Author Topic: Deep Space and Interplanetary Exploration - Houston, we are go for launch! (Read 107656 times)

Wrangler · « **Reply #1260 on:** 25 January 2024, 16:31:54 »

Not so bright news, the Integrity remote copter on Mars has ended it's mission. Apparently on it's 72nd flight, the copter had tumbled and broke the tip of one it's blades.

The report does not go into detail, but it appears too much to fly the remote copter again.

As I recall, the Integrity's blades were super ultra light, thus they were fragile. I'm curious if they tried get it to fly vs giving up after seeing the picture. I think the former, but there not much information.

A earth bound prototype already was donated to National Air and Space Museum.

Report on SpaceNews.

Daryk · « **Reply #1261 on:** 25 January 2024, 18:57:08 »

Bummer!

Maingunnery · « **Reply #1262 on:** 25 January 2024, 19:22:56 »

Quote from: Daryk on 25 January 2024, 18:57:08

Bummer!

True, but with the obtained practical data they can design a much better martian copter for future missions.

Wrangler · « **Reply #1263 on:** 25 January 2024, 20:49:39 »

Well, my question "Did the rovers not have cameras? Were they close enough to see the landing?" got answered. Yep.

Curtsey of JAXA rover LEV-2.

I guess they under estimate how much rotation the lander needed to land on the legs....

Prospernia · « **Reply #1264 on:** 25 January 2024, 21:08:59 »

I always like looking at the photos of the ground of the other planets; I think, "So that's what it looks like on an alien-world".

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #1265 on:** 26 January 2024, 05:33:34 »

Manley had a video on the SLIM crash after JAXA had a press conference. Apparently one of the engines failed just before landing - possibly a problem with the oxidizer feed - and while the lander came down softly it was now at an angle as well as still moving a bit sideways. Thus when it touched down it tumbled.

The impressive part is that it was under internal guidance during the whole landing sequence, and the programming was good enough to (mostly) handle a ~40% loss of power plus off-axis thrust without crashing!

Wrangler · « **Reply #1266 on:** 26 January 2024, 08:27:05 »

Quote from: Sabelkatten on 26 January 2024, 05:33:34

Manley had a video on the SLIM crash after JAXA had a press conference. Apparently one of the engines failed just before landing - possibly a problem with the oxidizer feed - and while the lander came down softly it was now at an angle as well as still moving a bit sideways. Thus when it touched down it tumbled.

The impressive part is that it was under internal guidance during the whole landing sequence, and the programming was good enough to (mostly) handle a ~40% loss of power plus off-axis thrust without crashing!

Indeed, I finally caught up on Scott Manley's video on the landing. He amazing at his analyzing everything. They really shouldn't be using the oxidizer for fuel. If he's right, the Venus probe lost it's engine in same manner, which shares same type engine as this lander. Still the guidance system did a specular job landing it, and most precise landing so far.

Hopefully, they can get away from the oxidizer fuel. That stuff eats through anything if conditions are right.

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #1267 on:** 26 January 2024, 20:05:23 »

Can't find what SLIM used for fuel/oxidizer mix, but given how it operated I assume it had to be hypergolic - which pretty much by default means horrible reactive substances as both fuel and oxidizer.

Daryk · « **Reply #1268 on:** 26 January 2024, 20:15:40 »

Joules per kg are what makes it worthwhile... ;)

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #1269 on:** 26 January 2024, 20:39:08 »

Hypergolics are typically not the most efficient fuels, but not needing a separate ignition system really helps with engine design and rapid stop/restart!

Wrangler · « **Reply #1270 on:** 27 January 2024, 07:53:06 »

It would cool if we got more footage of the two mini-rovers bouncing around on the surface, I do wonder if they relied on the main lander to keep contact with Earth.

