You've gotta hand it to the Roscosmos Space Agency, they've got stick-to-it-ness down to a science.
After a long absence, @PhG_Reentry tweeted a link to the UPI.com story of the announcement that Roscosmos is going to try Phobos/Grunt 2! No timetable was given, but they're going to do it again only more so.
Hats of to the Russians and their Space Program!
Should the unthinkable happen...when the time comes, I'll launch Phobos/GruntWatch 2
To better days then!
Showing posts with label Phobos/Grunt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phobos/Grunt. Show all posts
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
The Sky Is Falling
...Again! Well, not actually the sky per se...it's another dead satellite...another Russian one. This one won't reenter over North America, and it's little compared to Phobos/Grunt, ROSAT and UARS. Molinya 1-89 only weighs 1600KG, about a ton and three quarters.
My Springtime plans are beginning to gel. Friend of CorduroyPlanet, Kirkvallus is coming down to the Inland Valley in May to catch a couple of stages of the AMGEN Tour of California. Stage 3 San Jose to Livermore climbs Mt Diablo, so we'll be up there watching the action. Here's a .pdf of the Stage 3 Map.
There's much less chance of fog ruining the TV view on Mt Diablo than at last year's Stage 4 that climbed Mt Hamilton between Livermore and San Jose. Baja Babe and I spectated from the Mt Hamilton summit, and it was an awesome spectacle.
Sadly, Perennial ToC contender Santa Rosa's Levi Leipheimer won't be contending this year. Levi was hit by a car while training April 1st for the Vuelta al País Vasco in Basque country, and suffered a broken tibia. Levi sounds like he's game for the challenge though...
I grabbed a couple of tix for the SF Giants vs St Louis Cardinals during the week, too. It's a Day Game and should be a blast! Our seats are out in right-center field over the archways, under the Splash Hit water cannons and Fog Horns...note to self, remember to bring ear plugs!
There's Reno Air Race News this week. The NTSB will hold a press conference next Tuesday, to release recommendations to improve safety at air races and give an update on the ongoing investigation into last year’s tragic crash at the Reno National Championship Air Races.
Tickets for September's Reno Air Races went on sale a couple of weeks ago, but there's still uncertainty whether the Races will go on or not.
Tonight was Opening Day for the Reno Aces Triple-A ball club. They defeated the Colorado Springs Sky Sox 5-2 after a...wait for it...snow delay!
My Springtime plans are beginning to gel. Friend of CorduroyPlanet, Kirkvallus is coming down to the Inland Valley in May to catch a couple of stages of the AMGEN Tour of California. Stage 3 San Jose to Livermore climbs Mt Diablo, so we'll be up there watching the action. Here's a .pdf of the Stage 3 Map.
There's much less chance of fog ruining the TV view on Mt Diablo than at last year's Stage 4 that climbed Mt Hamilton between Livermore and San Jose. Baja Babe and I spectated from the Mt Hamilton summit, and it was an awesome spectacle.
Sadly, Perennial ToC contender Santa Rosa's Levi Leipheimer won't be contending this year. Levi was hit by a car while training April 1st for the Vuelta al País Vasco in Basque country, and suffered a broken tibia. Levi sounds like he's game for the challenge though...
I grabbed a couple of tix for the SF Giants vs St Louis Cardinals during the week, too. It's a Day Game and should be a blast! Our seats are out in right-center field over the archways, under the Splash Hit water cannons and Fog Horns...note to self, remember to bring ear plugs!
There's Reno Air Race News this week. The NTSB will hold a press conference next Tuesday, to release recommendations to improve safety at air races and give an update on the ongoing investigation into last year’s tragic crash at the Reno National Championship Air Races.
Tickets for September's Reno Air Races went on sale a couple of weeks ago, but there's still uncertainty whether the Races will go on or not.
Tonight was Opening Day for the Reno Aces Triple-A ball club. They defeated the Colorado Springs Sky Sox 5-2 after a...wait for it...snow delay!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Epilogue
What a pleasant surprise! Phobos/Grunt news after all this time.
The truth is, I need some distraction tonight...it's been a tough couple of days...
We've been hunkered down during the biggest storm period of the Winter...avalanche warnings were up, as were the winds during the storm period.
