Photo: Roscosmos

To determine the cause of failure in connection is not possible.

Orbital telescope “Radioastron” has ceased to respond to commands from Earth, according to “Газета.Ru” with reference to the head of the scientific program “Radioastron”, glencora RAS Yuri Kovalev.

January 10, during a regular communication session to the response apparatus astronomers failed. “Since then, there have been three emergency communication session using the antennas in Ussuriysk and Bear lakes, and hard working professionals, NPO. Lavochkin has not yet managed to communicate with the satellite,” — said Kovalev.

Apparatus does not transmit the telemetry information and does not accept control commands. However, to hold sessions of obtaining scientific data “Radioastron” scientists have managed. This implies that, despite the loss of control, the machine continues to work .

According to Yuriy Kovalev, currently, the radio telescope was transferred in the most optimal mode, which enables to prevent overheating of the apparatus. “Even in the absence of communication was able to learn that the device is alive, onboard power, scientific instrumentation live, informative radio works. It seems that with the satellite everything is fine, and the problem is that does not turn the transmitter on command from the Earth. Now NPO. Lavochkin engaged in order to solve this problem”, — he explained, reports “RIA Novosti”.

The Russian space Agency, as reported by “RIA Novosti”, said that the warranty period of operation expired in 2014. However, now experts of the state Corporation trying to solve the problem.

“Radioastron” — a project of the orbital radio telescope, in which the main role is played by Russia. On orbit, the telescope was launched in 2011 from the Baikonur cosmodrome on Board the spacecraft “Spektr-R”. Project monitoring objects in space is conducted simultaneously with orbit and with ground-based telescopes, synchronized with the camera. This creates a single extra-long base interferometer (VLBI) is very high angular resolution.

Initially, the project was designed for five years, but later repeatedly extended. In 2011, at the time of launch, it was expected that the device will be able to stay in orbit for nine years before entering the Earth’s atmosphere and burning. However, the orbit correction allows extending the lifetime of the device “Spektr-R”.