The device may have ended up in a cloud of plasma that was released during the solar event, the source said. That is the main version being considered by the commission investigating the reasons for the probe's technical failure, the source said.
An X-class solar flare, the most powerful of the solar flare categories defined by U.S. space agency NASA, occurred on Nov. 4, causing a massive release of plasma. This triggered a series of magnetic storms that had effects for several weeks, the source told Interfax.
The Fobos-Grunt device, which was supposed to travel to the Mars moon of Phobos to collect a soil sample, was launched on Nov. 9 but became stuck in low-Earth orbit. Remnants of the probe crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 16.
The commission investigating the failure of the Fobos-Grunt probe has completed its work and will present its findings Sunday, deputy head of Russia's space agency Anatoly Shilov said Thursday, Interfax reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.