Today three skiers decided to do a little backcountry skiing in Ward Canyon, despite the heavy snowfall and wind loading that caused the Sierra Avalanche Center to post High Avalanche Danger first thing in the morning. The lure of Champagne Powder can be hard to resist...especially this lean Winter...
The three found their avalanche, and one skier was swept 300 feet downslope. Luckily two were unhurt...one skied out for help, one stayed with the victim. I saw the story in @CorduroyPlanet's Twitter timeline. The local paper had the story that lit up all the regional news outlets from Sacramento to Reno.
On the evening news, a Placer County Sheriff's Deputy said: "The victim was wrapped around a tree with several fractures"
After my "evening nap" I saw the tweet announcing the victim's passing...so sad...Unofficial Squaw had the story. Avalanches are serious business, especially in the uncontrolled backcountry...
So, it was a happy distraction when I discovered this Phobos/Grunt story at Space Safety Magazine.
I find it disconcerting that the only manned space program on Earth has returned to Soviet Era Secrecy. American astronauts ride Russian rockets and spacecraft to and from the International Space Station. Only a willingly blind fool doesn't see trouble on the horizon.
I pray that the next few years are uneventful. NASA won't have manned launch capability until 2015 at the earliest. Godspeed, indeed...
The truth is, I need some distraction tonight...it's been a tough couple of days...
We've been hunkered down during the biggest storm period of the Winter...avalanche warnings were up, as were the winds during the storm period.
Today three skiers decided to do a little backcountry skiing in Ward Canyon, despite the heavy snowfall and wind loading that caused the Sierra Avalanche Center to post High Avalanche Danger first thing in the morning. The lure of Champagne Powder can be hard to resist...especially this lean Winter...
The three found their avalanche, and one skier was swept 300 feet downslope. Luckily two were unhurt...one skied out for help, one stayed with the victim. I saw the story in @CorduroyPlanet's Twitter timeline. The local paper had the story that lit up all the regional news outlets from Sacramento to Reno.
On the evening news, a Placer County Sheriff's Deputy said: "The victim was wrapped around a tree with several fractures"
After my "evening nap" I saw the tweet announcing the victim's passing...so sad...Unofficial Squaw had the story. Avalanches are serious business, especially in the uncontrolled backcountry...
So, it was a happy distraction when I discovered this Phobos/Grunt story at Space Safety Magazine.
I find it disconcerting that the only manned space program on Earth has returned to Soviet Era Secrecy. American astronauts ride Russian rockets and spacecraft to and from the International Space Station. Only a willingly blind fool doesn't see trouble on the horizon.
I pray that the next few years are uneventful. NASA won't have manned launch capability until 2015 at the earliest. Godspeed, indeed...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch: Wrap-Up...It IS Rocket Science!
Somehow I missed this thoughtful piece last week.
"A rational approach to the challenge of spaceflight involves significant mental discipline and a specific habit of mind to ask the right questions and not be satisfied with superficial answers or deflectional excuses. Without this approach, disaster and disappointment is inevitable. And even with our full attention, as Mike Griffin [NASA Adminstrator, 2005-2009] once said, “Spaceflight is so hard that even at our best we are barely able to accomplish it.”"
"A rational approach to the challenge of spaceflight involves significant mental discipline and a specific habit of mind to ask the right questions and not be satisfied with superficial answers or deflectional excuses. Without this approach, disaster and disappointment is inevitable. And even with our full attention, as Mike Griffin [NASA Adminstrator, 2005-2009] once said, “Spaceflight is so hard that even at our best we are barely able to accomplish it.”"
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Loose Ends
Here's something...not the definitive closure I'm seeking...but better than nothing...
The Russian International News Agency has the story...
Smoking Gun?
"In February 2012, it transpired that one of two processors in a pair of TsVM-22 computers in the probe's flight control system had failed and had to be deactivated during preparations for launch. To make matters worse, the second remaining channel in this computer started conflicting with its counterparts in the second remaining TsVM-22 machine. As a result, the decision was made to shut off one TSVM-22 computer entirely, even though it remained physically onboard. Therefore, Phobos-Grunt would have to fly with only a single operational computer, leaving no redundancy in the flight control system."
More from Anatoly Zak.
If there's more in the coming days, I'll put up another Phobos/Grunt Update...
Stay tuned!
The Russian International News Agency has the story...
Smoking Gun?
