zlacker

>reorientation is an expensive process

That’s true, but a failsafe automatic reorientation mode after two weeks with no communication from Earth might be a useful feature

>>curiou+(OP)
On the timescale of decades, does a 2 week vs a 10 week waiting period make much of a difference?

>>jjk166+7e
>On the timescale of decades, does a 2 week vs a 10 week waiting period make much of a difference?

I agree. It probably doesn’t make much difference now. There are very unlikely to be any important data that will be lost. The mitigation process they already implemented seems prudent and sufficient

During earlier parts of the mission, like planetary encounters, it would make a difference. Even a two week wait could be much too long in those circumstances.

>>curiou+1k2
Presumably during encounters the probe was in a different control scheme to keep its instruments pointed at the planet, as opposed to keeping its antenna pointed at Earth.