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{{Main|Planetary protection}}
{{Main|Planetary protection}}
Some spacecraft are retired upon completing their scientific objectives. Depending on the mission’s requirements and circumstances, various retirement strategies may be employed. For example, spacecraft can be intentionally [[Atmospheric entry|deorbited]], Alternatively, they may be left in orbit around a planet or moon, however, leaving a spacecraft in orbit around a planet or moon carries the risk of [[Planetary protection|contamination]] or the creation of [[space debris]]. Contamination could occur if the spacecraft carries [[microbes]] or [[organic material]] from Earth, potentially affecting the planetary or lunar environments. Additionally, if the spacecraft were to malfunction or fragment in orbit, it could contribute to the accumulation of space debris, posing hazards to other spacecraft and future missions. Therefore, decisions regarding the fate of retired spacecraft must carefully weigh these risks and implement measures to mitigate them.
Some spacecraft are retired upon completing their scientific objectives. Depending on the mission’s requirements and circumstances, various retirement strategies may be employed. For example, spacecraft can be intentionally [[Atmospheric entry|deorbited]], Alternatively, they may be left in orbit around a planet or moon, however, leaving a spacecraft in orbit around a planet or moon carries the risk of [[Planetary protection|contamination]] or the creation of [[space debris]]. Contamination could occur if the spacecraft carries [[microbes]] or [[organic material]] from Earth, potentially affecting the planetary or lunar environments. Additionally, if the spacecraft were to malfunction or fragment in orbit, it could contribute to the accumulation of space debris, posing hazards to other spacecraft and future missions. Therefore, decisions regarding the fate of retired spacecraft must carefully weigh these risks and implement measures to mitigate them.

==List of notable retired spacecraft==
===Retired Orbital spacecraft===
{{Main|List of Solar System probes}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Retired Orbital Spacecraft
|-
! Spacecraft name !! Launch date !! Retirement date !! Retirement type
|-
| [[Cassini–Huygens]] || October 15, 1997 || September 15, 2017 || Deorbitation
|-
| [[Dawn (spacecraft)|Dawn]] || September 27, 2007 || November 1, 2018 || Fuel depletion
|-
| [[Galileo (spacecraft)|Galileo]] || October 18, 1989 || September 21, 2003 || Deorbitation
|-
| [[Magellan (spacecraft)|Magellan]] || May 4, 1989 || October 13, 1994 || Deorbitation
|-
| [[Mariner 2]] || August 27, 1962 || January 3, 1963 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Mariner 4]] || November 28, 1964 || December 21, 1967 || Mission tasks completed
|-
| [[Mariner 5]] || June 14, 1967 || October 14, 1968 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Mariner 6]] || February 24, 1969 || December 23, 1970 || Discontinued
|-
| [[Mariner 7]] || March 27, 1969 || December 28, 1970 || Discontinued
|-
| [[Mariner 9]] || May 30, 1971 || October 27, 1972 || Deorbitation
|-
| [[Mars Global Surveyor]] || November 7, 1996 || November 2, 2006 || Contact lost
|-
| [[MESSENGER]] || August 3, 2004 || April 30, 2015 || Deorbitation
|-
| [[Pioneer 4]] || March 3, 1959 || 6 March 1959 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Pioneer 5]] || March 11, 1960 || June 26, 1960 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Pioneer 6]] || December 16, 1965 || December 8, 2000 || Mission tasks completed
|-
| [[Pioneer 7]] || August 17, 1966 || March 1995 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Pioneer 8]] || December 13, 1967 || August 22, 1996 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Pioneer 9]] || November 8, 1968 || 1983 || Contact lost
|-
| [[Venus Express]] || November 9, 2005 || December 16, 2014 || Fuel depletion
|}

