There were two Deep Space Network (DSN) tracking passes in the past
week. All subsystems on board the spacecraft are performing normally.
During the first DSN pass no telemetry was received due to interference
from the Sun – the angular separation from the Sun is only 1.4 degrees.
A weak carrier was observed and the DSN was able to occasionally lock
onto the telemetry subcarrier but never long enough to provide telemetry data.
Although no data was captured, the fact that the spacecraft was there and
transmitting at the correct data rate indicated that the spacecraft was
healthy.
The second DSN pass provided data that confirmed the spacecraft was
healthy. Commands were sent to the spacecraft to return the Command
Loss Timer to its original value of nine days. The spacecraft, due to
interference from the Sun, did not successfully receive these commands.
They will be sent again during the next pass.
Preparation for the Aerogel deployment on February 22 is continuing
The commands have been built and are in testing and review.
The All-Stellar performance continues to be monitored. The fuel usage
remains at less than 3 grams/day. Analysis of the high rate attitude
telemetry is on going.
The STARDUST Outreach team hosted the Southern California Space Explorer
Teachers training workshop with other project personnel providing
presentations on comets and the STARDUST Project.
Ken Atkins, the STARDUST Project Manager released a special 1 year
STARDUST launch anniversary announcement.
For more information on the STARDUST mission – the first ever
comet sample return mission – please visit the STARDUST home page:
