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Space Science

FUSE Satellite in Safe Mode 21

Posted by michael from the entropy-increases dept.
MattHaffner writes "Yesterday, a status report from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) operations center reports that the satellite is in 'safe mode' after losing (another) reaction wheel--the mechanisms used to point the spacecraft. FUSE had been operating with only two of three original wheels for about two years using a creative solution utilizing the earth's magnetic field. Losing a second wheel for good may mean a serious reduction in science, however. For those keeping track, this is the third major blow to UV astronomy in less than a year. The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) was due to be installed on the canceled SM4, and the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), a major instrument on HST, failed in 2004 Aug. The infrared is well covered by current and upcoming NASA missions including the Spitzer Space Telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and SOFIA, but ultraviolet astronomy may have a serious dearth of instruments in the near future. While IR is useful for studying dusty environments, star formation, planetary system formation, and red-shifted galaxies, the UV is the best place to study the chemical composition and evolution of interstellar gas, stars, and galaxies since many of the more abundant elements have strong spectral signatures in that region of the spectrum."
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FUSE Satellite in Safe Mode More

FUSE Satellite in Safe Mode

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  • When it is in safe mode, a lot of the peripherals don't work right and it is in ugly low-color 640 x 480 pixel mode. They should have rebooted it properly instead if hitting the power switch.

    • Windows hasn't done that since, like, ME. What planet have YOU been living on?

      AtariAmarok
      • Wrong on Windows jokes
      • Wrong on Zeppelin puns
      • Wrong for America

      ...but this begs the question, was it running on "Dangerous Mode" before? I mean, that would explain the loss of function here. Er... I mean, "Dangeresque Mode." See how I threw in that pop culture reference there? Bang!

    • Because this satellite was not properly shut down, one of your spinning disks may have errors. To avoid seeing this message again....
  • Taking out these satellites is all part of the plan by the ultra-violent ultraviolet aliens. This way, they can sneak up on earth undetected.

    Ok, I'll take off my tinfoil hat now...

  • Not all UV astronomy is in trouble... (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Scott Ransom ( 6419 ) <sransom AT nrao DOT edu> on Tuesday January 04, 2005 @04:05PM (#11256928)
    The Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) http://www.galex.caltech.edu/ [caltech.edu] is cranking out great science (and spectacular pictures of galaxies...)

    Yes, IAAA.

  • UV spectroscopy (Score:3, Insightful)

    by helioquake ( 841463 ) on Tuesday January 04, 2005 @05:12PM (#11257721) Journal
    At this point there are about seven comments (and mostly with would-be "funny" tags).

    This situation represents the level of public interest in UV spectroscopy:

    Not very much.

    It's a pretty sad day to be an UV astronomer.
    • Well... there's the underfed in Africa to feed, after all!

      *sighs*

      I sincerely hope that Hubble can be repaired and upgraded, if only for the UV science.

    • Yeah, but what's someone who went to JHU and worked on a (different) UV telescope project supposed to say? It happens, it's sad. :(

      I must say, having a satellite control system in the basement of the physics building is still cool, even without a satellite!

      --LWM
      • FUSE is not dead yet. It sucks to operate with a single inertial torquer, but it's far from dead. A Good thing is that it has been operating with the coarse mode for a long time, and it probably continue to do so with one good wheel. So as long as it goes after point-like sources, it should still be useful.

        Or so I hope. FUSE had never achieved its maximum operational capacity; but it might as well hang on with the little that it got. A tough figher.

    • "This situation represents the level of public interest in UV spectroscopy:
      Not very much."

      Yep but then at most book stores there are more Astrology books then Astronomy books.
      Hope they can get more good science out of FUSE.

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