===Retired Planetary Landers or Rovers===
{{Main|List of landings on extraterrestrial bodies}}
{| {| class="wikitable"
|+ Retired Planetary Landers or Rovers
|-
! Lander !! Mission !! Destination !! Launch date !! Landing date !! Retirement
|-
| [[Huygens (spacecraft)|Huygens]] || [[Cassini–Huygens|Cassini-Huygens]] || [[Titan (moon)|Titan (moon of Saturn)]] || October 15, 1997 || January 14, 2005 || Landed
|-
| [[InSight]] || Mars InSight || [[Mars]] || May 5, 2018 || November 26, 2018 || Retired
|-
| [[Mars Exploration Rover – A]] || [[Mars Exploration Rover]] || [[Mars]] || June 10, 2003 || May 25, 2011 || Retired
|-
| [[Mars Exploration Rover – B]] || [[Mars Exploration Rover]] || [[Mars]] || May 5, 2018 || November 26, 2018 || Retired
|-
| [[Phoenix (spacecraft)|Phoenix]] || Mars Phoenix || [[Mars]] || August 4, 2007 || May 25, 2008 || Ended mission
|-
| [[Schiaparelli EDM|Schiaparelli]] || [[ExoMars]] || [[Mars]] || March 14, 2016 || October 19, 2016 || Lander crash-landed
|-
| [[Viking 1]] || [[Viking program]] || [[Mars]] || August 20, 1975 || July 20, 1976 || Ended mission
|-
| [[Viking 2]] || [[Viking program]] || [[Mars]] || September 9, 1975 || September 3, 1976 || Ended mission
|}

===Space telescopes===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Retired Orbital Space Telescopes
|-
! Space Telescope !! Launch date !! Retirement date !! Status !! References
|-
| [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory]] || April 5, 1991 || June 4, 2000 || Retired || <ref>{{cite web |title=CRGO - Missions - Astrobiology |url=https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/missions/cgro |website=astrobiology.nasa.gov |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[Kepler Space Telescope]] || March 7, 2009 || November 15, 2018 || Fuel loss || <ref>{{cite web |title=Kepler / K2 - NASA Science |url=https://science.nasa.gov/mission/kepler/ |website=science.nasa.gov |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[ROSAT]] || June 1, 1990 || February 12, 1999 || Retired || <ref>{{cite web |title=ROSAT - NASA Science |url=https://science.nasa.gov/mission/rosat/ |website=science.nasa.gov |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
| [[Spitzer Space Telescope]] || August 25, 2003 || January 30, 2020 || Discontinued due to [[James Webb Space Telescope]] || <ref>{{cite web |title=Space Telescope - NASA Science |url=https://science.nasa.gov/mission/spitzer/ |website=science.nasa.gov |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[Space debris]]
* [[Spacecraft cemetery]]
* [[Graveyard orbit]]
* [[Cassini-Huygens]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 18:24, 27 April 2024

Most notable examples of spacecraft retirement is the retirement of the Cassini-Huygens probe in 2017.

The retirement of a spacecraft refers to the discontinuation of a spacecraft from active service. This can involve deorbiting the spacecraft, discontinuing of the probes operations, passivating it, or loss of contact with it. One notable example of spacecraft retirement is Cassini's retirement in 2017.[1][2]

History

The first spacecraft to be retired was the Soviet Union's Sputnik 1 probe. Sputnik was originally launched in 1957, and eventually completed its mission by naturally deorbiting due to gravitational forces. It spent roughly 3 months orbiting Earth, completing 1,440 orbits in the duration.[3]

In 1958, NASA launched the Vanguard 1 probe with the aim of winning in the Space Race. Six years later, NASA officially concluded the mission as the probe had fulfilled all its experimental and objective requirements. NASA made sure the probe would survive for up to 2,000 years. However, due to solar radiation pressure and atmospheric drag, the hypothesized reentry date has been reduced to approximately 240 years from now, where Vanguard 1 is expected to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up.[4][5]

Following the discontinuation of the Vanguard 1 probe, many space agencies and subsequent spacecraft have ceased operations through various methods.

