Computer system on GOCE satellite has trouble again

The GOCE European computer satellite system was again malfunctioning for the second time that ground stations could not receive information about the studies and measurements taken.

Illustration.Source: Internet

GOCE satellite was launched into orbit on March 17, 2009 to map the gravitational field of the Earth and accurately determine the parameters of major ocean currents.

The first months of satellites worked very well, however, in February, the computer that was responsible for data transmission to Earth was malfunctioning. European Space Agency experts have decided to use a backup computer.

However, in the middle of last July, this computer also had a problem. The above glitch was the second consecutive time for this backup computer.

Engineers of the European Space Agency are seeking to restore the operation of data transmission computers. GOCE satellite program manager said the situation is complicated, but there are some ideas to solve.

GOCE now stops collecting scientific information and is transferred to a higher trajectory. So far, GOCE has collected two-thirds of the Earth's gravitational field information according to the European Space Agency's scientific research program.