Any time you point out that things aren't as rosy as stated, you get all kinds of wacky defensive maneuvering instead of a simple "you're right about that, but".
Re:today's NASA kids could learn from this. (Score:5, Insightful)
a) Ulysses has cost over a billion.
b) NASA has had spacecraft which have lasted longer than anyone thought they would. The current Mars rovers for example, and Mars Pathfinder, as well as the Galileo spacecraft, which had at least 4 extended missions. Not to mention the Voyagers. The correlation between cost and the lifetime of the craft is not coincidental.
c) Having a mission that lasts a long time is not indicative of a well thought out mission. I think if any agency is going to blow 1 billion on a mission, they're going to think it out pretty damn well. Imagine the public backlash if it weren't thought out (i.e. Mars Polar Lander)...
Parent
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Craft and instruments that out live their missions by as long as some of those have were over-engineered.
Yes, it's great that those are still useful, but it means that they were over-engineered and cost more than they really needed to. That's money which could be spent on other missions.
I'm not suggesting that NASA have its budget slashed, but praising an agency for what is essentially a form of screwing up isn't great. Or that projects be designed to last exactly the length of time desired, but ideally pro
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Sometimes, over-engineering is exactly the right thing to do.
If they built it "just right" and any little thing went wrong, the mission fails and the money is all down the drain.
Over-engineer and you're much more likely to accomplish the mission. Usually, you get to add an extended secondary mission so the extra cost isn't a waste.
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Space travel isn't that easy for us, yet.
Tales of Brave Ulysses (Score:2)
But you rode upon a steamer to the violence of the sun.
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Then you've got to do the lead bit:
"Daaaa dum da da daa..."
Ulysses Spacecraft Not Dead Yet (Score:3, Funny)
Hmm, that reminded me of this movie [youtube.com]...
It just needs to... (Score:2)
Ulysses, Ulysses
Soaring through all the galaxies
In search of Earth
Flying into the night...
Ejection from the solar system? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
You think it's like turning your car to make a left hand turn of something?!
Momentum... look it up.
Thank you (Score:5, Funny)
Thank you for telling people their idea is stupid. Sometimes they need it, the uneducated louts.
Now, I think NASA is overlooking a completely obvious and fooldproof solution. Problem: they have frozen pipes. They're also near the Sun. A quick flyby of the sun for some warmth, and they're good to go! However, if I remember my science classes correctly, they have to keep the pass under a certain speed, or they run into problems with humpback whales.
Parent
Re:Thank you (Score:4, Funny)
Nonsense, they merely have to keep it going at least 50mph, otherwise a crazed biker will blow it up.
Parent
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How do you plan to arrange that close encounter when its current orbit takes it nowhere near Jupiter, genius?
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How do you plan to arrange that close encounter when its current orbit takes it nowhere near Jupiter, genius?
Move Jupiter then. Mohammed, mountain, mountain, Mohammed. Think outside the box sometime, genius. :)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Ulysses will get near Jupiter eventually. Maybe if instead of stating that "its current orbit takes it nowhere near Jupiter" you had tried to prove it by posting orbital elements, you would have seen the flaw in your thinking.
"Eventually" isn't going to help any, if by that time the RTG is cooled down enough so that the hydrazine has frozen to a solid so that the craft can't be manuevered for the fly-by. That would be the flaw in your thinking.
Re:End idea (Score:5, Informative)
If it had enough left for that sort of maneuver, it wouldn't be in trouble. Of course, it never had enough fuel to do that. It had just enough to reach a Juipiter fly-by in order to get into a near polar orbit of the Sun.
Parent
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