What will become of the two cubesats deployed as part of the Insight mission?











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So as part of the Insight mission, two Cubesats were also launched to relay data during landing (so data can be obtained if something goes wrong)



Cubesats



What becomes of these satellites once their primary mission is done?










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    So as part of the Insight mission, two Cubesats were also launched to relay data during landing (so data can be obtained if something goes wrong)



    Cubesats



    What becomes of these satellites once their primary mission is done?










    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      10
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      10
      down vote

      favorite











      So as part of the Insight mission, two Cubesats were also launched to relay data during landing (so data can be obtained if something goes wrong)



      Cubesats



      What becomes of these satellites once their primary mission is done?










      share|improve this question













      So as part of the Insight mission, two Cubesats were also launched to relay data during landing (so data can be obtained if something goes wrong)



      Cubesats



      What becomes of these satellites once their primary mission is done?







      mars artificial-satellite insight






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      asked 11 hours ago









      Machavity

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          3 Answers
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          MarCO's primary mission isn't actually to transmit data from InSight during its entry period. That's a non-essentially function that can be done by other spacecraft, if needed. Instead, the main part of the MarCO mission is determining the functionality of cubesats during deep space missions. We've never before sent such small spacecraft this far from Earth, and the satellites are really mostly a testbed for future cubesat missions.



          In terms of their orbital trajectory - well, Emily Lakdawalla wrote about this back in March:




          With no ability to enter orbit at Mars, the MarCO spacecraft will shoot on past, remaining in solar orbit. I assume their Earth controllers will remain in contact for as long as possible.




          As I understand it, "as long as possible" is hopefully in the area of a few weeks.






          share|improve this answer




























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            Both MarCO cubesats are flying by Mars -- not in orbit. Furthermore, during their radio coverage of InSight's entry/descent/landing, their solar arrays are pointed away from the sun, towards Mars. They are on battery power, and will eventually stop transmitting when the batteries die. Then they will continue passively around the sun.



            MarCO paths






            share|improve this answer





















            • Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
              – Wayne Conrad
              9 hours ago








            • 1




              @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
              – Ross Presser
              8 hours ago










            • @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
              – Wayne Conrad
              8 hours ago








            • 2




              There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
              – Dr Sheldon
              8 hours ago






            • 4




              Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
              – Saiboogu
              7 hours ago


















            up vote
            3
            down vote













            Not an answer, but comments can't have pictures.



            After the primary mission of supporting the InSight landing, one of the MarCO sats did snap a nice picture of Mars while departing:



            enter image description here






            share|improve this answer





















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              3 Answers
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              3 Answers
              3






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              active

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              up vote
              10
              down vote













              MarCO's primary mission isn't actually to transmit data from InSight during its entry period. That's a non-essentially function that can be done by other spacecraft, if needed. Instead, the main part of the MarCO mission is determining the functionality of cubesats during deep space missions. We've never before sent such small spacecraft this far from Earth, and the satellites are really mostly a testbed for future cubesat missions.



              In terms of their orbital trajectory - well, Emily Lakdawalla wrote about this back in March:




              With no ability to enter orbit at Mars, the MarCO spacecraft will shoot on past, remaining in solar orbit. I assume their Earth controllers will remain in contact for as long as possible.




              As I understand it, "as long as possible" is hopefully in the area of a few weeks.






              share|improve this answer

























                up vote
                10
                down vote













                MarCO's primary mission isn't actually to transmit data from InSight during its entry period. That's a non-essentially function that can be done by other spacecraft, if needed. Instead, the main part of the MarCO mission is determining the functionality of cubesats during deep space missions. We've never before sent such small spacecraft this far from Earth, and the satellites are really mostly a testbed for future cubesat missions.



                In terms of their orbital trajectory - well, Emily Lakdawalla wrote about this back in March:




                With no ability to enter orbit at Mars, the MarCO spacecraft will shoot on past, remaining in solar orbit. I assume their Earth controllers will remain in contact for as long as possible.




                As I understand it, "as long as possible" is hopefully in the area of a few weeks.






                share|improve this answer























                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote










                  up vote
                  10
                  down vote









                  MarCO's primary mission isn't actually to transmit data from InSight during its entry period. That's a non-essentially function that can be done by other spacecraft, if needed. Instead, the main part of the MarCO mission is determining the functionality of cubesats during deep space missions. We've never before sent such small spacecraft this far from Earth, and the satellites are really mostly a testbed for future cubesat missions.



                  In terms of their orbital trajectory - well, Emily Lakdawalla wrote about this back in March:




                  With no ability to enter orbit at Mars, the MarCO spacecraft will shoot on past, remaining in solar orbit. I assume their Earth controllers will remain in contact for as long as possible.




                  As I understand it, "as long as possible" is hopefully in the area of a few weeks.






                  share|improve this answer












                  MarCO's primary mission isn't actually to transmit data from InSight during its entry period. That's a non-essentially function that can be done by other spacecraft, if needed. Instead, the main part of the MarCO mission is determining the functionality of cubesats during deep space missions. We've never before sent such small spacecraft this far from Earth, and the satellites are really mostly a testbed for future cubesat missions.



                  In terms of their orbital trajectory - well, Emily Lakdawalla wrote about this back in March:




                  With no ability to enter orbit at Mars, the MarCO spacecraft will shoot on past, remaining in solar orbit. I assume their Earth controllers will remain in contact for as long as possible.




