The lunar trailblazer is officially loses in space – but perhaps not forever

The mission of NASA is in danger. It was launched on February 27 to send a probe to the moon in search of water. But after less than a week of launch, NASA lost tracking the spacecraft, which may lead to bargaining on the task if NASA is unable to reconnect.

The task of the moon TILBLAZER is part of NASA Simple ProgramThat funds low -cost missions with a smaller spacecraft. Low-cost investigations are often included in launching larger missions, such as cars-which were launched with the launch of the Florida 9 Falcon.

Read more: The intuitive machines aim to land the moon on Thursday

Communications in space A little more complicated From what are here on Earth, but the general principles are the same. In short, a transmission device from the object in space sends data captured by a reception on the ground and vice versa. However, the implementation of these procedures requires strength, and things can become fair when energy comes out. This is largely what happened with Trailblazer Moon.

NASA reports that The analogy of a distance from the lunar Trailblazer showed that it started to spin slow. NASA believes that this rotation caused the solar panels itself from the sun, causing the satellite to return to a low -energy condition.

“Lunar Trailblazer is working around the clock to re -establish contacts with the spacecraft,” said Nikki Fox, Assistant official of the NASA Directorate of Science Mission. “NASA sends highly dangerous tasks and a high reward like Lunar Trailblazer to do incredible science at a lower cost, and the team really envelope the innovative spirit of NASA-if anyone can repeat the moon laser, then this is.”

Currently, NASA says her best opportunity to save the lunar Trailblazer is to continue to rotate until they reinforce itself until the solar panels get more juice from the sun. It also works with NASA’s deep space network and ground participations to collect data on the lost satellite.

the The mission of the moon is a laser He spends six months floating on the moon, as he will take high -resolution images for the entire surface. The purpose of this trip is to find water

It is still possible to save the task

In the event of NASA’s contact, it is still possible to save the task. The connection was lost before Traiblazer could from the moon, as there were many small processes necessary to reach its right orbit to take off the Earth and fly to the moon. However, the longer the satellite remains, the more difficult it is to complete the target.

“The team is now working to identify TCM TCM strategies (track correction maneuvers) that can be used after reunification of communications and creating ordinary spacecraft jobs,” NASA said in a blog post. “These alternative TCM strategies may be able to put a lunar Trailblazer in the orbit of the moon and allow them to complete some of its scientific goals.”

the The mission of the moon is a laser It is supposed to be a low -cost endeavor, highly rewarding to photograph any water on the moon’s surface to ensure how exist is and the shapes it requires. If NASA is re -delivered with it, the new TCM strategies will be successful, the satellite will take about six months to reach our nearest heavenly neighbors to start making measurements.

The worst type of communication issues

Communication problems with organisms in space are not new for NASA or any other space agency. Late last year, NASA was forced to activate Radio Voyageer has not been used 40 years ago To contact the old satellite. during Live broadcast hosted on NASA on NashlThe inter -satellite station was lost while the astronaut Don Bette was in the middle of the sentence.

Sometimes, communication losses are expected. For example, the task of blue ghosts The ligament of the moon holds earlier this weekAnd this task will end as soon as the device loses its solar power and losing connection. In short, communication problems are a troublesome problem but are not rare with space objects.