In 2017, the Cassini–Huygens probe concluded its 19-year exploration mission by plunging into Saturn's atmosphere. The decision to end the mission was prompted by the minimal power supply from the probe's radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs). The maneuver started on November 29, 2016, where Cassini performed a flyby of Saturn's moon Titan, which positioned it into the orbital plane of Saturn's F Ring for its grand finale.[6][7] Cassini performed another subsequent flyby of Titan on April 22, 2017, during which positioned the probe to pass within a precise 3,100 km (1,900 mi) of Saturn's clouds. The process of flybys was repeated 22 times until September 15, 2017, at 11:55:46 UTC, when communication with Cassini's antenna was lost during the 22nd flyby of Saturn. Cassini's grand finale represented the inaugural intentional entry of a spacecraft into the atmosphere of a gas giant, and marks the first major spacecraft to burn up in the atmosphere of a gas giant (excluding the Galileo Atmospheric Probe). The mission's success has significantly influenced the planning and execution of both present and future missions focused on gas and ice giants.[8]

Reasons

Radioisotope thermoelectric generator decrement

Main articles: Voyager program and Radioisotope thermoelectric generator
Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched in 1977 and are equipped with radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) to power their instruments and communication systems.

Many modern spacecraft utilize radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs) as their power source. Over time, the power output of RTGs diminishes due to the gradual depletion of the radioactive isotopes they rely on for electricity generation.[9]

These RTGs convert the heat generated by the decay of radioactive isotopes into electricity, providing a reliable power source for spacecraft equipped with RTGs. As the radioactive isotopes decay over time, the power output of the RTGs gradually decreases. It’s estimated that the power output from the RTGs will fall below the threshold required to operate the spacecraft’s systems effectively, including communication with Earth and scientific instruments takes roughly 50 years to happen. As a result, spacecraft equipped with RTGs will eventually run out of power sufficient enough to power their instruments.[10][11]

Loss of contact

Main articles: Communications blackout, Pioneer 10, and Pioneer 11

Communication loss between spacecraft and Earth is a known occurrence, particularly as spacecraft travel deeper into space. Factors like distance, technical malfunctions, or power source depletion can all contribute to this loss. Efforts may be made to re-establish communication, but success isn’t guaranteed due to technological limitations or the spacecraft’s condition.

Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 serve as prominent examples of spacecraft encountering communication failures with Earth. As these probes traveled deeper into space, the distance between them and Earth grew, posing challenges for maintaining contact. Ultimately, their antennas dropped below Earth’s radio detection threshold, leading to the loss of communication.

Methods

Deorbitation

Main article: Atmospheric entry

When spacecraft lose funding or complete their scientific objectives, they may alter their trajectories in various ways. One common approach is to redirect the spacecraft towards a path where it will burn up in the atmosphere of the celestial body they were orbiting. This intentional reentry minimizes the risk of the spacecraft becoming space debris, or helps the contamination of planets or moons.

Mission completion

Main article: Planetary protection

Some spacecraft are retired upon completing their scientific objectives. Depending on the mission’s requirements and circumstances, various retirement strategies may be employed. For example, spacecraft can be intentionally deorbited, Alternatively, they may be left in orbit around a planet or moon, however, leaving a spacecraft in orbit around a planet or moon carries the risk of contamination or the creation of space debris. Contamination could occur if the spacecraft carries microbes or organic material from Earth, potentially affecting the planetary or lunar environments. Additionally, if the spacecraft were to malfunction or fragment in orbit, it could contribute to the accumulation of space debris, posing hazards to other spacecraft and future missions. Therefore, decisions regarding the fate of retired spacecraft must carefully weigh these risks and implement measures to mitigate them.