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #1271 on:** 27 January 2024, 13:41:19 »

As I understand it the lander is shut down, so they can't be using that. I don't know if they are using another satellite to relay or if the distance is short enough to pick up down here.

kato · « **Reply #1272 on:** 29 January 2024, 08:18:46 »

Quote from: Sabelkatten on 26 January 2024, 20:05:23

Can't find what SLIM used for fuel/oxidizer mix, but given how it operated I assume it had to be hypergolic - which pretty much by default means horrible reactive substances as both fuel and oxidizer.

Took a while to find it, but apparently SLIM used 296.7 kg hydrazine as fuel and 237.3 kg MON-3 as oxidizer for the main thruster.

The main thruster system seems to be identical to the orbital maneuvering engine used on the semi-failed Venus orbiter Akatsuki launched in 2010, and differs from other similar systems by having a ceramic thruster (as in JAXA are the only ones using ceramic thrusters).

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #1273 on:** 29 January 2024, 11:53:06 »

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68125589

The lander's back online!

Wrangler · « **Reply #1274 on:** 29 January 2024, 17:09:18 »

Recent picture of the NASA's Juno probe passby of Jupiter's Moon Io.

Wrangler · « **Reply #1275 on:** 05 February 2024, 22:01:10 »

View from the rover to Ingenuity on sand dunes of Mars.

Prospernia · « **Reply #1276 on:** 06 February 2024, 17:00:58 »

So, eventually, the Martian-winds will conspire to cover to the rover on the sand-dunes, and bury it; with time, more and more sediments will be deposited on it, that, a million years from now, or so, a terraformed-Mars, water-worn valley will emerge exposing the fossilized rover for the future Martians to uncover.

truetanker · « **Reply #1277 on:** 06 February 2024, 19:12:32 »

Quote from: Wrangler on 05 February 2024, 22:01:10

View from the rover to Ingenuity on sand dunes of Mars.

Just had too... and you know it!

TT

Wrangler · « **Reply #1278 on:** 09 February 2024, 20:07:58 »

More pictures of the Juno probe fly by of Io

Daryk · « **Reply #1279 on:** 09 February 2024, 21:17:05 »

Nice shots! :)

Sabelkatten · « **Reply #1280 on:** 10 February 2024, 04:37:27 »

On the first picture, is that a pair of geysers in the upper left?

rebs · « **Reply #1281 on:** 10 February 2024, 13:42:49 »

Link to an excellent podcast below….

Attempt No Landing There

https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/this-week-in-space-podcast-episode-97-attempt-no-landing-there

Wrangler · « **Reply #1282 on:** 10 February 2024, 16:57:57 »

Quote from: Sabelkatten on 10 February 2024, 04:37:27

On the first picture, is that a pair of geysers in the upper left?

Yep, more likely volcanoes. Given surface is cover with lava pools as Jupiter squeezes the moon.

Wrangler · « **Reply #1283 on:** 21 February 2024, 19:12:58 »

James Webb Space Telescope has discovered / spotted coldest Brown Dwarf star yet, WISE 0855-0714.

Maingunnery · « **Reply #1284 on:** 21 February 2024, 19:19:22 »

It is surprisingly close to us, just a little over 7 LY away.

Daryk · « **Reply #1285 on:** 21 February 2024, 19:49:01 »

My bet is on colder matter than we've seen so far being the answer to the "missing mass" problem, but it's going to take a LOT better instruments than even Webb to prove that out...

Prospernia · « **Reply #1286 on:** 21 February 2024, 22:19:33 »

Quote from: Maingunnery on 21 February 2024, 19:19:22

It is surprisingly close to us, just a little over 7 LY away.

If you jumped there, could you recharge your sails?

Daryk · « **Reply #1287 on:** 22 February 2024, 19:16:53 »

They did it! The US is on the moon again!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg2ffigGcYM

Maingunnery · « **Reply #1288 on:** 22 February 2024, 19:58:40 »

Quote from: Prospernia on 21 February 2024, 22:19:33

If you jumped there, could you recharge your sails?

I don't think so as it is Y-class.

Daryk · « **Reply #1289 on:** 22 February 2024, 19:59:46 »

That just means it takes longer than the current rules cover...