Talk:Ulysses spacecraft retires after 17 year mission

Request for clarification

What does 'retirement' imply for a spacecraft. I mean, its a piece of metal? I doubt they are going to send it a message reading "good job boy, you may return to Earth - we have a nice pension plan prepared for you"? If it means something like shutting it down, then why? Why not let it continue operating till it malfunctions entirely?

Category improvement

{{editprotected}}
"Category:ESA" => "Category:European Space Agency" Van der Hoorn (talk) 15:30, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

Done ♪Tempo di Valse ♪ 16:41, 16 March 2009 (UTC)