New Horizons I (and II!) Mission Update Thread

[mikeemmert]

I'm kind of a little with Henry on this, but there's things I don't know about how the program operates. Like, how hard <i>is</i> it to sticky it again? It should be pinned at the top a few days before the Jupiter encounter, for sure! We get new information from Jupiter using all the latest equipment.<br /><br />But there's really not much going on during the coast phase. And there are other subjects that should be on the front page, like return to flight or the latest in plasma rocket tech or proposals for such things as an our-of-ecliptic IR telescope or something. (It's the "or somethings" that are really exciting. Nobody knows what they are!).

 

[jmilsom]

I have no objection to this being unpinned. There are many missions and I think it is sensible to pin them during periods of peak activity. This could be pinned again closer to the Jupiter encounter - I am sure it will be bumped frequently with updates in the interim. <br /><br />The ESA Venus Express one has been quite inactive as well - this could be unpinned and re-pinned closer to the arrival time.<br /><br />Unless of course, we want this thread to challenge for the World Record of the longest pinned thread during its 9 years+ travel time to Pluto <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

It's easy to pin threads. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> I'll unpin this until next year.<br /><br />(This thread won't win a record for longest pinned thread; it'll break the thread length limit first. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.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>

 

[jmilsom]

Quite a touching tribute to Clyde Tombaugh on the mission site on the weekend, whose ashes are racing through space with NH1. Amazing to think he was only 24 years old when he discovered Pluto.<br /><br />http://www.jhuapl.edu/newscenter/pressreleases/2006/060203.asp<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

BTW, Calli, What is the thread length limit now? 500 posts? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

Hi everyone, <br /><br />I've been busy for a while relocating country. I am now living back in Australia for the next three years. I see there has not been much follow up or discussion on NH1 after the wildly successful launch, so here's a brief update:<br /><br /><b>From mission news: March 9<br /><br />New Horizons Adjusts Course Toward Jupiter</b><br /><br />With a 76-second burst from its thrusters today, New Horizons cleaned up the last of the small trajectory “dispersions” from launch and set its course toward next February’s gravity-assist flyby of Jupiter.<br /><br />Changing the spacecraft’s velocity by about 1.16 meters per second, the maneuver was the smallest of the three New Horizons has carried out since launch on Jan. 19, and the first conducted with the spacecraft in three-axis pointing mode. It also aimed New Horizons toward the Pluto “keyhole” at Jupiter – the precise point where the giant planet’s gravity helps swing the spacecraft toward the close flyby of the Pluto system on July 14, 2015.<br /><br />When the maneuver started at noon EST, New Horizons was about 51.7 million kilometers (32.1 million miles) from Earth, moving along its trajectory at 37.5 kilometers (23.3 miles) per second. Mission operators at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., monitored spacecraft status through NASA’s Deep Space Network antenna station near Canberra, Australia (story here).<br /><br /><b>PI's Perspective: February 27<br /><br />Boulder and Baltimore</b><br /><br />Discusses research and publications on Pluto's two new moons, which they are referring to as "Baltimore" and "Boulder." <br />Discusses NH1s current position. <i>Halfway to Mars already!</i><br />Discusses successful first tests for ALICE, PEPSSI and LORRI<br />Talks about planned trajectory correction manoeuvres for the Pluto 'keyhole' at Jupiter http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/news_center/</safety_wrapper <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[henryhallam]

Damn, that is one fast spacecraft.

 

[jmilsom]

For anyone still following the mission, Alan Stern posted an update yesterday summarising events past and planned, including:<br /><br />- the successful third and last post launch trajectory manoeuvre<br />- in flight testing of SWAP and PEPSSI<br />- opening of launch doors for SWAP and Alice<br />- the Student Dust Counter (SDC)<br />- further tests for LORRI<br />- finalising of Jupiter observation plans &<br />- software bug fix upgrades<br /><br />Full Article Here.<br /><br />For an explanation of the various instruments and their capabilities, see Science Payload<br /><br />NH1 will pass the orbit of <font color="red">MARS</font>on <font color="red">April 6</font>- just ten weeks after launch!<br /><br />Mission elapsed time: <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 60 Hours 05 Minutes 15</font><br /><br />Jupiter closest approach <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 344 Hours 05 Minutes 25</font><br /><br />Pluto closest approach!!!! <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 3402 Hours 11 Minutes 43</font>/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[kane007]

I know another 9 years to wait, but bits and pieces will come in from time to time. Six of the 7 instruments have passed their first tests.<br /><br />Just over a week to go before crossing Mars orbit and 10 months before rendezvous with Jupiter!

