Troubled Russian probe could fall to Earth
November 9th, 2011, 8:46 am · · posted by Pat Brennan, O.C. Register science, environment editorA Russian space probe that was supposed to land on a Martian moon instead became trapped in Earth orbit soon after launch on Tuesday.
If Russian engineers cannot regain control, seven tons of fuel could help make the nearly 15-ton spacecraft one of the heaviest objects ever to fall uncontrolled to Earth.
Soon after the successful launch of the $170 million Phobos-Ground probe — early Wednesday Moscow time — it failed to fire its engines after separating from its rocket booster.
An official with the Russian Federal Space Agency said the engineers have three days to try to reset the spacecraft's computer program before its batteries run out of power.
Space expert and NASA veteran James Oberg told the Associated Press in an email that a failure to regain control could send a dangerous object tumbling back to Earth's surface.
Seven tons of rocket fuel, hydrazine and nitrogen teroxide, could freeze before falling with the spacecraft, which weighs 14.6 tons.
"What was billed as the heaviest interplanetary probe ever may become one of the heaviest space derelicts to ever fall back to Earth out of control," Oberg told the news agency.
The probe was meant to retrieve samples from one of two Martian moons, Phobos, and to release a Chinese satellite to orbit Mars.
Source: http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2011/11/09/troubled-russian-probe-could-fall-to-earth/156783/--
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