There were three Deep Space Network (DSN) trackig passes during the
past week. All subsystems on board the spacecraft are performing
normally. The spacecraft is in All-Stellar mode and multiple
small firings of the thrusters are occurring. The fuel usage has decreased
to less than 3 grams/day. Analysis of the high rate attitude telemetry
is still in progress.
The only commanding during this period has been to reset the Command
Loss Timer. The last DSN contact was when the spacecraft was less than
2 degrees from the Sun. All commands sent to the spacecraft were
received although the signal was noisier than normal due interference
with the Sun.
Solar conjunction occurs on Thursday February 10 when the angle between
the spacecraft and the Sun, as seen from Earth, will be 0.16 degrees.
After the conjunction STARDUST will start its return to Earth that will
culminate in an Earth flyby on January 15, 2001. The flyby marks the
completion of the first of three orbits around the Sun.
The Peer Review of the upcoming Sample Return Capsule (SRC) deployment
was held. During the review the SRC mechanisms (latches, hinge,
shoulder and wrist) were described and the commands for deployment
discussed. The review board was positive in its comments. One of the
board recommendations was to start the SRC motors warm-up the day
before to ensure the motors were at operating temperatures at the start
of their movement. The motor temperatures are approximately -65 C.
The operating temperature is -40 C.
For more information on the STARDUST mission – the first ever
comet sample return mission – please visit the STARDUST home page:
