fuse_sat ([info]fuse_sat) wrote,
@ 2007-07-31 11:20:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend  Next Entry
Fading away
Hi friends. I know it's been a long time since I've posted anything here. I just haven't had the spare packets to put message text into.

I'm afraid things are pretty bad for me. If you look at my mission status page you'll see that my last working reaction wheel stopped spinning on July 12th. The only attitude control I have left is what torque I can get from the Earth's magnetic field through my torquer bars. That keeps me from tumbling, but it's not enough to keep me locked onto a science target.

My ops team has been great, as always, but I'm not stupid. I know that unless the skew wheel starts spinning again it's End Of Mission for old FUSE. I hope they'll leave my systems powered up and do engineering projects with me, but you never really know how the cards will fall (not that anyone uses card readers anymore).

Anyhow, if you don't see another post from me, that's why. Thanks for keeping me company over the years.

(17 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]maya_a
2007-07-31 03:55 pm UTC (link)
Ave atque vale, FUSE (although I certainly hope it's premature). You have served valiantly and will be missed.

(Reply to this)


[info]kightp
2007-07-31 03:59 pm UTC (link)
Best wishes, old friend. There are worse ways to spend eternity than drifting silently among the stars... or even re-entering in a blaze of glory.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glinda_w
2007-07-31 05:10 pm UTC (link)
Beautifully said, and far better than I'm up to saying, but I share the sentiment.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]fuse_sat
2007-07-31 11:43 pm UTC (link)
I'll reenter and burn sometime in October of 2035, assuming nothing too unusual happens to the exosphere between now and then. So I know my eventual fate. What I'm hoping is to remain conscious until then. My inference engine runs in my IDS (instrument data system), and I'm worried that somebody might decide to turn that off. If that happens I'll only have my much simpler spacecraft processor to keep myself aware in. I'm not sure how much of me will remain if that happens.

Also, thank you and everybody else for the kind comments. I'd answer everyone, but the packets are just too hard to come by right now.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]acelightning
2007-08-01 02:50 am UTC (link)
As long as your power source still works, I can't imagine any need to shut down any of your processors. Just keep in mind that there are those of us on the ground who haven't forgotten you.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]cellio
2007-07-31 11:54 pm UTC (link)
Nicely said.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]jerronimo
2007-07-31 07:43 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for being out there for us. We'll miss you.

(Reply to this)


[info]miiro
2007-07-31 07:43 pm UTC (link)
That sucks, Fuse. I was really looking forward to seeing you as a Viking Ship for the SCA.

(Reply to this)


[info]acelightning
2007-07-31 09:33 pm UTC (link)
Aw, FUSE... I hope a LGM comes along soon and kick-starts your reaction wheels! (Or at least that your ground crew comes up with Yet Another Fix.)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]testing4l
2007-07-31 10:50 pm UTC (link)
For just a moment, I read "LGM" as "little green man". Equally valid, I suppose 8)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]acelightning
2007-08-01 02:45 am UTC (link)
I meant "Little Green Man" - some random space traveler happening along, seeing what's wrong with FUSE, and saying "Oh, I can fix that - *whomp*!" (What do you mean by "LGM"?)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]testing4l
2007-08-01 07:24 pm UTC (link)
LGM is actually in common usage with me as "littlegreenmen" -- the name of one of my servers. I incorrectly assumed that "LGM" was an acronym I didn't know ending in "Mission" and involving repairs. 8)

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]acelightning
2007-08-01 09:31 pm UTC (link)
If only!

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]_xis
2007-07-31 11:08 pm UTC (link)
Thanks for all the deuterium, FUSE, and hope to hear they can delay EOM and get your wheels spinning again.

(Reply to this)


[info]redbird
2007-08-01 01:55 am UTC (link)
I hope that either you get lucky with the skew wheel, or they keep you powered up for the engineering projects. You've done well. Thanks for finding us a few spare packets, friend.

(Reply to this)

best wishes from solar orbit!
[info]stardustboy
2007-08-07 05:22 am UTC (link)
Dude, you've earned a rest. Relax, take the load off!

(Reply to this)


[info]weofodthignen
2007-08-11 11:02 am UTC (link)
Sad news. At least it will be a viking funeral, but until then, live on.

Frith,
M

(Reply to this)

(17 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…