Groundbreaking Solar Mission Faces Chilly Death 134
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."
Not really as bad as the blurb sounds (Score:5, Insightful)
NASA-style journalism (Score:5, Insightful)
For a change it would be nice to see NASA give kudos to whatever contractor built the successful spacecraft for them.
Re:The Real Ulysses (Score:2, Insightful)
Hmm, so this probe is actually the real Ulysses.
Re:NASA-style journalism (Score:3, Insightful)
Mission's over? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I'd send it into the sun for one last splash (Score:1, Insightful)
Re:RTG lifetime (Score:3, Insightful)
Because then you'd need a bigger heavier radiator to keep the RTG from melting early in the mission.
Re:I'd send it into the sun for one last splash (Score:3, Insightful)
Oh it will probably get to the sun eventually, if it doesn't run into something else, but it will be dead long before.
Re:solar power? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:It can't die, it wasn't alive (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Mission's over? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:The Real Ulysses (Score:2, Insightful)
I find it humorous how ancient writers went into great detail about how torture was done. It makes them sound obsessed with violence. I wonder if that was the style, or whether its just that such info tends to survive longer?
In 2500 years, will people be reading the same kinds of things about Guantanamo Bay and CIA water-boarding and think the same thing?
Re:RTG lifetime (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:It can't die, it wasn't alive (Score:3, Insightful)
It would be an A2A if a Wikipedia article claimed it doesn't need citations because of it being a Wikipedia article, or only cited other Wikipedia articles which themselves had no citations or only cited yet other Wikipedia articles.