Replies

I saw that program. The difficulty would be with those instruments that depend on magnetic north to perform correctly (navigation systems, some satellites, etc).

8 posted on 07/12/2004 4:09:18 PM PDT by theDentist ("John Kerry changes positions more often than a Nevada prostitute.")

Soooo.....

Which way WOULD be North?

16 posted on 07/12/2004 4:12:25 PM PDT by baltodog (There are three kinds of people: Those who can count, and those who can't.)

I saw that program. The difficulty would be with those instruments that depend on magnetic north to perform correctly (navigation systems, some satellites, etc).

I worked at JPL writing software, and performing spacecraft controller duties for the AMPTE project in the early 80's. It was "torqued" to point toward the sun by powering up magnetic coils to work against the earths magnetic field.

I never worked on another spacecraft, and I've never heard technical details on others, so I don't know how common this positioning system is.

120 posted on 07/12/2004 5:45:27 PM PDT by narby (Democrat = Internationalist ... Republican = American)

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