Solar Sail Spacecraft missing...

[NewBie]

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/space/06/21/russia.cosmos.reut/index.html

PASADENA, California (Reuters) -- An experimental solar-driven spacecraft went missing after its launch from a Russian submarine on Tuesday, but backers of the privately funded mission hoped it would be found in an unplanned orbit rather than floating in the sea off Russia.

 

[raggie33]

they should check under the bed

 

[NewBie]

Rumor, they may have found it.

 

[bobisculous]

Yea, reading on Google News. They said they may have been getting some signals from it. If it is it, they still dont know if they can find out where it is. So that could take time. Plus it may not be in the right orbit they intended. We'll see....

Cameron

 

[Sigman]

Is that the theme from "Gilligan's Island" I hear in the background..."a three hour tour".../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[NewBie]

But the Volna booster rocket failed 83 seconds after its launch from a Russian nuclear submarine in the northern Barents Sea just before midnight Tuesday in Moscow, the Russian space agency said.

Its spokesman, Vyacheslav Davidenko, said that "the booster's failure means that the solar sail vehicle was lost." The Russian Defense Ministry launched a search for debris from the booster and the vehicle, he said.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050622/D8ASKEIG0.html


Russian Space Agency: Solar Launch Failed
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20050622/D8ASLV4O0.html

 

[James S]

oh that just sucks! When I first read this title I thought that perhaps it had gone faster than they though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif but that is really sad.

I let my membership in the planetary society lapse when I was between jobs once years ago, I am going to go re-up so they can afford to try again!

 

[makar]

I assume darell stole it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[CNC Dan]

I think it capsized. : )

 

[Deleted member 4455]

That is a shame. A impressive list of individuals were involved in this project.

 

[ABTOMAT]

The Cardassians want to keep it a secret (hopelessly nerdy reference.)

 

[kongfuchicken]

The rocket used to be an ICBM; it makes you think about what if they actually used it with a warhead...

[ QUOTE ]
makar said:
I assume darell stole it! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah... Darell already has a better one with cupholders. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[cobb]

I was looking forward to this too. They had another one they were going to launch from the MIR space station, but it failed too. I recall art bell stating how it could be used as a conventional weapon like a giant magnifer glass when the balloon goes up.