news Battery fault ends X-ray mission [MUNICH] Astronomers around the world Canizares says it is disconcerting that “so were last week lamenting the likely loss of many small missions seem to be failing”.

Abrixas, a small German-built X-ray satel- Only a few weeks ago, WIRE, a small NASA CARL ZEISS lite whose batteries failed two days after a satellite that would have surveyed the successful Russian launch. infrared sky, failed because its protective Some were also suggesting that the failure cover was lost after launch (see Nature 398, has raised doubts about the apparently high 100; 1999). Solar radiation heated the space- level of risk associated with so-called ‘small- craft and its store of cryogenic fuel was boiled er, faster, cheaper’ science missions. These off within a few days. This ended the mission, are favoured by space agencies in Europe and as infrared detectors can only function at the United States as a way of introducing very low temperatures in space. more flexibility into their launch schedules Canizares suggests that the Abrixas fail- (see Nature 389, 899; 1997). ure is likely to fuel debates on how to recon- Abrixas was to have carried out the first cile speed with quality control. complete broad-band all-sky survey with Lost in space: but calibration data from the X-ray Martin Turner, professor of astrophysics at imaging in the medium-energy telescopes on Abrixas may still be useful. Leicester University, and principal investiga- X-ray range, extending by an order of magni- tor on an XMM instrument, echoes the con- tude the survey performed by its predecessor at the end of next month when Abrixas cern about faster, cheaper missions. “The ROSAT, which was shut down last year. moves into full sunlight and its panels Abrixas people did everything right: they Abrixas was seen as a pathfinder for become operational. But it seems unlikely completed to launch within three years, at low future large international X-ray missions, that the battery system can be restored or the cost [DM40 million],” he says. “Yet they were including the European Space Agency’s satellite’s scientific mission fulfilled. let down by a low-tech item, the batteries.” XMM, the US space agency NASA’s AXAF — “This is not only a major disappointment Abrixas, like scientific , was recently renamed the Chandra X-ray Obser- to our German colleagues, but also a setback not insured. Although the error is believed to vatory — and Japan’s Astro-E. to the international astronomy community,” be a design fault in the battery system, which Scientists on these missions, each sched- says X-ray astronomer Ken Pounds, profes- was provided by the Bremen-based company uled to be launched within the next nine sor of space physics at Britain’s Leicester Uni- OHB, a spokesman for the German space months, had been hoping to study interest- versity. “We were looking forward to Abrixas agency DLR, says that, if tests in June prove ing X-ray sources identified by Abrixas. pointing the way to the best use of the that the mission is dead, “it is not clear if any But ground contact with the satellite was upcoming international missions.” form of compensation could be expected”. lost two days after its launch. At least one of its Claude Canizares, director of the Center Joachim Trümper, director of the Max eleven battery cells appears to have been for Space Research at the Massachusetts Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics burnt out by inappropriate power input from Institute of Technology, and principal inves- in Garching and head of the Abrixas project, batteries used to support the launch. This tigator of a Chandra instrument, agrees that is trying to remain positive. Although means that, although the scientific instru- the situation is “very sad”. Not only would Abrixas may never yield scientific data, he ments seem to be working, the information Abrixas have helped locate the best targets says, calibration work on its novel X-ray they gather cannot be transmitted to Earth. for Chandra to focus on, he says, but “it is camera may be done during the satellite’s Engineers will be able to analyse the full also nice to have relatively low-cost, small, brief sunlight period. The high-tech camera extent of the damage during a six-day period fast and clever missions in one’s portfolio”. will also fly on XMM. Alison Abbott

French unions hopeful of delaying reforms until after consultation

[PARIS] Trade unions representing French deal only with strategic research themes and two Socialist members of the national scientists were increasingly confident of industrial research. assembly, Pierre Cohen (Haute-Garonne) victory this week in their demand that the A science ministry spokesperson says the and Jean-Yves Le Déaut (Meurthe-et- government should not undertake any new meeting will only be postponed by a matter Moselle), a former head of the Parliamentary reforms before the completion of a national of days, but Herbert Maisl, science adviser to Office of Scientific and Technological Choices. consultation on research in July. They Lionel Jospin, the prime minister, says it is Le Déaut plays down the document’s appear to have won the support of the prime “cancelled until further notice”. significance, arguing that it dates from minister’s office. The prime minister’s office is now setting several months ago. This is confirmed by The unions had called on researchers to the timetable for reform. Jospin himself Jean-Yves Mérindol, vice-chancellor of the support a national day of protest on 11 May commissioned the parliamentary mission, University of Strasbourg and chairman of to secure this commitment. But on Monday following Socialist Party concern that the research committee of the Conference of it seemed that the science ministry had science minister Claude Allègre’s attempts University Vice-Chancellors. bowed to their main demand, postponing an to impose reform were opposed by the Le Déaut says Allègre gave him his interministerial meeting on research research and higher education community. personal guarantee last week that “no originally scheduled for 18 May. The unions’ claims that the science decision would be taken within the remit of The unions had argued that the ministry might only pay lip service to the our mission until this is completed”. ministry’s decision to proceed with the consultation seemed to be strengthened last Cohen says any attempt by the meeting suggested that it would ignore the week by a leaked preparatory document for interministerial meeting to answer the consultation and push ahead with its own the meeting. The document, released by the questions of the mission will not be tolerated. reform plans (see Nature 399, 4; 1999). The unions on Friday, largely covers the remit of The decision of the prime minister’s office ministry countered that the meeting would the parliamentary mission, which is led by suggests that it shares this view. Eric Glover

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