* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Topex/Poseidon

Blobrana · L

On January 18, 2006 , at 9:41am PST the TOPEX/Poseidon spacecraft mission was terminated.

A series of command files was transmitted to the satellite to power off components, sensors, and heaters; close the propulsion system latch valves; remove (2 of the 3) batteries from the charge circuit; and, finally, turn off the telemetry transmitters.

The total mission duration was 13 years, 5 months and 1 week.

Blobrana · L

The 13-year mission of the joint NASA/Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales Topex/Poseidon oceanography satellite has finished after nearly 62,000 orbits of Earth. The spacecraft lost its ability to manoeuvre, bringing to a close its scientific mission.

"Topex/Poseidon revolutionized the study of Earth's oceans, providing the first continuous, global coverage of ocean surface topography and allowing us to see important week-to-week oceanic variations. Its data made a huge difference in our understanding of the oceans and their effect on global climatic conditions" - Dr. Mary Cleave, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Topex/Poseidon data have helped in hurricane and El Nino/La Nina forecasting, ocean and climate research, ship routing, offshore industries, fisheries management, marine mammals' research, modernising global tide models and ocean debris tracking.

The satellite's pitch reaction wheel, which helps keep the spacecraft in its proper orbital orientation, stalled on October 9, and ground controllers concluded the wheel was not functioning. The satellite remains in orbit 1,336 kilometres above the Earth.

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