Amount of fuel onboard, Potential life expectancy? Options

[briv1016]

Assuming that there are no MGS type anomalies and funding holds out (according to NASA's FY09 budget, the current extension ends in September); how much longer can Odyssey remain operational with the fuel onboard?

(I know you guys are strict about starting new threads, but I couldn't find any other thread related to this topic.)

[TheChemist]

It probably is Doug. Citing from the above article :

Odyssey
"The Odyssey mission is in excellent health, with none of its avionics redundancy yet exercised. With 37 kg of fuel remaining and fuel use at a level of less than 1 kg/year, it is possible that Odyssey could continue to provide relay services well into the next decade."

MGS
"Current orbit operations have achieved very efficient fuel usage at the level of 1–2 kg/year; with over 8 kg of usable propellant available, operation through the time frame of the Phoenix 2007 mission is very likely; operations through the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory is possible but less certain."

Since the article was published in 2006, two years of fuel should be substracted for current estimations.

*Edit*. Pardon the accidental necrology ....

[brellis]

"The Odyssey mission is in excellent health, with none of its avionics redundancy yet exercised. With 37 kg of fuel remaining and fuel use at a level of less than 1 kg/year, it is possible that Odyssey could continue to provide relay services well into the next decade."

Since the article was published in 2006, two years of fuel should be substracted for current estimations.

Looking forward to many more years of Odyssey!