Recovery Attempts End for Hitomi X-ray Satellite

An artist's conception of Hitomi in space.
JAXA

On a sadder note, the X-Ray Observatory launched by JAXA (Japanese Space Agency) seems doomed. Observations show that the solar panels were flung off during the spacecraft's too-fast rotation, depriving Hitomi of power and ending the mission.  All this because the spacecraft's attitude control system (ACS), which keeps the spacecraft pointed in the right direction, determined that the spacecraft was rotating — even though it wasn't. So the system commanded the spacecraft's reaction wheels to counter the rotation, and that caused the spacecraft to actually start spinning. And things went 'down hill' from there.

Complete story (and timeline of events) at SkyandTelescope.com

Observations show that the solar panels were flung off during the spacecraft's too-fast rotation, depriving Hitomi of power and ending the mission. - See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/recovery-for-hitomi-observatory-now-unlikely/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-160429&utm_content=840839_SKY_HP_eNL_160429&utm_medium=email#sthash.UxgGeDzm.dpuf

Observations show that the solar panels were flung off during the spacecraft's too-fast rotation, depriving Hitomi of power and ending the mission. - See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/recovery-for-hitomi-observatory-now-unlikely/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-160429&utm_content=840839_SKY_HP_eNL_160429&utm_medium=email#sthash.UxgGeDzm.dpuf

Observations show that the solar panels were flung off during the spacecraft's too-fast rotation, depriving Hitomi of power and ending the mission. - See more at: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/recovery-for-hitomi-observatory-now-unlikely/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-160429&utm_content=840839_SKY_HP_eNL_160429&utm_medium=email#sthash.UxgGeDzm.dpuf

Mission Manager Update: Kepler recovered and returned to the K2 mission

NASA

The Kepler spacecraft has recovered from a system failure and, as of Friday, April 22, is back on the job as the K2 mission searching for exoplanets — planets beyond our solar system.

Full story at Astronomy.com

So, you think human-looking robots are far off in the future?

CNBC via YouTube

I don't know about you, but I was a bit surprised to see just how far we have come in creating robots that are very human like in appearance and in facial expressions and voice mannerisms. Check out this Discovery News report on a robot named Sophia.