Scientists May Have Figured Out Why So Many Spacecraft Were Failing

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Published on August 20, 2018 7:10:35 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KibT-PEMHUU

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In the last 20 years it's been surprisingly common for space probes to end missions early because reaction wheels have failed, moreover there's been a large number of failures associated with a specific supplier - Ithaco. A NASA spin off which developed low cost reaction wheel systems that helped bring the cost down for many space missions.
A new study offers some clues as to what might have been going on and why solar weather might be able to damage mechanical systems.
http://esmats.eu/esmatspapers/pastpapers/pdfs/2017/bialke.pdf