The European Space Agency ’s ( ESA ) Galileo satellites have been have a bad time for thepast 17 years . Now , the 10 billion euro project has suffered what might be its foreign setback yet : Nine clocks across the 18 Galileo satellites in orbit have all of a sudden cease working . For a fleet that was guess to create an independent European GPS scheme , the satellites really ca n’t seem to get their hoot together .
According tothe BBC , each Galileo satellite is equip with four filaree — two powered by rubidium , and two by hydrogen masers — to facilitate the satellite function in case one clock go bad . But with this recent mishap , one satellite is operating on just two pin grass , which could spell fuss , consider each satellite needs one clock to function .
Though the outlet has n’t force any satellites to shut down , the ESAmight delaythe launch of its next batch of satellite until it can identify the cause . This would n’t be a peachy look for the ESA — at this point , the tilt of Galileo solecism is already quite long . In August 2014 , two satellites were found into thewrong orbits , which retard future launching . Even before that , launch had been delay for over a yeardue to“technical difficulty . ”
The ESA has n’t released any information about what could have caused the trouble , but it ’s potential they do n’t make love yet . We ’ve reached out to the ESA and will update this post if we hear back .
In the meantime , ESA director general Jan Woerne gave journalists in Paris thismildly confusingexplanation :
“ Everybody is raising this query : should we shelve the next launch until we find the root grounds , or should we launch ?
“ you’re able to give both answer at the same time . you could say we wait until we rule the root but that mean if more clocks break down we will reduce the capability of Galileo . But if we launch we will at least uphold if not increase the [ capability ] , but we may then take the risk of exposure that a systematic trouble is not believe . We are right now in this discourse about what to do . ”
Better luck next sentence , little guys .
ScienceSpace
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