SOHO Antenna Situation Improves (July 4, 2003)
Hi-res TIF image (1.0M)
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As often occurs in life, there is bad news and good news. High-rate
transmissions (used to send its images and data) from the Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) were initially interrupted on 27 June
2003. The interruption was expected due to a recent malfunction in
the pointing mechanism of the spacecraft's high-gain antenna (HGA).
For 2-3 week periods every 3 months, its high gain antenna will not
be able to transmit any data back to Earth. However, SOHO engineers found that medium-rate transmissions can be sent through its two omni-directional, low gain antennas when larger NASA Deep Space Network receiving stations are available. On the largest stations, with 70 meter dishes, even high-rate transmissions are possible. Medium-rate transmissions contain real-time science data, but does not have the capacity to dump on-board recordings of earlier gaps in contact. Given this newfound capability, SOHO expects to experience only moderate data losses every day during the recurring 2-3 week periods. Full transmission is expected to return about July 14 until the next orbital problem period, expected to start on September 22. Scientists are quite relieved as SOHO is the only spacecraft that can effectively monitor certain solar storms, which can generate effects felt on Earth. Please visit our Newsroom for press releases and media coverage.
SOHO began its Weekly Pick some time after sending a weekly image or video clip to the American Museum of Natural History (Rose Center) in New York City. There, the SOHO Weekly Pick is displayed with some annotations on a large plasma display. If your institution would also like to receive the same Weekly Pick from us for display (usually in Photoshop or QuickTime format), please send your inquiry to steele.hill@gsfc.nasa.gov. |
