This area will cover relevant news of the threat to the planet from Near Earth Objects (NEOs) including concepts and designs for mitigation. All opinions are those of the author.

21 September 2009

Phobos-Grunt Mission Delayed Until 2011?

From Wikipedia update...

On 16 September, 2009, sources in the space industry told Interfax that Russian space officials will announce a delay of the mission to 2011 in a few days. RussianSpaceWeb.com cited industry sources as saying the launch will likely be postponed because the addition of China's 110 kilogramme (242 pound) probe had overloaded the mission.

From Interfax...

Russia puts off unmanned mission to Phobos till 2011 - source

MOSCOW. Sept 16 (Interfax) - A Russian mission to send a space probe to collect samples from Phobos, one of Mars' two moons, has been put off until 2011, a source in Russia's space industry said.

The launch of a Russian unmanned spacecraft to be named Phobos-Grunt was scheduled to start in 2009.

"Today there has been a conference of space scientists and space industrialists at which the prospects for the flight of [unmanned spacecraft Phobos-Grunt] to Phobos were discussed. The point of view that this flight should be put off until 2011 won out," the source told Interfax on Wednesday.

The Federal Space Agency and Russian Academy of Sciences would publish this decision within the next two days, the source said.

Link: Interfax News Report

Link: MarsDaily Article

Link: Wikipedia (Phobos-Grunt)

Link: Russianspaceweb: Phobos-Grunt Mission

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