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DESCRIPTION OF EVENT: On Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 08:06 GMT the EOS Aqua AMSR-E Instrument experienced an Antenna Drive Electronics (ADE) anomaly. The anomaly was detected by internal instrument fault management which by design swapped the ADE from the A-side to the B-side. The instrument continued to operate and produce science data throughout the anomaly. However, it’s been subsequently determined that the science data after the anomaly is not usable.
IMPACT ON PROGRAM/PROJECT AND SCHEDULE: Interruption of routine science data from the AMSR-E Instrument. No impact to spacecraft bus operations or the other functioning Aqua instruments.
CORRECTIVE ACTION: An Anomaly Resolution Team (ART) was assembled that included the JAXA AMSR-E Instrument Operations Team (IOT), the Aqua Flight Operations Team (FOT), ESMO Management and the Aqua Mission Director. On Tuesday evening, a teleconference was conducted with the AMSR-E IOT in Japan and the instrument developer to review the preliminary results of the IOT and FOT investigations and determine a recovery plan. Initial indications are that the instrument is safe and operating normally but not producing valid science data. The AMSR-E Team thinks that the science data quality can be improved by sending a few commands which they will provide to the FOT once the cause of the anomaly can be determined.
The JAXA AMSR-E Team continues to investigate the anomaly and a follow-up teleconference is planned for Thursday evening.
The IOT and FOT will closely monitor the instrument and additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
