Comments on: Phobos-Grunt scheduled to launch at 20:16 UT

By: Blargh

Blargh — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:09:20 +0000

Sadly, it looks like Phobos-Grunt is now beyond rescue.

By: Blargh

Blargh — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:53:24 +0000

@ 34. ceramicfundamentalist

Some sources are saying “Crippled Russian space probe could crash back to Earth” and “most toxic falling satellite ever”. Any thoughts, Phil, on when exactly we should begin to panic?

Most toxic falling satellite ever? I doubt it. (Read up on Kosmos 954 in particular)

By: CraterJoe

CraterJoe — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:48:15 +0000

Toxic Satellite + Extremophile Microbes + solar radiation = Zombie Apocalypse.

By: alfaniner

alfaniner — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 19:40:14 +0000

I can’t be the only one that thinks “Phobos Grunt” makes a great band name?

By: mikie burkhart

mikie burkhart — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:52:24 +0000

Good this will put an end to what the UFO crowd thinks about Mars two moons : that they are artifical satellites launched by Martians. You know I’d like to stand on Mars at night and see two moons in the sky ,may be some future space probe could get a photo of the night sky on Mars with its two moons. Lets take it up with NASA.

By: zadoc

zadoc — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:50:27 +0000

POLL: Will Russia be able to save the Mars Phobos-Grunt probe?
Vote: http://www.wepolls.com/p/4857067

I seriously doubt it, but I really hope they can. The idea of a return mission from Phobos is really exciting to me.

By: ceramicfundamentalist

ceramicfundamentalist — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:17:22 +0000

Some sources are saying “Crippled Russian space probe could crash back to Earth” and “most toxic falling satellite ever”. Any thoughts, Phil, on when exactly we should begin to panic?

By: drbubbles

drbubbles — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:48:48 +0000

I believe this maintains a 100% failure rate for Phobos-destined (wholly or in part) missions. Because that is so statistically unlikely, the only logical explanation is that space aliens are interfering with Phobos missions in order to protect the secret space-alien secrets to be found there.

By: Hugo

Hugo — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:30:54 +0000

Another update from Russianspaceweb:

“At 16:35 Moscow Time (7:35 EST), a poster on Astronomy.ru web forum reported that new attempts to escape Earth orbit would be conducted between 03:00 and 05:00 Moscow Time on Thursday, November 10 (6 p.m. – 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday). According to Interfax news agency, Phobos-Grunt was expected to enter the range of Russian ground control stations at around 21:30 Moscow Time (12:30 p.m. EST), however only a ground station in Baikonur was equipped to downlink all necessary telemetry data and transmit new commands for the upcoming maneuver.”

Wish them luck!

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 13:47:05 +0000

Dave Shaw (2) said:

Dr. Plait,
A question about the image: There appear to be a variety of linear striations across the surface of the moon. What causes these? Some are vertical while others are horizontal.

The BA said:

. . . its surface is weird, as you can see in the picture above. It’s lined with grooves, which may have formed when asteroid impacts on Mars below blasted up material, which the tiny rock then plowed through. That’s still being argued about. A sample return might help resolve issues like that (for example, finding clear evidence of Martian minerals in Phobos samples).

Er, Dave, you did read the OP, right?