Skip to main content
Testing. You are viewing the public testing version of GCN. For the production version, go to https://gcn.nasa.gov.
Announcing GCN Classic Migration Survey, End of Legacy Circulars Email. See news and announcements

GCN Circular 6760

Subject
Swift observatory off line
Date
2007-08-13T22:11:09Z (17 years ago)
From
Neil Gehrels at GSFC <gehrels@milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov>
N. Gehrels (NASA/GSFC) on behalf of the Swift Team

Swift is currently not observing GRBs or other targets due
to an attitude control problem that occurred Saturday morning
(0726 UT Aug 11).  A jump in gyro offset was observed on one
of the units causing the spacecraft to go into sun reference
pointing.  A low power condition caused the instruments to be
turned off.  The spacecraft remains in sun reference and is
stable with normal power and full batteries now.

The gyro with the the offset jump is doubly redundant and we will
switch to a redundant unit.  The functionality and stability of the
gyro with the offset jump will be tested for possible future use.

Calibrating the new gyro combination and turning the instruments
back on will take approximately 2 weeks.   The BAT turn-on in
particular takes more than a week.  During this time the observatory
will not be performing science operations.  An announcement will
sent out several days before science resumes.
Looking for U.S. government information and services? Visit USA.gov