Agency Hopes Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Can Help

NASA's Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) still isn't talking, but NASA scientists think they might be able to find out why. Program engineers lost contact with the orbiter on November 5th and repeated attempts to reestablish contact have failed.

Now, NASA has a new plan. The agency will use its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) to look for MGS. The only problem? Since it lost contact, NASA doesn't know for sure exactly where the errant craft is.

Team Lead for Lockheed Martin Space System Wayne Sidney told Space.com, "Right now we don't have a great estimate on exactly where MGS is since it has been out of contact for a while."

While not known for sure, scientists are guessing MGS may have disturbed its own orbit. By extrapolating for it's last known position, they hope to have at least a general idea of where to look.

Engineers think if Surveyor can be located and photographed they might better understand what's wrong with it. Scientists plan to start with a wide-angle long-exposure using a high resolution camera on the Reconnaissance orbiter. If they can catch Surveyor on the shot, they can zoom in and take a close-up.

NASA is most interested in seeing what direction the lost craft's antenna is pointed. The agency would also like to see the position of the MGS solar panels.

The craft last communicated with NASA on November 5th, but that message was only a carrier with no data. Before that, MGS had reported a problem with one of its solar panels. NASA has since attempted contact with the orbiter using its most powerful radio dishes to no avail.

MGS is the oldest of six active spacecraft around Mars. It's original mission was to map Mars for roughly two years.

FMI: www.nasa.gov