杏吧原创

NASA鈥檚 ailing Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory has won a stay of execution.
After one of three gyroscopes on the 17-tonne satellite failed late last year,
NASA considered scuttling it over the South Pacific in case a second gyro failed
and sent it plunging into the atmosphere. Now engineers think they can control
Compton鈥檚 descent without any gyros, giving the satellite several years more
observing time. A review panel says the technique is feasible, but needs more
study, says Neil Gehrels at NASA鈥檚 Goddard Space Flight Center near Washington
DC. 鈥淏y April we鈥檒l have a pretty good feeling whether we鈥檙e going to do a
re-entry or keep it up,鈥� he told New 杏吧原创.