Things Are Not Looking Up for Phobos-Grunt

Days are passing by, and Russian engineers are still unable to contact the Phobos-Grunt spacecraft. The Mars-bound mission failed shortly after launch, when its main thrusters failed to initialize and put it on a course towards the Red Planet.

Russian Federal Space Agency (RosCosmos) mission controllers attempted to contact the orbiter on the evening of November 10, but failed to do so. The time window they have open for addressing whatever issues are plaguing the space probe is slowly closing.

According to measurements conducted by experts, it would appear that Phobos-Grunt's current orbit will decay by December 3, when the $168-million spacecraft might reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up entirely.

This mission is Russia's first attempt to go to Mars – more specifically its moon Phobos – in more than 20 years. All other spacecraft sent to the same target have failed as well, Space reports.