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The European Space Agency and the European Union want to provide an alternative to GPS — Global Positioning System, the space-based satellite navigation system operated by the United States — called Galileo, named after the astronomer who gave us the precursor of Newtonian physics. Galileo is a €5 billion project intended for civilian use scheduled to be completed and operational by 2019, with 27 satellites and 3 spares orbiting 14,600 miles above Earth.
The system suffered a setback on Saturday, though, when two satellites launched from French Guiana failed to attain their intended orbit, Phys.Org reports ( http://phys.org/news/2014-08-galileo-satellites.html ). It’s not immediately clear why there was a malfunction, and the agencies involved are investigating. In the meantime, however, Galileo’s French coordinator spoke to Agence France-Presse (AFP) ( http://www.afp.com/en/news/two-galileo-satellites-lose-their-way ) and said it will be be complicated to correct the satellites’ orbits.
(Score: 2, Flamebait) by Snotnose on Monday August 25 2014, @05:06AM
Been following this story since this morning, nobody has yet explained how a presumably correctly functioning rocket can toss 2 satellites into the wrong orbits. This is on the level of mixing up metric units with American units and missing Mars.
/ I blame ISIS
// Or ISIL, depending on who you listen to
/// The amount of BS they put out changed the mass around the launch point enough to change orbits.
//// On the other hand, looks like evil is massless
I came. I saw. I forgot why I came.
(Score: 2) by maxwell demon on Monday August 25 2014, @07:15AM
According to what they said in radio this morning, the last rocket stage, which was supposed to bring it into the correct orbit, didn't work correctly.
The Tao of math: The numbers you can count are not the real numbers.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday August 25 2014, @06:06AM
Given that it is rocket science and everything gets double, and often triple, checked I have to wonder if the satellites ended up exactly where they were meant to be.
What better cover for a set of intel satellites than "failed to get into their proper orbit" and can now be ignored because they are currently in useless orbits.
I wonder what their current orbital track is?
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 2) by AnonTechie on Monday August 25 2014, @06:13AM
Reminds me of: Its not a bug, it is a feature !
Albert Einstein - "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Snotnose on Monday August 25 2014, @06:43AM
They usually don't want anyone to know where the intel satellites are. Everyone knows where these 2 are.
/ booster rockets could change that
// but then everyone knows where they should be, but aren't
/// nothing to see here citizen, move along.
I came. I saw. I forgot why I came.
(Score: 2) by zafiro17 on Monday August 25 2014, @11:22AM
What's up with all the single, double, and triple slashes in your comments, snotnose? I can't figure out if it has any purpose other than applying racing stripes to your words. If that's the case, it's like driving a Ricer.
Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis - Jack Handey
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday August 25 2014, @05:38PM
It is true that they try to keep the orbits of intel sats secret but with all the spotters communicating on the Internet it is getting much harder for them to do. Someone might have had the flash of insight that they can hide in plain sight.
But your probably right, somebody screwed up and forgot to shift a bit or something, it's just more fun to think it was all part of some big plan, and if it was intentional it would mean that all the people who did their best to get the sats built and launch didn't waste their effort. Ever have a project that you put a lot of effort into fail because someone else screwed up? In my case it usually results a very large tab at the local Tiki bar (flaming drinks do much to cheer me up).
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 1) by Horse With Stripes on Monday August 25 2014, @10:09AM
Perhaps they will be used to locate drug plantations and border crossings [reuters.com].
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday August 25 2014, @06:36AM
Fortunately this typo is less complicated to correct:
There... it makes sense now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0
(Score: 2) by gawdonblue on Monday August 25 2014, @11:45AM
Isn't it?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 25 2014, @05:41PM
No it isn't, because the rocket was russian :) with current politics re Ukraine this gets new level of possibilities. :)