"In February 2012, it transpired that one of two processors in a pair of TsVM-22 computers in the probe's flight control system had failed and had to be deactivated during preparations for launch. To make matters worse, the second remaining channel in this computer started conflicting with its counterparts in the second remaining TsVM-22 machine. As a result, the decision was made to shut off one TSVM-22 computer entirely, even though it remained physically onboard. Therefore, Phobos-Grunt would have to fly with only a single operational computer, leaving no redundancy in the flight control system."
More from Anatoly Zak.
If there's more in the coming days, I'll put up another Phobos/Grunt Update...
Stay tuned!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Post-Mortem Mea Culpa?
OK, here's what Roscosmos blames for Phobos/Grunt's failure...
Cosmic Rays
or
Software Glitches
or
Sub-Par Chips (not MilSpec)
or
Inadequate Testing
or
Personnel Changes
Anatoly Zak has an in depth encyclopedia of Phobos/Grunt at RussianSpaceWeb.com
In the face of all these snafus, Roscosmos is actually thinking of trying Phobos/Grunt 2.0!
Pity I have to work tonight...the Late Night Comics will have a field day with today's Phobos/Grunt News!
I guess we better Stay Tuned!
Cosmic Rays
or
Software Glitches
or
Sub-Par Chips (not MilSpec)
or
Inadequate Testing
or
Personnel Changes
Anatoly Zak has an in depth encyclopedia of Phobos/Grunt at RussianSpaceWeb.com
In the face of all these snafus, Roscosmos is actually thinking of trying Phobos/Grunt 2.0!
Pity I have to work tonight...the Late Night Comics will have a field day with today's Phobos/Grunt News!
I guess we better Stay Tuned!
Monday, January 30, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Still Wanted: Wrap-Up
Well, Roscosmos was going to release their Phobos/Grunt Wrap-Up Report yesterday January 29th...still MIA...
That's not to say there isn't news of the failed Russian Mars Moon Probe:
The latest from RussianSpaceWeb.com
Did some of Phobos/Grunt's reentry debris land on dry ground? This op-ed posits that The Planetary Society's LIFE Module may have landed in Chile or Argentina.
That's not to say there isn't news of the failed Russian Mars Moon Probe:
The latest from RussianSpaceWeb.com
Did some of Phobos/Grunt's reentry debris land on dry ground? This op-ed posits that The Planetary Society's LIFE Module may have landed in Chile or Argentina.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Post-Post-Mortem
What a pleasant surprise, after my night of rain on My Mountain! When I got home this morning, I fired up the internet to look at my Twitter timeline, and I discovered a new Planet!
No, not another new Exoplanet, but @PlanetCharlene. She came up on @CorduroyPlanet's radar thanks to @PhG_Reentry, who retweeted @PlanetCharlene:"Nice summary of what we know about fall of#PhobosGrunt...", with a link to Universe Today's latest on Phobos/Grunt's final resting place.
As is par for this course, more questions than answers come up when it's Phobos/Grunt.
@esaoperations published their findings too: "Space debris experts confirm estimate for Phobos–Grunt reentry".
I'm sure we haven't heard the end of Phobos/Grunt...Stay tuned!
No, not another new Exoplanet, but @PlanetCharlene. She came up on @CorduroyPlanet's radar thanks to @PhG_Reentry, who retweeted @PlanetCharlene:"Nice summary of what we know about fall of
As is par for this course, more questions than answers come up when it's Phobos/Grunt.
@esaoperations published their findings too: "Space debris experts confirm estimate for Phobos–Grunt reentry".
I'm sure we haven't heard the end of Phobos/Grunt...Stay tuned!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Post-Mortem
So it's been a week since Phobos/Grunt plunged into oblivion, and the news of the Russian probe has disappeared into oblivion as well. (I must confess that I have been a little less than vigilant since Thursday when the long Winter's drought began to end, and my NFL Football team the San Francisco 49ers were playing for a berth in the Super Bowl™)
So we've all been waiting for some definitive word on Phobos/Grunt's demise. No word has been forthcoming since reentry. There is still a little finger pointing coming from Russian sources.
Finally, this could be closure:
@Zarya_Info tweets: "Phobos-Grunt - SpaceTrack has issued a full TIP Message for the decay: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Misc/PhobosGrunt3.php , notes & updated map:"
Zarya's posted his Phobos/Grunt Wrap-Up Blog.
