New Horizons I (and II!) Mission Update Thread

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"...returning churlish with churlish is poor form."</font><br /><br />Hey spaceter. I meant my remark in fun. I like that joke, which I first heard as a father and son in a mosque. It illustrates the constant battle <b>we all</b> have to behave correctly without being smug.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm sure we're all happy when any space mission succeeds and sorry when they don't. Here's to hoping we're all happy at the end of this day! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Launch Control is suggesting the cloud cover might pose a potential problem for an on time launch. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[backspace]

Cloud ceiling now a problem.

 

[chonner]

Yeah winds fine, but looks like clounds might be a slight problem.<br />Not sure why though? Why is it they can't launch in clouds? Just curious.

 

[henryhallam]

<font color="yellow">I'm betting it will go on time. </font><br /><br />That's a dangerous game on these boards!<br />The cloud ceiling is still pretty low and with enough cover to count as "broken" rather than "scattered". But judging from the video on NASA TV it's only just "broken", there are plenty of gaps. So IMO it's quite likely that the sky will clear sufficiently at some point in the window.

 

[teije]

I think the Shuttle has 1 too, but it's integrated in the launch tower. The Atlas launch tower is lower than the vehicle, so it needs another lightning rod. No idea why there should be 4 though....<br /><br />BTW, it seems there are too many clouds at the moment, they're prolly gonna hold a bit longer.

 

[bad_drawing]

Thanks for the info. Makes sense. I learned something new today! (as I do most days I roam around these boards)<br /><br />At the hold....looking good. (LV condition-wise)

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Cloud trending to scattered, looking good. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em><font size="2" color="#ff0000">Who is this superhero?  Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!</font></em></p><p><em><font size="2">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></em></p><p><font size="5">Bring Back The Black!</font></p> </div>

 

[teije]

<font color="yellow"> That's a dangerous game on these boards! </font><br /><br />true, but nobody took the bet yet. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /><br />

 

[henryhallam]

<font color="yellow">Why is it they can't launch in clouds? Just curious.</font><br /><br />Really stretching the memory here but I think it might be something to do with range safety, which is still partly based on visual observations.

 

[Philotas]

No-go because of ceiling. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

What's the matter? Can't everyone hold their breath and type at the same time?<img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[mikeemmert]

Another hold....new launch time 1830 Z

 

[Philotas]

Launch postponed too 18:30 zulu, 1:30 pm EST. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bobw]

Is the problem with 1:25 part of the Collision Avoidance blackouts at 1:20 and 2:55 p.m? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[centsworth_II]

<font color="yellow">"...range safety, which is still partly based on visual observations."</font><br /><br />I imagine that if instrumentation shows something terribly awry, noone wants to push the "destroy" button without actually <b>seeing</b> that the craft is beyond saving. <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[tplank]

Does anyone know if video of the launch will be available on-line after the launch. My Son is in school and I'd really like for him to be able to see it and to see more than just the news blurb. I signed him up for his name to be on the CD...I think he will remember this as special when it gets there in ten years. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>The Disenfranchised Curmudgeon</p><p>http://tonyplank.blogspot.com/ </p> </div>

 

[robotical]

They're going to postpone it again due to clouds. The clouds didn't look too bad in the video; what kind of cloud cover do they require? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[robotical]

1:40 EST now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Philotas]

Launch now post poned to 1:40 EST <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jschaef5]

"what kind of cloud cover do they require?"<br /><br /><br />I believe range needs visiblity up to a certain altitude to watch it go up. And the clouds are just below it right now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Philotas]

7 minutes left of hold and clouds are looking fine. This might be it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[teije]

From the image it seems to be getting more cloudy, not less cloudy. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /><br />Edit: Though they are now announcing 'go' again. COME ON YOU GUYS! GET HER OF THE GROUND!<br /><br />Sorry, had to get that out of my system. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[Philotas]

Now it`s no go again.. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[robotical]

Postponed again due to cloud cover, new time pending. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>