List of notable retired spacecraft

Retired Orbital spacecraft

Main article: List of Solar System probes
Retired Orbital Spacecraft
Spacecraft name Launch date Retirement date Retirement type
Cassini–Huygens October 15, 1997 September 15, 2017 Deorbitation
Dawn September 27, 2007 November 1, 2018 Fuel depletion
Galileo October 18, 1989 September 21, 2003 Deorbitation
Magellan May 4, 1989 October 13, 1994 Deorbitation
Mariner 2 August 27, 1962 January 3, 1963 Contact lost
Mariner 4 November 28, 1964 December 21, 1967 Mission tasks completed
Mariner 5 June 14, 1967 October 14, 1968 Contact lost
Mariner 6 February 24, 1969 December 23, 1970 Discontinued
Mariner 7 March 27, 1969 December 28, 1970 Discontinued
Mariner 9 May 30, 1971 October 27, 1972 Deorbitation
Mars Global Surveyor November 7, 1996 November 2, 2006 Contact lost
MESSENGER August 3, 2004 April 30, 2015 Deorbitation
Pioneer 4 March 3, 1959 6 March 1959 Contact lost
Pioneer 5 March 11, 1960 June 26, 1960 Contact lost
Pioneer 6 December 16, 1965 December 8, 2000 Mission tasks completed
Pioneer 7 August 17, 1966 March 1995 Contact lost
Pioneer 8 December 13, 1967 August 22, 1996 Contact lost
Pioneer 9 November 8, 1968 1983 Contact lost
Venus Express November 9, 2005 December 16, 2014 Fuel depletion

Retired Planetary Landers or Rovers

Main article: List of landings on extraterrestrial bodies
Retired Planetary Landers or Rovers
Lander Mission Destination Launch date Landing date Retirement
Huygens Cassini-Huygens Titan (moon of Saturn) October 15, 1997 January 14, 2005 Landed
InSight Mars InSight Mars May 5, 2018 November 26, 2018 Retired
Mars Exploration Rover – A Mars Exploration Rover Mars June 10, 2003 May 25, 2011 Retired
Mars Exploration Rover – B Mars Exploration Rover Mars May 5, 2018 November 26, 2018 Retired
Phoenix Mars Phoenix Mars August 4, 2007 May 25, 2008 Ended mission
Schiaparelli ExoMars Mars March 14, 2016 October 19, 2016 Lander crash-landed
Viking 1 Viking program Mars August 20, 1975 July 20, 1976 Ended mission
Viking 2 Viking program Mars September 9, 1975 September 3, 1976 Ended mission

Space telescopes

Retired Orbital Space Telescopes
Space Telescope Launch date Retirement date Status References
Compton Gamma Ray Observatory April 5, 1991 June 4, 2000 Retired [12]
Kepler Space Telescope March 7, 2009 November 15, 2018 Fuel loss [13]
ROSAT June 1, 1990 February 12, 1999 Retired [14]
Spitzer Space Telescope August 25, 2003 January 30, 2020 Discontinued due to James Webb Space Telescope [15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Johnson, Nicholas (2011-12-05). Livingston, David (ed.). "Broadcast 1666 (Special Edition) - Topic: Space debris issues" (podcast). The Space Show. 1:03:05–1:06:20. Retrieved 2015-01-05.
  2. ^ Brown, Dwayne; Cantillo, Laurie; Dyches, Preston (September 15, 2017). "NASA's Cassini Spacecraft Ends Its Historic Exploration of Saturn". NASA. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
  3. ^ "Sputnik-1 1957-001B". NASA. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ https://pages.vassar.edu/realarchaeology/2023/12/03/a-closer-look-at-the-archaeological-importance-of-the-vanguard-1/
  5. ^ Rosenthal, Alfred (January 1982). "A record of NASA space missions since 1958". NASA Technical Reports Server. NASA. hdl:2060/19940003358. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  6. ^ "2016 Saturn Tour Highlights".
  7. ^ Lewin, Sarah. "Cassini Mission Kicks Off Finale at Saturn". Scientific American. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  8. ^ Dyches, Preston; Brown, Dwayne; Cantillo, Laurie (April 27, 2017). "NASA Spacecraft Dives Between Saturn and Its Rings". NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Retrieved May 2, 2017.
  9. ^ Krauss, Lawrence M. (5 September 2017). "Pondering Voyagers' Interstellar Journeys, and Our Own". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  10. ^ "The Actinide Research Quarterly: Summer 1997". lanl.gov.
  11. ^ Segal, Michael (1 September 2017). "Beyond Voyager". Nautilus. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  12. ^ "CRGO - Missions - Astrobiology". astrobiology.nasa.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  13. ^ "Kepler / K2 - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  14. ^ "ROSAT - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Space Telescope - NASA Science". science.nasa.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
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