@cosmos4u tweets: "Eight days after Fobos-Grunt came down, the U.S. military "suddenly" claims to know precisely(!) when & where: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Misc/PhobosGrunt4.php -source?"
As an American taxpayer, I'd be dismayed if US Stratcom didn't watch reentry in realtime from it's vast array of Spy Satellites. Furthermore, I'd expect them to keep their hand close to the vest, lest they tip potential adversaries to our surveillance capabilities.
Thanks for following along everyone! Stay tuned...there's tons of satellites in decaying orbits. I'll cover the next one when in shows up on my radar!
So we've all been waiting for some definitive word on Phobos/Grunt's demise. No word has been forthcoming since reentry. There is still a little finger pointing coming from Russian sources.
Finally, this could be closure:
@Zarya_Info tweets: "Phobos-Grunt - SpaceTrack has issued a full TIP Message for the decay: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Misc/PhobosGrunt3.php , notes & updated map:"
Zarya's posted his Phobos/Grunt Wrap-Up Blog.
@cosmos4u tweets: "Eight days after Fobos-Grunt came down, the U.S. military "suddenly" claims to know precisely(!) when & where: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/Misc/PhobosGrunt4.php -source?"
As an American taxpayer, I'd be dismayed if US Stratcom didn't watch reentry in realtime from it's vast array of Spy Satellites. Furthermore, I'd expect them to keep their hand close to the vest, lest they tip potential adversaries to our surveillance capabilities.
Thanks for following along everyone! Stay tuned...there's tons of satellites in decaying orbits. I'll cover the next one when in shows up on my radar!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Quick Phobos/Grunt Reentry Update 5
The flight of Phobos/Grunt is over, but accusations of blame are just beginning to fly!
I don't know if the US radars on Kwajalein atoll are even used to study asteroids...
All this seems like so much CYA...are all these Space Agencies still full of aging Cold Warriors?
Comrades, fellas...Old Dudes! You can let go of the past without dishonoring it, or diminishing your place in it's history! You'll save a ton of money and grab more brass rings along the way if you figure out how to cooperate!
From the Muddied Waters Dept:
@Zarya_Info tweeted:
"Phobos-Grunt - is everyone writing fantasy about the re-entry? Aviation Week item riddled with inaccuracies/errors: aviationweek.com... "
Lest we forget, Kosmos 2176 has most likely reentered. Predicted reentry zone was again the Southern Pacific Ocean.
All this reentering satellite stuff caught the UKGuardian's eye.
I don't know if the US radars on Kwajalein atoll are even used to study asteroids...
All this seems like so much CYA...are all these Space Agencies still full of aging Cold Warriors?
Comrades, fellas...Old Dudes! You can let go of the past without dishonoring it, or diminishing your place in it's history! You'll save a ton of money and grab more brass rings along the way if you figure out how to cooperate!
From the Muddied Waters Dept:
@Zarya_Info tweeted:
"Phobos-Grunt - is everyone writing fantasy about the re-entry? Aviation Week item riddled with inaccuracies/errors: aviationweek.com... "
Lest we forget, Kosmos 2176 has most likely reentered. Predicted reentry zone was again the Southern Pacific Ocean.
All this reentering satellite stuff caught the UKGuardian's eye.
Quick Phobos/Grunt Reentry Update 4.1
Here it is Wednesday...Phobos/Grunt reentered Sunday...still no word from ESA, NASA or US StratCom.
There's still some background noise about the failure and the location of the debris field.
Spaceweather.com has the rebuttal to the Marshall Islands Radar Charge:
"Sources within the Russian Space Agency have suggested to newspapers that a US radar on the Marshall Islands might have accidentally disabled Phobos-Grunt. The mishap could have occured, they say, while the radar was using megawatt pulses to track near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 on the same night the Mars probe was launched. According to an analysis by satellite tracking expert Ted Molczan, however, "the asteroid was below Kwajalein's horizon during both of Phobos-Grunt's passes" over the radar facility. An errant "zap" seems unlikely. Besides, says NASA, they weren't using the radar anyway."
Spaceflight 101 Blog:
Phobos-Grunt's Exact Reentry Location Remains a Mystery.
