PFS issue on Venus Express, PFS scanner stuck in its closed position Options

[Rakhir]

Bad news for PFS. I hope they will be able to solve this issue.

The PFS scanner is stuck in its closed position.
Several attempts to move it were made at the time, but the instrument did not respond. Experts suspected a thermal problem by which low temperatures were blocking the rotation of the mechanism.
Another attempt to move the scanner was made on 16 March 2006, in warmer flight conditions. Unfortunately, the scanner remains stuck.

The next opportunity to perform another test on the spacecraft will be end of April, after the Venus Orbit Insertion.

From http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/in...fobjectid=38964

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

It might be possible to add such a spectrometer to (say) Bruce Campbell's "VISTA" Venus radar orbiter -- but the trouble is that the proposals for the next Discovery mission are, I believe, already past due. Certainly we have here further proof that the enduring bane of spacecraft is moving parts, and that more attention should be paid to this problem.

[gpurcell]

It might be possible to add such a spectrometer to (say) Bruce Campbell's "VISTA" Venus radar orbiter -- but the trouble is that the proposals for the next Discovery mission are, I believe, already past due. Certainly we have here further proof that the enduring bane of spacecraft is moving parts, and that more attention should be paid to this problem.

Bruce, would the procurement rules for Discovery allow a PI to add capacity to a mission if it is selected as a candidate for further study?

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

Bruce, would the procurement rules for Discovery allow a PI to add capacity to a mission if it is selected as a candidate for further study?

I don't think so; that falls into the "bait and switch" category.

[centsworth_II]

...that falls into the "bait and switch" category.

Yes, but could or would NASA ask to have another instrument added? I recall reading in "Roving Mars" that Steve Squyres et al were only planning on one rover and NASA asked them to build two.