Russian Mars Probe Stuck in Earth Orbit

By Peter B. de Selding

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The Phobos-Grunt L-shaped tube transfers soil from the bottom of the lander module up to the Earth return module where it will be stored for the return trip to Earth. Credit: Roscosmos photo Enlarge Image

BRUSSELS — Russia’s Phobos-Grunt mission, which was designed to return samples of a Mars moon to Earth, remained stuck in Earth orbit as of Nov. 11.

The Russian space agency Roscosmos acknowledged in a Nov. 9 statement that Phobos-Grunt failed to ignite its on-board engines and became stuck in Earth orbit. Roscosmos added that it would attempt radio contact with the spacecraft late Nov. 9 Moscow time and try to “re-enable the main engines.” As of press time Nov. 11, Roscosmos had posted no further update. U.S. Strategic Command’s Space-Track website projected Nov. 10 that Phobos-Grunt would re-enter Earth’s atmosphere Nov. 26 if the spacecraft remained in its current orbit.

Phobos-Grunt, which is years behind schedule, was successfully launched Nov. 8 aboard a Zenit-2SB rocket from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. According to the Roscosmos statement, the spacecraft’s separation from the rocket, and the drop-off point, were both within specifications.

But the spacecraft’s on-board engines, which are designed to give it the energy needed to escape Earth orbit, did not function for reasons unknown, Roscosmos said. Also stuck in Earth orbit is a Chinese-built Mars orbiter that is piggybacking on the Russian craft.

It remained unclear exactly how many days Roscosmos has to try to recover the use of the engines before the mission will be declared lost. Roscosmos’ statement suggested it could continue working the issue for two weeks, but Russian press reports of a press briefing by Roscosmos said a solution must be found within 72 hours or the satellite’s on-board batteries could fail, ending the mission.

Dan Leone contributed to this report from Washington.