New Horizons I (and II!) Mission Update Thread

[jmilsom]

Well that was really impressive. An absolutely perfect launch. New Horizons is on its way. Nine years to Pluto!<br /><br />(And at 2:30am in the morning over here, I'd better get to bed!)<br /><br />Good night everyone. It was a pleasure to share this historic moment with you all.<br /><br />Congratulations to the New Horizons team, NASA and all involved in the launch!<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[giofx]

Indeed, good job!<br /><br />really impressive!

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Finally got to the office computer, what a wonderful launch, I'm glad I wagged some work in order to view it on the telly. It sure did honk off the pad, didn't it? Glad they got spacecraft sep while I was in transit.<br /><br />Nine years is going to be an almost unbearable wait, and it's the chance of something dying on the spacecraft in the meantime that worries me most. How long before we hear if it's a fully healthy vehicle?<br /><br />Anyway, congrats to all concerned! In the locally immortal words of the great Neil Finn, "thank-you linesmen, thank-you ball boys". <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>

 

[CalliArcale]

I would've come in late, but I was with my husband and he couldn't delay. <img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

Absolutely thrilling launch. It was very fast, Delta 2 but bigger. <br /><br />I had the privelege of watching from atop the Shuttle Launch Control Center (LCC), which has a great clear view of the pad.<br /><br />Will post photos later. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[henryhallam]

Now we can start making bets on what colour Pluto and Charon will turn out to be.<br /><br />Think this thread will still be here in 2015?

 

[scottcarlin]

Where can I get a high quality video of the launch?

 

[holmec]

Rats! I missed it. Good luck New Horizons <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#0000ff"><em>"SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off</em></font></p> </div>

 

[drwayne]

There are some videos on the SpaceFlight Now site, but you have to be a subscriber to see them....<br /><br />Wayne <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>"1) Give no quarter; 2) Take no prisoners; 3) Sink everything."  Admiral Jackie Fisher</p> </div>

 

[nolirogari]

I guess it's a good thing I was at home watching on the computer rather than anywhere in Florida. Although the Atlas V has about as much in common with the original Atlas series as it does a Klingon battle cruiser, I have only seen 2 Atlas launches in person and they both blew up! The first was my first viewing of anything launched from the Cape- Sept 9, 1977. I was in college in DAB and rode my bike to a local area where the trees were low to the horizon to watch it go. It got just above the trees and poof... range safety at work! Years later I was at the press site for an Atlas I launch- March 26, 1987. They apparently forgot the Apollo 12 lesson and launched into heavy clouds and heavy rain. We did not see that one blow, but we sure heard the distruct charges after the sky bolt zapped it.<br /><br />Today's launch was VERY impressive- my 2 year old daughter was shouting "Go Go Go!" along with daddy- she'll be in 6th grade when it reaches pluto... makes ya' think. The only thing that would have been better would have been some on-board cam.s Anyone know if there were any?

 

[jmilsom]

Thought I would post the links to the APL Press Release:<br /><br /><b>NASA’s Pluto Mission Launched Toward New Horizons</b><br /> <br />The first mission to distant planet Pluto is under way after the successful launch today of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. <br />New Horizons roared into the afternoon sky aboard a powerful Atlas V rocket at 2 p.m. EST. It separated from its solid-fuel kick motor 44 minutes, 53 seconds after launch, and mission controllers at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Md., where the spacecraft was designed and built, received the first radio signals from New Horizons a little more than five minutes later. The radio communications, sent through NASA’s Deep Space Network antennas in Canberra, Australia, confirmed to controllers that the spacecraft was healthy and ready to begin initial operations.<br /><br />Full Story Here <br /><br /><br />And as usual a good article on SDC:<br /><br /><b>Reaching for Pluto: NASA Launches Probe to Solar System's Edge</b><br /><i>By Tariq Malik<br />Staff Writer<br />posted: 19 January 2006<br />3:47 p.m. ET</i><br /><br />NASA’s first probe bound for the planet Pluto and beyond rocketed toward the distant world Thursday after two days of delay due to weather.<br /><br />A Lockheed Martin-built Atlas 5 rocket flung the New Horizons spacecraft spaceward at 2:00 p.m. EST (1900), sending the probe speeding away from Earth at about 36,250 miles per hour (58,338 kilometers per hour)– the fastest ever for a NASA mission. The probe should pass the Moon at 11:00 EST (0400 Jan. 20 GMT) on a nine-year trek towards Pluto.<br /><br />Full Story Here<br /><br /><br />Can't wait to see your pictures Ben. There are some great pics on the http://pluto.jhuapl.edu</safety_wrapper <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Philotas]

I think the colour is mostly settled for Pluto. My bets on that the opposite hemisphere looks pretty much the same, but without without the dark/grey belt. <br /><br />Charon is grey, perhaps with redish tint, with dark craters. I think we`ll find signs of geological activity.<br /><br />Pluto in true colour:<br />http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010319.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

You can check out my launch photos on SpaceflightNow in this gallery now:<br /><br />http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/060119launch2/01.html<br /><br />I will post all plus pre launch photos to my website, probably later tonight. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[SpaceKiwi]

Hi Ben, beautiful photos! They appear to have been taken from more than one location? Is that a 'trick' of using different sized lens, or did you have remotely controlled cameras or an assistant? How did you achieve this? <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>

 

[henryhallam]

Beautiful photos Ben. You are very skilled.

 

[CalliArcale]

Truly stunning! I've had to mop the drool off my desk after viewing those. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> What a magnificient machine. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#666699"><em>"People assume that time is a strict progression of cause to effect, but actually from a non-linear, non-subjective viewpoint it's more like a big ball of wibbly wobbly . . . timey wimey . . . stuff."</em>  -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink"</font></p> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

Thanks. <br /><br />Well, if I watched the launch that close I wouldn't be here to show you the photos :-D<br /><br />They are taken by remote, sound activated cameras set up at the launch pad the day before. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[bpcooper]

Alright, it's all on my website now:<br /><br />http://www.launchphotography.com/NewHorizons.html<br /><br />Some new ones in the "on the pad, sunset" section. <br /><br />Enjoy! This makes the launch officially complete for me :-D <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>

 

[alokmohan]

Its so nice to see the news of successful new horizon.

 

[jmilsom]

Wow! Fantastic photos Ben! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Here is the latest PI Perspective by Alan Stern from the jhuapl website: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/overview/piPerspectives/piPerspective_current.html with his comments on what was a perfect launch. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Great photos Ben!<br /><br />Oh and in case anyone missed the launch the BBC has a video of it all the way to faring seporation, which you can actualy see!<br /><br />http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4629486.stm

 

[comga]

Marvelous photos, Ben. You really capture the enormity of the launch with this very powerful rocket. <br /><br />This may have been one of many launches for you, but it was a first for me, and quite a thrill. The whole thing was fun. "Nerdstock" as one of the science team members put it. The breifings, the people at the receptions and post-launch party, the enthusiasm of the rocket, spacecraft, instrument, and operations people, and the science team. If anyone has a chance to see a major launch, it is highly recommended.<br /><br />

 

[rhodan]

Execllent photographs, BPCooper, some of the best launch pics I've seen. <img src="/images/icons/cool.gif" />

 

[bpcooper]

Thanks. Every launch is not the same to me, and when you know it's going to Pluto it makes it all the more special and thrilling to watch. This was definitely one of the best. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>