Genesis Update - February 2, 2004

http://www.genesismission.org/mission/statusupdate.html

Genesis Mission Status Update
February 2, 2004

The Genesis spacecraft continues its mission collecting solar wind
material expelled from the Sun. Telemetry from the Genesis spacecraft
indicates that all spacecraft subsystems are reporting nominal operation.

There are three collector arrays aboard Genesis that are exposed to, or
hidden from, the solar wind. One collector array for each of the three
solar wind regimes. Which collector array is exposed is determined by
the data received by sensitive ion and electron monitors located on the
spacecraft's equipment deck. These monitors scrutinize the solar wind
passing by the spacecraft and relay this information to the onboard
computer, which in turn commands the collector arrays to deploy and
retract as needed. Recent solar activity has called for the `low solar
speed' array to be deployed 92% of the time. Also, the H-Array, which
handles high-speed solar wind was unshaded 8% of the time.

The Genesis team is reconfiguring the spacecraft's rejection grid
after a safing event which occurred on Jan. 29. The team will power
back on the spacecraft's concentrator with a new, lower maximum
voltage limit during a scheduled tracking pass on Feb. 3.

Telemetry from the Genesis spacecraft indicates that it is spinning at
a rate of 1.6 rotations per minute. The spacecraft's space age `gas
gauge' indicates propellant usage totals are about 20.39 kilograms
(45 pounds).

Genesis Vital Statistics:
Days since Launch of August 8, 2001: 895 days
Days to planned completion of primary science collection: 66 days
Days to Earth Return: 223 days
Months/Days of Accumulated Science Collection: 24.87 months / 757 days

Upcoming events:
Release Phase Systems Design review scheduled for February 4/5
Kickoff of final SKM (SKM-5C) on February 25th
Return Phase Critical Events Readiness Review February 26