TIM FURNISS / LONDON
A malfunction in the connection between the solar panels and a power conditioning unit has reduced electrical power on the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express spacecraft by 30%. There is also a fault in a solid-state mass memory unit on the craft, which is en route to Mars.
ESA says the malfunction "should not affect any of its goals. It has no effect on the state of the spacecraft and no impact on the mission during the whole trip to Mars, including orbital insertion phase. Even with this power shortage, the Mars observation mission will be achievable." During "certain short periods" of the mission, ESA says, engineers will have to juggle operations to avoid overloading the craft's reduced power capability.
ESA blames Mars Express faults on a glitch "common on sensitive interplanetary probes subjected to extreme shaking and rocking at lift-off". The craft was launched by a Russian Soyuz from Baikonur on 2 June. "We are simply getting to know its personality," says project manager Rudolph Schmidt. Initial contact has been made with the UK's Beagle 2 lander, which is riding piggyback with the Mars Express. The lander is working well, ESA says, despite experiencing a slightly higher temperature than expected.
NASA's second Mars Exploration Rover, MER-B Opportunity, was launched on 8 July from Cape Canaveral, Florida, using the first Boeing Delta II Heavy booster. The launch, originally planned for 15 June, was delayed six times due to weather, battery and core stage insulation problems. There are now five spacecraft en route to Mars, set to arrive from December: MER-A Spirit, MER-B Opportunity, Mars Express and Beagle 2, and Japan's struggling Nozomi orbiter.
Source: Flight International
