Keith’s note: We have had the ability to contact the ISEE-3 spacecraft since last Friday. All hardware is in place at Arecibo and has been tested end-to-end. We are now awaiting authorization to proceed from NASA. First Contact can then happen almost immediately once our window opens.
Every day we delay shortens the time available to contact the spacecraft and begin the process of understanding its condition and verifying our ability to command it. The longer we wait, the more fuel and thrusting time will be required. This will soon become a critical factor as we get into the month of June. Given that the spacecraft is not where everyone thought it would be, the possibility of a lunar impact cannot be discounted. Yet another reason why we need to make First Contact ASAP.

Biologist, Explorers Club Fellow, ex-NASA Space Biologist and Payload integrator, Editor of NASAWatch.com and Astrobiology.com, Lapsed climber, Explorer, Synaesthete, Former Challenger Center board member...

11 replies on “ISEE-3 Reboot Team Is Ready To Make First Contact”

    1. Why couldn’t NASA simply have pre-approved the go/no go based on conditions met?

        1. Sounds like the latter in the absence of further info’ and the way the article reads.
          Cheers

        2. Lets just say that the process is in process, and when it is finished processing, it will be processed.

  3. not to worry………………………..
    I am ISEE;VEGER……………..
    I am heading to earth
    looking for my creator
    I am bringing telemetry porn for all to see………………….

  4. Now who would have guessed that paperwork would be the limiting factor in rebooting the old satellite? Just about what I expect in any project involving NASA.

    1. The processing has finished its process and now we have been processed. However, we must first ask permission to process what was processed….

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