International ocean research observatory fails in orbit

An Argentine satellite hosting a NASA sensor designed to measure the saltiness of Earth’s oceans has ended its mission after four years in orbit, NASA said Wednesday. The Satelite de Aplicaciones Cientificas-D, or SAC-D, spacecraft ended its mission June 8 when part of its power and attitude control system failed, according to NASA. The spacecraft shut down a year shy of its five-year design life, but scientists say its primary instrument — the NASA-built Aquarius ocean salinity and soil moisture sensor — achieved all its objectives and exceeded its three-year mission goal. More

(Source: SpaceFlight Now - Jun 20)