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danielravennest t1_j5k41gz wrote

Reply to comment by mccannr1 in NASA suspends efforts to fully deploy Lucy solar array by ye_olde_astronaut

The worry is since that array isn't latched, it may cause problems when they use the rocket engines.

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shotsallover t1_j5l3wrs wrote

Or, maybe they use the engines to shake it loose so they can finish deploying it?

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vanearthquake t1_j5l7vaf wrote

You’ve been watching lots of movies haven’t you

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dboyr t1_j5le8vo wrote

It honestly sounds like a very reasonable attempt at a fix

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alvinofdiaspar t1_j5llavl wrote

I don't know if they should even bother at this point - provided that the unlatched solar panel doesn't create any problems going forward. At some point trying to fix it might be more risky than leaving it alone.

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Inariameme t1_j5mfgbo wrote

using the engines (i assume) is an inevitablity

deployment might be a closed process

without the capacity to reinitialize

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GarunixReborn t1_j5mn9bv wrote

they could just retract it while the engines are operating, wouldn't that work?

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alvinofdiaspar t1_j5mpeh0 wrote

Don't quote me on this because I don't know the details of the mechanism - but I don't think it is designed to be retracted; it's supposed to be one of these do once and done kind of design.

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featherwolf t1_j5mldad wrote

It sounds like exactly the kind of maneuver JPL would pull.

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alvinofdiaspar t1_j5ll0oo wrote

Believe it or not that's a thing - they tried that (among many, many other things) to try and deploy the high gain antenna on the Galileo probe. It all failed.

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Chicken_Teeth t1_j5mxul9 wrote

We can send a tiny rocket loaded with WD-40 up there. Should need less force to launch less mass. Then just let off a little pressurized WD-40 from time to time to build speed in the vacuum. Or set up a planetary slingshot.

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