It’s alive! Russia’s Phobos-Grunt probe phones home | Spaceflight Now | Breaking News.
Our Original Article on the probe has also been updated to reflect this Breaking story.
Spaceflight now reporting “It’s alive! Russia’s Photo-Grunt probe phones home.” A ground station in Perth, Australia has heard the faint signals from the Russian probe. At 2505 GMT (3:25PM EST) the station heard the signal from the probe. Attempt to make meaningful communication will be attempted again later today. However hopes for getting the probe to Mars are certainly fading.
Update 11.26.2011 6:02am – No joy in contact again with the probe. Perth is reporting that there has been No additional contact with the probe. ESA appears to be standing down over the weekend. At this point reentry of the probe full of propellant will be in January or February according to latest orbital data.
Update 01.04.2012 According to Discovery news Stranded Russian Mars Probe now due to crash in 11 days. On or around Jan. 15th, 2012.