COROTS - update thread

[kane007]

ESA still holding out for an October 2006 launch on a Soyuz-Fregat vehicle.<br /><br /><b>CO</b>nvection <b>RO</b>tation and planetary <b>T</b>ransits (COROTS) is primarly an instellar stellar seismology observatory and an extrasolar planetary explorer , speficically for telluric planets. <br /><br />I like to call this a mark II extrasolar planetary finder. Mark I being the current earth and hubble obseratories, mark III being TPF and Darwin. It should be in service exactly 2 years to the month before NASA's Kepler.<br /><br />Corot will consist of a 30 cm afocal telescope with an array of spectroscopic detectors. The satellite itself will be 668 kg, 4.1 metres long and 2.0 metres in diameter. It will be powered by two solar panels. Launched by a Russian rocket and enter into a circular polar orbit with an altitude of 827 km. Over its planned 2½ years mission it will observe perpendicular to its orbital plane meaning there will be no Earth occulations, allowing 150 days of continuous observing. During the northern Summer it will observe in an area around Serpens Cauda and during the Winter it will observe in Monoceros. Between this observing periods for 30 days, Corot will observe 5 other patches of the sky.<br /><br />The probe will monitor the brightness of stars, watching for the slight dimming that happens in regular intervals when planets transit their primary. Corot will be sensitive enough to detect rocky planets, though only those several times larger than Earth; it is also expected to discover new gas giants, which comprise almost all of the known extra-solar planets.<br /><br />Corot will also undertake asteroseismology. It will be able to detect starquakes that send ripples across a stars' surfaces, altering their luminosity. This phenomenon allows calculation of a star's precise mass, age

 

[kane007]

Thanx for the update. Thems the breaks!

 

[holmec]

funny, its not showing up on Roskosmos's site.<br />http://www.federalspace.ru/StartsMain.asp <br /><br />and as of now the ESA site says its under development.<br />http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120372_index_0_m.html<br /><br />I hope CNES is not pulling our leg. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Got it thanks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[kane007]

Marsdaily under the banner - Europe goes searching for rocky planets has published an update. 2006/10/27.<br /><br /><i>The COROT space telescope is proceeding smoothly towards its launch in December 2006. Once in orbit, COROT will become the first spacecraft devoted to the search for rocky planets, similar to our own Earth. COROT will also delve into the centres of hundreds or even thousands of stars.</i><br /><br />Though no more specifics on the ETD other than December 2006.

 

[kane007]

Launch on schedule for 2006/12/27. Some background information included also.<br /><br />SpaceDaily 2006/12/20

 

[galactichalo]

thanks for the updtaes

 

[alokmohan]

It has been launched by now?

 

[shoogerbrugge]

Due to fixes that had to be made on the Fregat upperstage the launch date has slipped from 21st to 27th. this happened a couple of weeks ago and was reported a couple of posts up in this thread<br /><br />So, no it hasn't launched yet <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" />

 

[alokmohan]

Merry Christmas COROT.

 

[alokmohan]

Whats latest of COROT?

 

[chode]

Latest news here:<br /><br />http://www.arianespace.com/site/news/news_sub_missionupdate_index.html<br /><br />Regards

 

[holmec]

live webcast from:<br /><br />http://www.videocorner.tv/starsem/popup.html <br /><br />So about 12 hours to go. That will make it about 8:23 am in St Louis (6:23 am on west coast, and 9:23 am on east coast). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

LOL...yeah I guess your right. Its kinda cruel for you east coasters. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

LOL..<br />Webcast is up, and its in French. Should have known. <br />It showed a summary clip of the mission in French, but now the announcer is an obvious French man speaking English. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Annoucer says first flight of Soyuz 21-B which has a more powerful third stage. <br /><br />Rocket looks good, misty gases emanating from it making it look like its wrapped in a cloak. <br /><br />Dark picture though. <br /><br />Kinda looks like they are deicing the rocket. I see Ice on the ground. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

The web cast is live form Balkour, live from Toulouse and live from Paris(the announcer). They are doing a live interview with mission personnel in Toulouse. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

ESA personnel says that concrete for the Soyuz rocket in the Ariane site is being poured. 10 min for lift off. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

They say third stage motor is more powerful giving about 34 minutes of burning time. <br /><br />Weather, all is well. <br /><br />Say engines light up 20 seconds before launch so computers can confirm status of engines, this rocket is a manned rated rocket. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

LIFT OFF!<br /><br />Pretty quick and neat. That is clean. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Four boosters discarded. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Ok signal from on board. Second stage about to separate. <br /><br />Second stage separated. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

they said that in just over an hour COROT should have completed its separation of stages. I think that's when they will 'wake up' the craft and do checks. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[holmec]

Third stage separated. Frigate burn coming up, first of three. <br /><br />Ok, I'm done.<br /><br />C'est ca. C'est la. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[mithridates]

All done. It separated from the rocket and is in a good orbit. Perfect! I'm stoked. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>----- </p><p>http://mithridates.blogspot.com</p> </div>