NASA put an asteroid mission on hold Friday, blaming the late delivery of its own navigation software.
FILE - Technicians work on the Psyche spacecraft at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, April 11, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. NASA put an asteroid mission on hold Friday, June 24, 2022, blaming the late delivery of its own navigation software. The Psyche mission to a strange metal asteroid of the same name was supposed to launch this September or October. But the agencys Jet Propulsion Lab was several months late writing and delivering its software for navigation, guidance and control.
Now the space agency is going to step back, and an independent review will look at what went wrong, when the spacecraft could launch again and even if it should go ahead, NASA planetary sciences chief Lori Glaze said. “There is that one challenge we couldn’t overcome in time to launch in 2022 with confidence,” she said.
But calculating launch times is complicated because the mission needs the proper sunlight conditions and the asteroid “is spinning like a rotisserie chicken instead of like a top,” Elkins-Tanton said.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
PM Update: Patchy fog and drizzle tonight ahead of a mainly sunny FridayAfter a cool and cloudy one today, sunshine returns for Friday. It'll send temperatures into the mid-80s.
Read more »
NASA wraps up moon rocket test; to set launch date after fixCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA said Thursday it has finished testing its huge moon rocket and will move it back to the launch pad in late August. A date for the first flight will be set after a leak that popped up during a dress rehearsal is fixed, the space agency said.
Read more »
NASA Declares Megarocket Rehearsal Complete, Setting Stage for Inaugural LaunchThe much-anticipated first launch of the Space Launch System could happen as early as late August.
Read more »
Thursday's General Hospital episode will air FridayThursday’s episode of General Hospital has been rescheduled for Friday due to ongoing breaking news.
Read more »
NASA Wants Its Moon Dust And Cockroaches Back -- Now!The space agency wants to halt the sale of moon dust collected in1969 that was later fed to cockroaches to see determine if the lunar rock posed a threat to terrestrial life.
Read more »