The German Champ satellite, launched with two other spacecraft aboard a Cosmos booster in July, is operating normally after seemingly being hit by a payload shroud during the launch.
The spacecraft suffered some anomalies with its attitude control systems but is now operating normally, say mission controllers.
- Confusion over the fate of the Italian MITA/NINA satellite has been clarified. Original orbital data released by US Space Command indicated that Champ, along with the satellite Bird Rubin and the second stage were in orbit. They were given standard designations by Space Command, indicating that MITA had not separated from the second stage. As a result, Flight International incorrectly reported in its 25-31 July issue that the satellite had failed. MITA has now been catalogued in orbit and Italian mission managers say the satellite "is in orbit and operating perfectly".
The Italian Space Agency's spacecraft is carrying a sensor to study cosmic rays.
Source: Flight International
