ESA's Beagle 2 Hits Signal Snag 21
Talking Goat writes "Space.com is reporting that the European Space Agency has run into a bit of
a problem
with it's recently launched "Beagle 2" spacecraft. An unexpected signal received from
the probe has concerned controllers, and has delayed further systems checks.
Let's hope this isn't a harbinger of things to come; history
hasn't been kind to past Mars probes."
What is this? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:What is this? (Score:5, Funny)
The signal has something to do with a bunch of 1 x 4 x 9 black obelisks found on the surface of Mars. It said "We've changed our minds. Europa's cool now, but attempt no landings on Mars."
m.p.u. (Score:2)
Re:m.p.u. (Score:2)
Laughs at my jokes and supports Howard Dean. Hmm...you can't be all that bad... ;>)
Re:What is this? (Score:3, Funny)
(10) Someone set us up the bomb!
(9) What does this button do?
(8) So long, and thanks for all the fish!
(7) QxN Checkmate
(6) Self destruct sequence activated.
(5) Yes...I'd like to hear it HAL....Sing it for me.
It's called "Daisy" (slow, sleepy singing voice) Daisy....Daisy.....Give me your answer due.....I'm half-crazy....all for the love of you....
(4) Please deposit 25 cents for the next three minutes.
(3) Windows was not properly shut down. One or more of your disk
Obligatory crap joke... (Score:1)
Obligatory google search. . . (Score:2)
Sorry. The Beagle has landed [google.com]
More Info... (Score:1)
Last message heard from the Beagle (Score:5, Funny)
"My old nemesis! What are you doing this far out? Curse you, Red Baron!!!! What are you doin-- YIPE YIPE [static}"
Better write up on the ESA site (Score:5, Informative)
It looks like the Solid State Mass Memory (essentially a modern replacement for the tape recorders found on older spacecraft) had a problem and to avoid writing over the data in the memory, they are delaying tests on Beagle. It's not really a Beagle problem, and it doesn't even look like a biggee for Mars Express. It's probably either a SEU (Single Event Upset) caused by some radiation whizzing through part of the electronics, or some sort of odd software bug (probably fixable with some patching).
Nothing much to see, move along here.
Another doomed probe? (Score:1, Troll)
Re:Another doomed probe? (Score:1)
Re:Another doomed probe? (Score:2)
Doppler Shift? (Score:1)
Incidently, I liked how they said that Mars Express will arrive at Mars "sometime in December". I'm hard-pressed to imagine that they don't have the dates down better than that. (Or was someone just too lazy to look it up?)
The Exercise of Vital Powers (Score:2, Funny)
Garibaldi