Citizen Scientists To Take Over Old NASA Satellite

International Sun/Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3) / International
Cometary Explorer (ICE) satellite, retired by NASA, may be
reused by interested citizen scientists. (Image Source: NASA)

Thirty-six years ago, NASA launched a disco-era satellite to study solar weather.

The spacecraft went on to discover how solar flares can disrupt communications on earth and also became the first satellite to chase down a comet, flying by Halley's comet in 1986 and confirming it's essentially a giant ball of ice.

But as newer, more sophisticated satellites went into orbit, NASA eventually put the aging bird out to planetary pasture.

Keith Cowing, a Reston, Va. space enthusiast, and a team of 20 convinced NASA to turn the weakened satellite over to their group of space enthusiasts.

"We've sort of taken command of an abandoned spacecraft and we're giving it back to the people who paid for it," Cowing explained.

More - Link >>> http://www.wusa9.com/story/news/local/reston/2014/05/26/local-space-enthusiasts-race-reach-abandoned-nasa-satellite/9612873/

Source: WUSA-TV 9 Washington DC.

More on the International Sun/Earth Explorer 3 (ISEE-3) / International
Cometary Explorer (ICE) satellite: Link >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISEE-3

More on the ISEE-3 Reboot Project: Link >>> http://spacecollege.org/isee3/

More on the ISEE-3 Reboot Project from Keith Cowing's NASA Watch Blog ---
NASA Signs Space Act Agreement With ISEE-3 Reboot Project:
Link >>> http://nasawatch.com/archives/2014/05/nasa-signs-spac.html
ISEE-3 Reboot Project Raises $159,502:
Link >>> http://nasawatch.com/archives/2014/05/isee-3-reboot-p-9.html
ISEE-3 Is Not Exactly Where NASA Thought It Was:
Link >>> http://nasawatch.com/archives/2014/05/isee-3-is-not-e.html
ISEE-3 Reboot Team Is Ready To Make First Contact:
Link >>> http://nasawatch.com/archives/2014/05/isee-3-reboot-t.html

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