'Mars Webcam' offline for low-bit-rate season
Monday, December 8, 2008 - 10:22
in Astronomy & Space
On 5 December 2008, Mars and Earth lined up on opposite sides of the Sun, forcing radio signals between the ground and the spacecraft to pass through the Sun's turbulent upper atmosphere. This marks the start of 'low-bit-rate season', and the Visual Monitoring Camera - the 'Mars Webcam' on board Mars Express - is now temporarily offline.