Kosmos 2176 Reentry Update
Most predictions say the Russian Satellite reentered Tuesday afternoon PST...I won't be holding my breath on this one...
Stay Tuned!
Afternoon Update:
The plot thickens!
There's still some background noise about the failure and the location of the debris field.
Spaceweather.com has the rebuttal to the Marshall Islands Radar Charge:
"Sources within the Russian Space Agency have suggested to newspapers that a US radar on the Marshall Islands might have accidentally disabled Phobos-Grunt. The mishap could have occured, they say, while the radar was using megawatt pulses to track near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 on the same night the Mars probe was launched. According to an analysis by satellite tracking expert Ted Molczan, however, "the asteroid was below Kwajalein's horizon during both of Phobos-Grunt's passes" over the radar facility. An errant "zap" seems unlikely. Besides, says NASA, they weren't using the radar anyway."
Spaceflight 101 Blog:
Phobos-Grunt's Exact Reentry Location Remains a Mystery.
Kosmos 2176 Reentry Update
Most predictions say the Russian Satellite reentered Tuesday afternoon PST...I won't be holding my breath on this one...
Stay Tuned!
Afternoon Update:
The plot thickens!
Bedtime In the Garden of Good and Evil
All the waiting is nearly over. This afternoon's Reno AFD says the waiting for snow ends Thursday evening.
Formula One's first practice session of the first race of the 2012 Season in Australia is only 58 days away.
It's a month and a day until the San Francisco Giants' pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.
Only four days until the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game...Winner advances to Super Bowl XLVI
Now I'm up 3:21 past my bedtime...gonna suffer tonight.
My @CorduroyPlanet twitter timeline is running about Warp 7.1 today. Lots of Giants baseball news, as the team comes to terms with it's players.
Lots of the fellow SF Giants Fans I follow are prolific Baseball Fans who tweet every move of the Giants' rivals' personnel moves, not just the Home Team news.Today is the last day of negotiations before the Arbitration Deadline. The Giants and their ace Tim Lincecum are $4 million apart...or about 20% adrift.
All the Tahoe Sierra Ski Resorts are tweeting up a blizzard of "Here Comes Winter" stuff.
I'm waiting on some Space Junk Reentry News...Confirmation of Phobos/Grunt's final resting place, and today's eminent demise of another Russian satellite, Cosmos 2176.
As with the whole Phobos/Grunt Saga, news is trickling out like molasses in January, and with all the baseball transactions, I'm bound to miss the news and Cosmos 2176's splashdown.
I won't give a damn later this week when I'm pushing newly fallen Sierra Cement around!
Must sleep NOW!
Formula One's first practice session of the first race of the 2012 Season in Australia is only 58 days away.
It's a month and a day until the San Francisco Giants' pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training.
Only four days until the San Francisco 49ers host the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game...Winner advances to Super Bowl XLVI
Now I'm up 3:21 past my bedtime...gonna suffer tonight.
My @CorduroyPlanet twitter timeline is running about Warp 7.1 today. Lots of Giants baseball news, as the team comes to terms with it's players.
Lots of the fellow SF Giants Fans I follow are prolific Baseball Fans who tweet every move of the Giants' rivals' personnel moves, not just the Home Team news.Today is the last day of negotiations before the Arbitration Deadline. The Giants and their ace Tim Lincecum are $4 million apart...or about 20% adrift.
All the Tahoe Sierra Ski Resorts are tweeting up a blizzard of "Here Comes Winter" stuff.
I'm waiting on some Space Junk Reentry News...Confirmation of Phobos/Grunt's final resting place, and today's eminent demise of another Russian satellite, Cosmos 2176.
As with the whole Phobos/Grunt Saga, news is trickling out like molasses in January, and with all the baseball transactions, I'm bound to miss the news and Cosmos 2176's splashdown.
I won't give a damn later this week when I'm pushing newly fallen Sierra Cement around!
Must sleep NOW!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Quick Phobos/Grunt Reentry Update 3
Day two of waiting for confirmation of Phobos/Grunt's final resting place.
Monday (yesterday) @esaoperations tweeted:
"Formal update in ESA web on#phobosgrunt reentry will come only Tuesday 17.01. Team waiting for one final set of estimates. Regret delay."
Again this morning @esaoperations tweeted:
"#spacedebris team still waiting for final data inputs to complete our #phobosgrunt report. News as soon as we have it. Regret (more) delay."
