MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax-AVN) - There is no technical possibility to ensure a controlled descent from the orbit of the Fobos-Grunt automatic interplanetary station, if attempts to switch on its engines fail, a source from the space industry told Interfax.
"If the Fobos-Grunt's thrust engines fail to switch on, a while later it will start turning into space trash. In this case, its descent from the orbit will be uncontrolled. The location of a possible fall can be determined with some degree of accuracy on the basis of its ballistic trajectory," the source said.
By various estimates, the spacecraft will stay on the orbit for another 9-15 days, if efforts to "revive" its automatic system fail, he said.