baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) (11/08/90)
MAGELLAN STATUS REPORT
November 7, 1990
The Magellan spacecraft is in good health, but is still in its Superior
Conjunction mode. After several unsuccessful attempts to upload the series
of commands to re-configure the spacecraft, a decision was made to postpone
the restart of mapping. Command uploads were attempted at both X and S-band
frequencies.
Due to the difficulty with getting the spacecraft to accept the
relatively simple configuration commands, it was considered very unlikely that
uploading the longer mapping sequences and parameter files would be
successful.
The communications problems had been predicted by the DSN (Deep Space
Network) when the Sun-Earth-Magellan angle was less than 2.5 degrees. During
the approach to Superior Conjunction, no commanding was attempted inside of
2.0 degrees, so it is not surprising that there are problems at yesterday's
1.4 degrees.
The present plan is to upload the mapping sequence on Friday, November 9,
when the Sun-Earth-Magellan angle is 2.0 degrees. Execution of the sequence
will begin with orbit #787 at 4:07 AM PST on Saturday, November 10. If
mapping resumes as now scheduled, the "Superior Conjunction Gap" will include
110 orbits or about 22 degrees of longitude. This area will be mapped between
June 26 and July 11, 1991 when Magellan again passes over.
The SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) Data Processor produced 8 standard and
one special image swaths yesterday.
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/_ /| /____/ \ /_ /|
| | | | __ \ /| | | | Ron Baalke | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov
___| | | | |__) |/ | | |___ Jet Propulsion Lab | baalke@jems.jpl.nasa.gov
/___| | | | ___/ | |/__ /| M/S 301-355 |
|_____|/ |_|/ |_____|/ Pasadena, CA 91109 |