I see the dearth of observation tools in the Southern Oceans at play here, while US Space-Based radars are Top Secret, so out of bounds for now...I'm sure US StratCom doesn't want to tip potential adversaries to their capabilities...
I see cooler heads are speaking out out in regards to the charge that US Radar Sabotage may have brought about Phobos/Grunt's demise.
OK...it's been 24 hours since ESA promised their formal update on Phobos/Grunt's reentry. I'll post an update to this post when ESA publishes.
Stay Tuned!
Monday (yesterday) @esaoperations tweeted:
"Formal update in ESA web on
Again this morning @esaoperations tweeted:
"
I see the dearth of observation tools in the Southern Oceans at play here, while US Space-Based radars are Top Secret, so out of bounds for now...I'm sure US StratCom doesn't want to tip potential adversaries to their capabilities...
I see cooler heads are speaking out out in regards to the charge that US Radar Sabotage may have brought about Phobos/Grunt's demise.
OK...it's been 24 hours since ESA promised their formal update on Phobos/Grunt's reentry. I'll post an update to this post when ESA publishes.
Stay Tuned!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Quick Phobos/Grunt Reentry Update 2
While still no debris has been found, and no location confirmation is forthcoming, there is news:
@esaoperations Tweets: "Formal update in ESA web on#phobosgrunt reentry will come only Tuesday 17.01. Team waiting for one final set of estimates. Regret delay."
Dutch Sattrackcam's blog illuminates the problems pinpointing the exact spot that Phobos/Grunt reentered and crashed.
If you feel the Post-Phobos/Grunt letdown like I do, fear not, another piece of space junk will reenter tomorrow reports @SPACEFLIGHT101:
"1,900-Kilogram COSMOS 2176 is expected to re-enter the Atmosphere tomorrow at 16:10 UTC +/-7 Hours. Current Prediction: http://www.spaceflight101.com/entry.html
Stay tuned!
@esaoperations Tweets: "Formal update in ESA web on
Dutch Sattrackcam's blog illuminates the problems pinpointing the exact spot that Phobos/Grunt reentered and crashed.
If you feel the Post-Phobos/Grunt letdown like I do, fear not, another piece of space junk will reenter tomorrow reports @SPACEFLIGHT101:
"1,900-Kilogram COSMOS 2176 is expected to re-enter the Atmosphere tomorrow at 16:10 UTC +/-7 Hours. Current Prediction: http://www.spaceflight101.com/entry.html
Stay tuned!
The Nature of Waiting
I did a lot of waiting this weekend. Starting last Wednesday I started writing two blogs daily, my usual scratch on my world, making corduroy at a ski resort, and a second daily post, focused on the pending demise of the Reentering Satellite Of The Month for January, Russia's Phobos/Grunt.
Sunday was the predicted day of Phobos/Grunt's fiery reentry, and I devoted my day to the satellite's end. I did watch the Texans vs Ravens playoff game (full disclosure- I slept through most of the first half), and I enjoyed every play of the Packers vs NY Giants.
While I watched the games, I was fully multi-tasking. My laptop had open tabs with Twitter, Facebook, and Real Time Satellite Tracking, while I surfed the Sunday newspapers, spaceflight pages, weather reports, personal weather stations and webcams. I even made a Sausage, Olive and Mushroom pizza for lunch.
Just about an hour before the predicted reentry, the Real Time Satellite Tracking site crashed. Too many people around the world were trying to track Phobos/Grunt's end, resulting in a DOS (Denial Of Service Attack) type lockup. Fortunately, Twitter was humming along without a hitch, no whale page, not a single quirk...just waiting for word of the crash.
It was about this time when I began to ponder the waiting game. Even as compelling as the events were, it was still a waiting game. Twelve hours later, I'm still waiting for confirmation of time and place.
It's not just the reentry...my whole Fall/Winter season has been all about waiting!
Waiting for enough snow to go to work.
Waiting for enough snow to work more than weekends.
Waiting for snowmaking temperatures.
Waiting for enough snowmaking to open enough trails to open daily for the season.
Waiting for the stubborn blocking high to move, allowing storms to track into our area.
Scientific American explains the wait: "Jet Lag".
