The most expensive NASA satellite is out of order

The most expensive of stranded satellites in earth orbit by the U.S. space Agency (NASA) is broken. The apparatus SMAP passed out 1 out 2 radar to scan the Ground.

In NASA announced that the radar satellite, SMAP (Soil Moisture Active Passive), the price of which is estimated almost a million dollars, ceased to transmit data in the middle of summer. To calculate if it was possible to reconstruct, at the jet propulsion laboratory at the research center NASA was formed a specialized team of researchers.

It was discovered that the problem is contained in the signal amplifier and failures with the power of the radar. However all attempts to connect power radar were unsuccessful. A special Commission later reported that the radar return is impossible. At the same time, the work of a dear companion will continue.

Considering the opinion of the researchers, and without radar it can transmit to Earth a large amount of useful information. "Many of the planned research SMAP will have to reconsider the result of the loss of radar. But the mission of the satellite, which is the main collection of scientific data about the Earth, will be continued", - assured of the gift of Entekhabi, who heads a research group SMAP in the Massachusetts Institute of science and technology.

SMAP was launched into orbit on 31 January 2015. It is designed for high-precision measurements of soil moisture of the Earth. The most sensitive of all running meteorological satellites. Its exploration and production together with the price run was limited to U.S. taxpayers 915 million. It was expected that the device will help to portend drought and natural disasters. Life, as promised in NASA, was to be not less than 3 years.

sections: Society, World News