Clever idea with the spinning antenna.
Interesting that it was not the "tricky" spinning bit but the relatively standard HPA (standard component most radar systems) part that did not live up to expectations.
The active radar portion of the “spinning lasso” antenna attached to NASA's SMAP satellite, launched in January, has stopped functioning and can't be recovered. Luckily for the space agency, it doesn't put an end to the entire near-billion-dollar mission, because the other half of the spacecraft's mission, a radiometer …
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When they started offering "alternative" therapies on the taxpayer's pound?
Personally I can't see the difference between that and teaching fairy stories as science, save for the fact that the former is our idiocy whereas the latter is one from the septics.
The build cost is marginal on a project like this - the launch cost is virtually everything, so you could build two, but you won't get it at 110%, but more like 180% - 190%.
This isn't the first instrument to fail before it's life end, and it won't be the last - but if you actually look at how good they are at these things now (*cough* spirit *cough* opportunity) then I think they know roughly what they're doing - it's called science, and it's things you don't expect that teach us what the universe is like...
The launch cost was about $140 million (NASA procured the last three Delta II launches for $412 million in 2012) http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1207/16delta2/), so there's still a very substantial saving if the backup craft costs half as much as the original to build.
"Lasso snaps" is at best a misleading heading - as far as anyone knows the antenna is still spinning happily, the radar's not working because the transmitter burned out.
This satellite had a 6m radar mesh antenna spinning around every 4 seconds 685km above the earth, connected to some high-tech electronics. Two weeks after one of the biggest solar storms in ages, with spectacular auroræ at low latitudes, the electronics went pfffuut. Maybe there's a connection? Zapped by induced voltages?
You'd need a heck of a beam to get cooked by radar, us meatsacks are mostly transparent to the frequencies used, y'know...
And it depends on where you live, but in an urban ( and quite often also not-so-urban) area you're quite likely to be bathed in radar frequencies anyway. Air traffic control, harbour/waterway control, ships, aircraft, long-range weather stations, speed traps.... the list goes on.. I doubt a piddly little satellite would add much...
I'm sure I'm wrong, but why is NASA spending money staring at the ground so often of late? Aren't they the Aeronautic and Space administration? I think they're looking the wrong direction. Staring at the ground should be handled by the National Ground Staring Administration, not the people who are supposed to be taking us to the stars.
why is NASA spending money staring at the ground so often of late?
Because there's a bottomless pit of money for climate change research, as long as it comes back with the right answer. Of course, if it comes back with the wrong answer, then the University of East Anglia will be able to help out.
Yes it is unfortunate that a portion of this expensive satellite failed. I would think understanding its mission should be part of this discussion. Things like: Monitor Drought, Predict Floods, Assist Crop Productivity, Weather Forecasting, Linking Water and Energy and Carbon Cycles.
http://smap.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/why-it-matters/