NASA hands over control of the ISEE-3 satellite to the hands of space enthusiasts

Back in April, a note was published on Habré that a group of enthusiasts was raising funds to restore the work of the ISEE-3 satellite (quite working), launched back in 1978, and successfully completing its tasks before the project was frozen.



This satellite was simply unnecessary by NASA, after the mission was completed, and it was simply “frozen”. Nevertheless, all the tools (13 scientific systems) work as well as in 1999, when the satellite was “frozen”.

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The probe was designed to study the interaction of the Earth’s magnetic field and the solar wind, and, after the first stage was completed, to study comets. The device was launched in 1978 and worked successfully until 1999.





Satisfied participants in the ISEE-3 recovery project



So, the funds were raised (150 thousand dollars instead of 125 planned), and NASA recently signed an agreement on the transfer of the satellite into the hands of a team of enthusiasts.







Now the position of the satellite is such that operators can use the position of the moon to perform a gravitational maneuver by changing the probe's orbit. The control will be performed using an 18-meter antenna located at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Among other things, the team that deals with the probe, had to recreate the software to control the satellite and its scientific tools.



Well, it remains only to wish success to the team.







Via NASA