31.01.2012 - 20:17 [ Universe Today ]

Phobos-Grunt Failure Due to Computer Problems, Cosmic Rays

Roscosmos said today that a computer malfunction caused by cosmic rays was the reason for the failure of the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft. The original mission was to do a sample return from Mars’ largest moon, but the spacecraft crashed back to Earth on January 15 after the rocket failed to send it out of Earth orbit shortly after the launch in November.