The bad part is the epic failure transpired in low orbit. To think everything went down (or should it be up) smoothly on Wednesday when a rocket lifted off at Baikonur. The problem is the moment the probe was supposed to enter its designated orbit on its long Martian journey, well, zip. Nada. Turns out the boosters wouldn’t activate.
Since then, Russian ground control have made vain attempts to salvage the situation, to little avail. The probe, named Phobos–Grunt, is Russia’s only Mars mission since another disastrous 1996 attempt. At the end of the day (or week?), the best choice might be to just crash it somewhere.
The Challenges of Space Missions
Space missions are inherently risky and complex. The failure of Phobos-Grunt highlights the numerous challenges that space agencies face when attempting interplanetary travel. The probe was intended to collect soil samples from Phobos, one of Mars’ moons, and return them to Earth. This ambitious mission required precise timing and flawless execution of multiple stages, including the activation of boosters to propel the probe into its designated orbit. Unfortunately, the failure of these boosters left the probe stranded in low Earth orbit.
Of course, it’s not like Russia’s space agency is the only one having problems right now. NASA is still cash-strapped and without a credible launch platform. The ESA is still dreaming of future missions, and China is still in its first steps toward a space station. Okay, so at least China has got a small success to brag about. Then again, who ever said sending stuff to space is easy?
Global Space Exploration Efforts
Despite the setbacks, space exploration continues to be a priority for many countries. NASA, for instance, has been focusing on developing new technologies and partnerships to overcome its budget constraints. The Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024, using the Space Launch System (SLS) and the Orion spacecraft. Additionally, NASA has been collaborating with private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop new launch platforms and reduce costs.
The European Space Agency (ESA) is also making strides in space exploration. The agency has been working on the ExoMars program, a joint mission with Russia’s Roscosmos, to search for signs of life on Mars. The mission includes the Trace Gas Orbiter, which has been successfully studying the Martian atmosphere since 2016, and the upcoming Rosalind Franklin rover, set to launch in 2022.
China, on the other hand, has been rapidly advancing its space capabilities. The successful landing of the Chang’e-4 rover on the far side of the Moon in 2019 marked a significant milestone for the Chinese space program. China is also working on the Tiangong space station, which is expected to be fully operational by 2022. These achievements demonstrate China’s growing expertise and ambition in space exploration.
If only inter-planetary travel were as easy as psychic-projection, like in A Princess of Mars.
So what’s the Russian word for ‘dammit’?
Source Gizmag
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