Comments on: Firefly: Software caused failure of upper stage in December https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/firefly-software-caused-failure-of-upper-stage-in-december/ Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:26:05 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Edward https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/firefly-software-caused-failure-of-upper-stage-in-december/#comment-1447738 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 16:26:05 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=102945#comment-1447738 Barry,
I don’t know why they could not do remote operations and do as you suggested without a software fix, but I’m sure that they would have if it were practical and didn’t endanger the rest of the mission.

The SpaceNews article describes that Lockheed Martin accelerated its test schedule and accomplished many of the mission’s objectives. The satellite reentered a couple of weeks ago, so it is too late to rescue that mission even if they already have the solution ready to go. Since Firefly says it is still correcting the problem, I don’t think they have the updated software ready yet.

I don’t know whether the satellite can operate with the upper stage still attached. If they had to separate for the satellite to operate properly, then it would have been unable to make corrective actions even if the software was ready before reentry. I’m pretty sure that they made the best of a bad situation. Lemonade, anyone?

]]> By: Barry https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/firefly-software-caused-failure-of-upper-stage-in-december/#comment-1447106 Wed, 21 Feb 2024 19:52:53 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=102945#comment-1447106 I wonder why they don’t fix their software problem and fire the engines when they get to apogee on any of the orbits? There must be deeper problems.

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