IBEX leaves safe mode and returns to full science operations
Engineers have restored the orbiting astronomy probe IBEX out of safe mode, returning it to full science operations after a computer issue on February 18, 2023 that prevented the spacecraft from accepting commands.
To take the spacecraft out of a contingency mode it entered last month, the mission team performed a firecode reset (which is an external reset of the spacecraft) instead of waiting for the spacecraft to perform an autonomous reset and power cycle on March 4. The decision took advantage of a favorable communications environment around IBEX’s perigee – the point in the spacecraft’s orbit where it is closest to Earth.
After the firecode reset, command capability was restored. IBEX telemetry shows that the spacecraft is fully operational and functioning normally.
As I noted previously, IBEX was designed to study the boundary between the interstellar space and the solar system, and do it somehow from Earth orbit.
Engineers have restored the orbiting astronomy probe IBEX out of safe mode, returning it to full science operations after a computer issue on February 18, 2023 that prevented the spacecraft from accepting commands.
To take the spacecraft out of a contingency mode it entered last month, the mission team performed a firecode reset (which is an external reset of the spacecraft) instead of waiting for the spacecraft to perform an autonomous reset and power cycle on March 4. The decision took advantage of a favorable communications environment around IBEX’s perigee – the point in the spacecraft’s orbit where it is closest to Earth.
After the firecode reset, command capability was restored. IBEX telemetry shows that the spacecraft is fully operational and functioning normally.
As I noted previously, IBEX was designed to study the boundary between the interstellar space and the solar system, and do it somehow from Earth orbit.