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Planetary Society Blog for Saturday 30 May 2015



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 31st 15, 02:07 PM posted to sci.space.science
The Planetary Society via sci.space.science Admin
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Default Planetary Society Blog for Saturday 30 May 2015

Planetary Society Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
For LightSail Test Mission, Waiting is the Hardest Part

Posted: 29 May 2015 02:02 PM PDT
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason...dest-part.html

The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft is now entering its second
week of silence.

///////////////////////////////////////////
Dawn Journal: Spiralling Closer to Ceres

Posted: 29 May 2015 05:32 AM PDT
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/guest...-to-ceres.html

Dawn's Chief Engineer and Mission Director Marc Rayman gives an update as
the spacecraft's orbit takes it even closer to the dwarf planet Ceres.

  #2  
Old May 31st 15, 11:35 PM posted to sci.space.science
David Spain
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Posts: 2,901
Default Planetary Society Blog for Saturday 30 May 2015

On 5/31/2015 9:07 AM, The Planetary Society via sci.space.science Admin
wrote:
Planetary Society Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
For LightSail Test Mission, Waiting is the Hardest Part

Posted: 29 May 2015 02:02 PM PDT
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason...dest-part.html


The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft is now entering its second
week of silence.


Shades of the old ordeal with the Mars Climate Orbiter. I read elsewhere
that the probe launched with a known issue in its software.
That being that live ping transmissions from the spacecraft were being
logged in memory, until that memory was exhausted and then the software
crashed. Seems unlikely they will be able to revive this craft unless
there was a secondary control channel to allow remote restart of the
processor. That appears to not be the case here. I'd say this one is
one and done.

What I find of note is that there was apparently no use of a watchdog
timer. That would have forced the probe to restart on its own once the
hardware watchdog triggered. Seems like a rookie mistake. Ah well,
hopefully the Planetary Society didn't blow the budget on this one.
Another kickstarter folks?

Dave


  #3  
Old June 1st 15, 02:18 AM posted to sci.space.science
Jeff Findley[_6_]
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Posts: 2,307
Default Planetary Society Blog for Saturday 30 May 2015

In article , says...

On 5/31/2015 9:07 AM, The Planetary Society via sci.space.science Admin
wrote:
Planetary Society Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
For LightSail Test Mission, Waiting is the Hardest Part

Posted: 29 May 2015 02:02 PM PDT
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason...dest-part.html


The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft is now entering its second
week of silence.


Shades of the old ordeal with the Mars Climate Orbiter. I read elsewhere
that the probe launched with a known issue in its software.
That being that live ping transmissions from the spacecraft were being
logged in memory, until that memory was exhausted and then the software
crashed. Seems unlikely they will be able to revive this craft unless
there was a secondary control channel to allow remote restart of the
processor. That appears to not be the case here. I'd say this one is
one and done.

What I find of note is that there was apparently no use of a watchdog
timer. That would have forced the probe to restart on its own once the
hardware watchdog triggered. Seems like a rookie mistake. Ah well,
hopefully the Planetary Society didn't blow the budget on this one.
Another kickstarter folks?



Planetary Society Regains Communication With LightSail Spacecraft
MAY 31, 2015 8:14 AM ET
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...857/planetary-
society-regains-communication-with-lightsail-spacecraft

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer

  #4  
Old June 1st 15, 02:19 AM posted to sci.space.science
Alain Fournier[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 548
Default Planetary Society Blog for Saturday 30 May 2015

Le 5/31/15 6:35 PM, David Spain a écrit :
On 5/31/2015 9:07 AM, The Planetary Society via sci.space.science Admin
wrote:
Planetary Society Blog

///////////////////////////////////////////
For LightSail Test Mission, Waiting is the Hardest Part

Posted: 29 May 2015 02:02 PM PDT
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason...dest-part.html



The Planetary Society's LightSail spacecraft is now entering its second
week of silence.


Shades of the old ordeal with the Mars Climate Orbiter. I read elsewhere
that the probe launched with a known issue in its software.
That being that live ping transmissions from the spacecraft were being
logged in memory, until that memory was exhausted and then the software
crashed. Seems unlikely they will be able to revive this craft unless
there was a secondary control channel to allow remote restart of the
processor. That appears to not be the case here. I'd say this one is
one and done.

What I find of note is that there was apparently no use of a watchdog
timer. That would have forced the probe to restart on its own once the
hardware watchdog triggered. Seems like a rookie mistake. Ah well,
hopefully the Planetary Society didn't blow the budget on this one.
Another kickstarter folks?


What a bummer! I like the light sail concept. I hope they build another
one with better success.


Alain Fournier


  #5  
Old June 1st 15, 11:36 AM posted to sci.space.science
David Spain
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,901
Default Planetary Society Blog for Saturday 30 May 2015

On 5/31/2015 9:18 PM, Jeff Findley wrote:

Planetary Society Regains Communication With LightSail Spacecraft
MAY 31, 2015 8:14 AM ET
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...857/planetary-
society-regains-communication-with-lightsail-spacecraft

Jeff


Well that's good news! Glad to hear it.
Glad I was wrong. I had also read that were they able to regain contact
they would immediately attempt to deploy the sail, then maybe attempt a
software upgrade. As long as it's talking to them there is that
possibility. So watchdog after all perhaps?

Dave

 




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