 

[rybanis]

Its speed is mind boggling!<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brandbll]

I am so hyped up for this mission. I almost went bonkers when they were about to cancel it. Hey does anyone know, is it going to take any pictures along the way? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="3">You wanna talk some jive? I'll talk some jive. I'll talk some jive like you've never heard!</font></p> </div>

 

[CalliArcale]

New Horizons will encounter Jupiter in about eleven months, and I can't imagine they'd pass up the opportunity to give the instruments a workout. <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>

 

[comga]

Of course they won't pass up the chance to do science at Jupiter. The science team has been working on planning observations since shortly after launch. They will get a lot, and send back more bits of data from Jupiter than from Pluto (closer range means higher data rate and the ability to dump the data to ground before the encounter ends.) THey will be flying straight down the magnetotail, something that has not been done even for Earth.<br /><br />A good discussion, with participation from the New Horizons science team can be found at<br /><br />http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?showtopic=2088

 

[jmilsom]

Well it already 100 days since launch. How time flies and how fast is NH1 flying - only 10 months until the Jupiter gravity assist. The craft is now travelling at over 111,960 km per hour (69,570 milesper hour). The three trajectory maneuvers were all successful and all seven on-board instruments have been vigorously tested and are working well!<br /><br />The latest news is HERE <br /><br />Mission elapsed time: <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 100 Hours 07 Minutes 40</font><br /><br />Jupiter closest approach <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 304 Hours 03 Minutes 03</font><br /><br />Pluto closest approach!!!! <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 3362 Hours 09 Minutes 21</font>/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

For those of you still tracking the mission, a comprehensive update was posted on the mission web site on 1 June. It outlines further payload testing, bug fixes and its pending path through the Asteroid Belt.<br /><br />Although there was no plan to observe anything in the belt (and the LORRI will not open its door until late August), by chance NH1 will pass within 104,000km of a small, little-known asteroid called 2002 JF56. No images are possible, but there is the opportunity to test Ralph's optical navigation and moving target tracking capabilities, and perhaps refine its diameter.<br /><br />A full update by the PI HERE.<br /><br />Mission elapsed time: <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 135 Hours 08 Minutes 17</font><br /><br />Jupiter closest approach <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 269 Hours 02 Minutes 23</font><br /><br />Pluto closest approach!!!! <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 3327 Hours 08 Minutes 41</font>/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[comga]

They will also be able to get a reading on the color of 2002 JF56 with Ralph's MVIC color arryas, perhaps an IR spectrum with the LEISA detector, and possibly a light curve over time.

 

[plutokuiper]

You guys have prolly seen this thing about Pluto.<br /><br />Pluto occultation draws stargazers south ABC Science Online<br /><br />Pluto could have rings?

 

[jmilsom]

Thx for the link. I look forward to hearing some of the results from the occultation observations. It is not entirely clear how much atmosphere will remain when NH1 zooms by in 2015, so the this will be very interesting. Does anyone have any results from the 2002 JF56 flyby yet?<br /><br />Mission elapsed time: <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 147 Hours 16 Minutes 54</font><br /><br />Jupiter closest approach <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 256 Hours 17 Minutes 46</font><br /><br />Pluto closest approach!!!! <br /><br /><font color="orange">Days 3315 Hours 00 Minutes 04</font>/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[brandbll]

I have a question. How long will New Horizons be at Jupiter? I realize it is on the fast track(make that extremely fast track) for Pluto, but will it stay longer than needed to snap a few photos and work out some kinks in the instruments? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="3">You wanna talk some jive? I'll talk some jive. I'll talk some jive like you've never heard!</font></p> </div>

 

[radarredux]

> <i><font color="yellow">If it is to go to Pluto it can not "hang around " Jupiter. Even it the controllers wanted to there is not enough propellant to enter a orbit around Jupiter.</font>/i><br /><br />I don't think it can "hang around" anywhere -- just a brief flyby of Pluto and any other bodies along the way or afterwards.</i>

 

[plutokuiper]

"Does anyone have any results from the 2002 JF56 flyby yet?"<br /><br />Pluto-bound New Horizons tracks an asteroid Spaceflight Now Breaking News<br /><br />31,000 mph! Sheesh that's fast!<br /><br />The 2 little moons are now called Nix & Hydra. How many moons does Pluto have now? And they're still trying to kick it off the planet list.<br /><br />Crunch time for Planet Pluto BBC Horizon

 

[brandbll]

Wait, this thing is just going to fly-by Pluto??? Then what, fly aimlessly off into the Kuiper Belt? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="3">You wanna talk some jive? I'll talk some jive. I'll talk some jive like you've never heard!</font></p> </div>

 

[nacnud]

Not aimlessly fly away but yes that’s the gist of it. It is similar to the Voyagers in that respect. <br /><br />Now for homework workout just how large it would have to be to have a Pluto orbit insertion stage.<br />

 

[yurkin]

I believe theyre going to try and hit at least one other KBO before they start the aimless portion of the missions.

 

[bpcooper]

Yes, New Horizons will be redirected after it passes Pluto to fly by a pre-determined KBO, and two if they have enough fuel (and if the KBO is within the small margin they can change the tracjectory by that time). <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>-Ben</p> </div>