As I type, flurries are in the neighborhood. Northstar is getting a few flurries...not enough to measure, but snowflakes are falling. It even shows up on channel 13's Weather Radar:
Irony of ironies, by next Sunday we may all be waiting for the snowfall to stop! TahoeWeatherDiscussion has the details in his "Sunday Morning Update"...6-8 feet depending above 7000ft!
There's another kind of waiting that I know something about...procrastination...I'll write about it sometime...maybe...eventually...
Look!
Flurries found Truckee and the resorts!
Even a little at the DaveCave!
Sunday was the predicted day of Phobos/Grunt's fiery reentry, and I devoted my day to the satellite's end. I did watch the Texans vs Ravens playoff game (full disclosure- I slept through most of the first half), and I enjoyed every play of the Packers vs NY Giants.
While I watched the games, I was fully multi-tasking. My laptop had open tabs with Twitter, Facebook, and Real Time Satellite Tracking, while I surfed the Sunday newspapers, spaceflight pages, weather reports, personal weather stations and webcams. I even made a Sausage, Olive and Mushroom pizza for lunch.
It was about this time when I began to ponder the waiting game. Even as compelling as the events were, it was still a waiting game. Twelve hours later, I'm still waiting for confirmation of time and place.
It's not just the reentry...my whole Fall/Winter season has been all about waiting!
Waiting for enough snow to go to work.
Waiting for enough snow to work more than weekends.
Waiting for snowmaking temperatures.
Waiting for enough snowmaking to open enough trails to open daily for the season.
Waiting for the stubborn blocking high to move, allowing storms to track into our area.
Scientific American explains the wait: "Jet Lag".
As I type, flurries are in the neighborhood. Northstar is getting a few flurries...not enough to measure, but snowflakes are falling. It even shows up on channel 13's Weather Radar:
There's another kind of waiting that I know something about...procrastination...I'll write about it sometime...maybe...eventually...
Look!
Flurries found Truckee and the resorts!
Phobos/Grunt Watch...Wanted: Wrap-Up
It's been almost 20 hours since the reported end of Russia's Mars probe, Phobos/Grunt.
No official confirmation has been forthcoming from Roscosmos, US StratCom, NASA, ESA...etc.
Reports say the spacecraft crashed into the South Pacific Ocean 700 miles west of Chile...or in Brazil...or in Australia?
Here's the round-up of what is out there from the usual sources:
Russian Space Web
Universe Today
Spaceflight 101
Space Safety Magazine
Sky and Telescope
Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies
As you can see, events are as murky as everything else since Phobos/Grunt failed to leave Earth orbit for the Red Planet.
Quaint reminder of the Cold War era of spaceflight? Or annoyance?
Stay tuned!
No official confirmation has been forthcoming from Roscosmos, US StratCom, NASA, ESA...etc.
Reports say the spacecraft crashed into the South Pacific Ocean 700 miles west of Chile...or in Brazil...or in Australia?
Here's the round-up of what is out there from the usual sources:
Russian Space Web
Universe Today
Spaceflight 101
Space Safety Magazine
Sky and Telescope
Center for Orbital and Reentry Debris Studies
As you can see, events are as murky as everything else since Phobos/Grunt failed to leave Earth orbit for the Red Planet.
Quaint reminder of the Cold War era of spaceflight? Or annoyance?
Stay tuned!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Quick Phobos/Grunt Reentry Update
Typically the hours after reentry are the longest. Confirmation usually takes days unless debris actually lands on land.
There's two stories coming from Russian sources an hour after supposed reentry.
Stay tuned!
There's two stories coming from Russian sources an hour after supposed reentry.
Phobos/Grunt Watch: Missed It
Mea Culpa:
Not that! Phobos/Grunt still orbits...no, I missed my last chance to see Phobos/Grunt in orbit.
I was playing with my sleep schedule again...I got off work Saturday morning a little early, had two beers and set the alarm clock to rouse me at 1:30PM My team was playing in the NFL's Divisional Playoffs.
It was a great game, won by my San Francisco 49ers in the final seconds. I was elated...and drained...emotionally exhausted. After trailing all game, the New Orleans Saints scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:37 left in the game. The Niners marched it down the field, amazing passes and catches...and won in front of a rocking packed Candlestick Park. 97 seconds of awesome!
