Planetary Society's Cosmos 1 Solar Sail Spacecraft is not in its intended orbit 


Reuters reported that the Planetary Society's Cosmos 1 solar sail spacecraft "failed to reach its planned orbit after the Russian rocket carrying it shut down seconds after launch." 

Reuters indicated that there is confusion about the current status of the spacecraft. There was a report that the craft had crashed in the Barents Sea, but the Planetary Society says the craft is sending signals to tracking stations. The spacecraft is apparently not in the intended orbit.

The Planetary Society's website says, "You can see where it was expected to go. How far it may have been from that line we just don't know. But we're feeling much better now that it may still be up there somewhere." 

Posted: Wednesday - June 22, 2005 at 09:35 AM          

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