From the BBC news website.
After two days analysis of the problem and some heavy duty simulation the engineers identified a possible workaround. Read on for insight into the wonders of modern technology:
Yeah! the turned it off and on again.
Nothing much changes.
Mike
Europe's space freighter, the ATV, has had its propulsion system fully restored after an earlier glitch had closed down a quarter of its thrusters.
Jules Verne was launched on Sunday by an Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana.
Shortly after it was deployed, engineers received data indicating a large difference in pressures between the oxidiser and the fuel going through one of the ATV's four "propulsion chains". These are complex networks of pipes and valves leading from the fuel tanks to the thrusters; and the space truck has four of them.
As a precaution, the chain - comprising seven of the ATV's 28 attitude control jets and one of its four main engines - was shut down.
Spare propulsion capacity on the spacecraft meant the freighter's operation was never compromised, but engineers said they wanted to resolve the glitch as soon as possible.
That fix was initiated on Tuesday and involved first disabling all the propulsion chains before then progressively bringing them all back online.
Shortly after it was deployed, engineers received data indicating a large difference in pressures between the oxidiser and the fuel going through one of the ATV's four "propulsion chains". These are complex networks of pipes and valves leading from the fuel tanks to the thrusters; and the space truck has four of them.
As a precaution, the chain - comprising seven of the ATV's 28 attitude control jets and one of its four main engines - was shut down.
Spare propulsion capacity on the spacecraft meant the freighter's operation was never compromised, but engineers said they wanted to resolve the glitch as soon as possible.
That fix was initiated on Tuesday and involved first disabling all the propulsion chains before then progressively bringing them all back online.
Nothing much changes.
Mike
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