During the game, my twitter feed was rockin' too. Plenty of 49er Fan Hyperbole, and lots of Phobos/Grunt tweets.
I had Real Time Satellite Tracking running in another tab, and I was looking forward to my last chance to view a Phobos/Grunt pass before the inevitable.
I woke up 10 minutes after the probe passed over the DaveCave...just damn!
The Latest Phobos/Grunt Info:
Spaceflight101's latest reentry data
Add @drspacejunk to your twitter stream, she giving great tips on safety should Phobos/Grunt's debris land in your area:
#Reentrytips No 1: DO NOT TOUCH FRAGMENTS RT @yearoffun Tell me, @drspacejunk, what should I do if #phobosgrunt lands nearby?
#Reentrytips No 2: the spacecraft fragments are legally the property of Russia, and you cannot sell them on eBay. #PhobosGrunt @PhG_Reentry
#Reentrytips No 3: Keep animals and household pets secure. The sonic booms will cause them to panic. #PhobosGrunt @PhG_Reentry#Reentrytips No 4: If #PhobosGrunt or parts of it land near you, notify the relevant authorities. In Australia - state emergency services
Not that! Phobos/Grunt still orbits...no, I missed my last chance to see Phobos/Grunt in orbit.
I was playing with my sleep schedule again...I got off work Saturday morning a little early, had two beers and set the alarm clock to rouse me at 1:30PM My team was playing in the NFL's Divisional Playoffs.
It was a great game, won by my San Francisco 49ers in the final seconds. I was elated...and drained...emotionally exhausted. After trailing all game, the New Orleans Saints scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:37 left in the game. The Niners marched it down the field, amazing passes and catches...and won in front of a rocking packed Candlestick Park. 97 seconds of awesome!
During the game, my twitter feed was rockin' too. Plenty of 49er Fan Hyperbole, and lots of Phobos/Grunt tweets.
I had Real Time Satellite Tracking running in another tab, and I was looking forward to my last chance to view a Phobos/Grunt pass before the inevitable.
I woke up 10 minutes after the probe passed over the DaveCave...just damn!
The Latest Phobos/Grunt Info:
Spaceflight101's latest reentry data
Add @drspacejunk to your twitter stream, she giving great tips on safety should Phobos/Grunt's debris land in your area:
About 9 hours to go...
Stay tuned!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch: The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
Spaceflight 101 has the latest numbers at their Phobos/Grunt Reentry Page. The predictions are all for Sunday January 15th now.
@PhG_Reentry tweets: "trajectory" flattening (lower drag than expected) potentially delaying re-entry http://twitpic.com/86yv4u
Phobos/Grunt featured on Comedy Central's Colbert Report Wednesday. Watch the whole episode here.
Stay tuned!
@PhG_Reentry tweets: "trajectory" flattening (lower drag than expected) potentially delaying re-entry http://twitpic.com/86yv4u
Phobos/Grunt featured on Comedy Central's Colbert Report Wednesday. Watch the whole episode here.
Stay tuned!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Phobos/Grunt Watch The Waiting Begins
Spaceflight 101 launched their "Phobos Grunt Entry Blog" Their maiden voyage entry says: "Satellite Trackers and Amateur Observers might be essential in pin-pointing Phobos-Grunt's Re-Entry Time and Location"...
That's us people!
Spaceflight 101's blog links their own tutorial: "Observe Phobos-Grunt" It's good advice on how to see Phobos/Grunt in orbit, and if the stars align...to witness it's fiery reentry.
After several tries in the past month, most featuring problematic "seeing" due to big moons or cloud cover, I finally caught a Phobos/Grunt pass overhead. Even at Mag 1.3 near morning twilight, the spacecraft was easy to find as it passed overhead.
According to Heavens-Above, I get a shot at one of the predicted final orbits in the evenings of January 14, 16, and 17 Given the latest predictions, that's lookin' like one shot...the 14th!
Heavens-Above Note:
While composing this blog, I found a new quirk on Heavens-Above. Be sure to click on Type of passes to include: ALL when you're searching a satellite. I did and found a visible pass just two hours from now! It wasn't listed in the Visible results...there that's my "Learn Something Every Day" requirement for today!
European Space Agency Coordinates International Satellite Reentry Campaign for Phobos/Grunt
Stay tuned, and Good Luck Phobos/Grunt Watchers!
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