                  As I understand it, "as long as possible" is hopefully in the area of a few weeks.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 10 hours ago









                  HDE 226868

                  2,39411037




                  2,39411037






















                      up vote
                      5
                      down vote













                      Both MarCO cubesats are flying by Mars -- not in orbit. Furthermore, during their radio coverage of InSight's entry/descent/landing, their solar arrays are pointed away from the sun, towards Mars. They are on battery power, and will eventually stop transmitting when the batteries die. Then they will continue passively around the sun.



                      MarCO paths






                      share|improve this answer





















                      • Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        9 hours ago








                      • 1




                        @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
                        – Ross Presser
                        8 hours ago










                      • @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        8 hours ago








                      • 2




                        There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
                        – Dr Sheldon
                        8 hours ago






                      • 4




                        Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
                        – Saiboogu
                        7 hours ago















                      up vote
                      5
                      down vote













                      Both MarCO cubesats are flying by Mars -- not in orbit. Furthermore, during their radio coverage of InSight's entry/descent/landing, their solar arrays are pointed away from the sun, towards Mars. They are on battery power, and will eventually stop transmitting when the batteries die. Then they will continue passively around the sun.



                      MarCO paths






                      share|improve this answer





















                      • Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        9 hours ago








                      • 1




                        @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
                        – Ross Presser
                        8 hours ago










                      • @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        8 hours ago








                      • 2




                        There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
                        – Dr Sheldon
                        8 hours ago






                      • 4




                        Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
                        – Saiboogu
                        7 hours ago













                      up vote
                      5
                      down vote










                      up vote
                      5
                      down vote









                      Both MarCO cubesats are flying by Mars -- not in orbit. Furthermore, during their radio coverage of InSight's entry/descent/landing, their solar arrays are pointed away from the sun, towards Mars. They are on battery power, and will eventually stop transmitting when the batteries die. Then they will continue passively around the sun.



                      MarCO paths






                      share|improve this answer












                      Both MarCO cubesats are flying by Mars -- not in orbit. Furthermore, during their radio coverage of InSight's entry/descent/landing, their solar arrays are pointed away from the sun, towards Mars. They are on battery power, and will eventually stop transmitting when the batteries die. Then they will continue passively around the sun.



                      MarCO paths







                      share|improve this answer












                      share|improve this answer



                      share|improve this answer










                      answered 10 hours ago









                      Dr Sheldon

                      3,1431339




                      3,1431339












                      • Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        9 hours ago








                      • 1




                        @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
                        – Ross Presser
                        8 hours ago










                      • @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        8 hours ago








                      • 2




                        There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
                        – Dr Sheldon
                        8 hours ago






                      • 4




                        Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
                        – Saiboogu
                        7 hours ago


















                      • Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        9 hours ago








                      • 1




                        @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
                        – Ross Presser
                        8 hours ago










                      • @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
                        – Wayne Conrad
                        8 hours ago








                      • 2




                        There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
                        – Dr Sheldon
                        8 hours ago






                      • 4




                        Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
                        – Saiboogu
                        7 hours ago
















                      Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
                      – Wayne Conrad
                      9 hours ago






                      Why don't the MarCO sats re-orient the arrays towards the sun after EDL? Do they lack the attitude gas to do that?
                      – Wayne Conrad
                      9 hours ago






                      1




                      1




                      @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
                      – Ross Presser
                      8 hours ago




                      @WayneConrad "Each MarCO's attitude-control system combines a star tracker, Sun sensors, gyroscopes and three-axis reaction wheels for monitoring and adjusting orientation. Accelerating a reaction wheel rotates the spacecraft in the opposite direction from the direction the wheel is spinning." No mention of any attitude gas at all. But I don't know why they couldn't reorient with just reaction wheels.
                      – Ross Presser
                      8 hours ago












                      @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
                      – Wayne Conrad
                      8 hours ago






                      @RossPresser JPL MarCO Micro CubeSat Propulsion System (VACCO) has something about it. You can use reaction wheels until you run out of gas to desaturate them. But I presume they still have gas left. I didn't know they had reaction wheels (such capable little bots!).
                      – Wayne Conrad
                      8 hours ago






                      2




                      2




                      There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
                      – Dr Sheldon
                      8 hours ago




                      There are thrusters, fed by a single tank. They were used for course corrections, and to de-saturate the reaction wheels. MarCO A (nicknamed WALL-E) had a leak and is believed to be out of gas. MarCO B might be able to re-orient to the sun, but being aligned to send data to Earth is a higher priority.
                      – Dr Sheldon
                      8 hours ago




                      4




                      4




                      Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
                      – Saiboogu
                      7 hours ago




                      Clearly, orienting for data transmission is important right now. That doesn't explain why they wouldn't reorient later. Many interplanetary craft aim solar and antenna by reorienting the craft repeatedly, after all.
                      – Saiboogu
                      7 hours ago










                      up vote
                      3
                      down vote













                      Not an answer, but comments can't have pictures.



                      After the primary mission of supporting the InSight landing, one of the MarCO sats did snap a nice picture of Mars while departing:



                      enter image description here






                      share|improve this answer

























                        up vote
                        3
                        down vote













                        Not an answer, but comments can't have pictures.



                        After the primary mission of supporting the InSight landing, one of the MarCO sats did snap a nice picture of Mars while departing:



                        enter image description here






                        share|improve this answer























                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote










                          up vote
                          3
                          down vote









                          Not an answer, but comments can't have pictures.



                          After the primary mission of supporting the InSight landing, one of the MarCO sats did snap a nice picture of Mars while departing:



                          enter image description here






                          share|improve this answer












                          Not an answer, but comments can't have pictures.



                          After the primary mission of supporting the InSight landing, one of the MarCO sats did snap a nice picture of Mars while departing:



                          enter image description here







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 8 hours ago









                          Russell Borogove

                          77.5k2250336




                          77.5k2250336






























                               

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