YES2 Is Now A NO NO

As we reported yesterday, in spite of the fact the Young Engineers’ Satellite (YES2) was able to detach the Fotino capsule from the Foton-M3 research satellite. The tether began to unwind, but only 8.5 kilometers of the strong, man-made fiber was deployed of the total 30 km length. Using a support system called MASS, plus a spring-loaded mechanism called FLOYD, the former would activate and ensure the tether was taut as the capsule was pulled to Earth by gravity. Then, when the Fotino reached its lowest point, the tether would be cut and the Fotino would then descend the remaining altitude with a parachute.




Something went awry, however, and the tether was cut prematurely after it became stuck, and now researchers indicate the Fotino capsule will either become another bit of space debris orbiting Earth or it will burn up in the atmosphere. To call this portion of the entire Foton-M3 mission a failure would be incorrect, as certainly a new concept was tested for the first time and a great deal was learned by those involved… all to be applied to another project in the future. Plus, the remaining Foton-M3 experiments were quite successful, according to Josef Winter, the European Space Agency’s Payload and Microgravity Platform Division’s manager.