In the way of rebooting phones, NASA uses a simple technique to fix a malfunctioning spacecraft
In the way of rebooting phones, NASA uses a simple technique to fix a malfunctioning spacecraft
NASA has used a simple, everyday method used by the lay public to get a malfunctioning spacecraft back into action.
Launched 15 years ago by the space agency, the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) orbits Earth and explores interactions between the solar system and interstellar space.
On the other hand, NASA announced on February 18 that they had encountered an anomaly in the spacecraft.
Meanwhile, the research team has lost the ability to pilot the spacecraft.
By March 2, the team attempted to restore the ability to drive using various methods, however, the attempts were unsuccessful.
Finally a procedure called “reset security code” was performed i.e. they closed the launcher and reopened it once more and indeed this command succeeded with an external reset mechanism and IBEX started working normally once more.
The spacecraft, the size of a bus tire, completes an orbit around Earth every 9 days. It was launched in 2008 and has been doing the mapping mission for 15 years.
In other words, they delineate the boundaries where plasma particles from the Sun interact with particles from other stars. Thanks to IBEX, the entire heliosphere can be mapped.
