New Horizons I (and II!) Mission Update Thread

yanks1419 · Jan 14, 2006

yes i cant wait 2 more days first it is STARDUST then it is 24 on channel 5 on the 15, i dont know what is happening on the 16th excluding Martin Luther King's b-day, and then to top it off you have New Horizons and i think Americal Idol on the 17th. Is this great or is this great or greater or greatest or greterest or greatererest....... lol

jmilsom · Jan 15, 2006

Latest PI's perspective from Alan Stern (14th) - key points - last spacecraft preps, red tag removals, etc., were completed at Launch Complex 41 here at the Kennedy Space Center. - the flight control team completed final countdown rehearsal activities in conjunction with the Deep Space Network (DSN). - a series of software table loads and load verifications to make sure New Horizons has the right initialization values for its clocks, its guidance system, and other subsystem configuration items was completed. - New Horizons is now operating, as it will in flight, off its flight RTG power supply. See full article here: http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/overview/piPerspectives/piPerspective_current.html It's looking good for a Tuesday launch!!!!!!! Days 2 Hours 13 Mins 59 Secs 25 - until launch!!!/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

mikejz · Jan 15, 2006

I just realised something: Is NH going to end up in solar orbit, or will be like Pioneer and Voyager and escape the solar system? If it is the latter, I remember reading nothing about a 'gold record' or anything of the sort being attached.

henryhallam · Jan 15, 2006

This was mentioned a few pages back.. Yes, NH will escape the solar system (and "overtake" Pioneer and Voyager in something like 50 years I think). There is no gold plaque attached, apparently due to bureaucratic constraints. A pity, but there is at least a CD with a few hundred thousand names on it that were submitted to the mission website.

comga · Jan 16, 2006

mikeemmert said "When Voyager encountered Neptune, the newspaper published a front page photo as soon as they got one better than the best photo ever taken from Earth. The ship was still a couple of weeks out. It still didn't show very much detail, but it was electrifying - kind of a wake up call. It was going to make it! Four planets! With Triton providing a nice contrast as far as color went. Such a photo to accompany the (brief) announcement of the flyby might help. People will understand that it's just a publicity photo. It would whet people's appetites for the real show and previous experience with other spacecraft has taught us to wait for the main course. " The same will probably happen for New Horizons. The resolution of LORRI and Ralph will both exceed Hubble's ACS for several months. If they send back images one month out, they will be much sharper than the best we have, and will whet our appetites for the images that will be coming a few weeks later. I am down at the Cape for the launch. I will see if I can ask someone when the last download will occur before the Pluto encounter. Then, with resolution values from the web, we can calculate how well they will resolve Pluto and Charon. The new moons won't be resolved ( />2 pixels) by Ralph until about two day out. I think is is eight days for LORRI. This can also be calculated from published data.

jmilsom · Jan 16, 2006

Well it is morning over here on launch day and the launch window has now been confirmed for 1:24pm to 3:23pm EST. That means it will be 12:54am to 2:53am Wednesday morning in my time zone - looks like I'll be having a late night. They really have excellent coverage here on the SDC main page. Here is the latest: SDC New Horizons Rollout Coverage 2125 GMT (4:25 p.m. EST) - Lockheed Martin technicians are close to finishing the pumping of about 25,000 gallons of kerosene fuel into the rocket's first stage (should be finished by now). - The first stage liquid oxygen supply, along with the super-cold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the Centaur upper stage, will be loaded into the rocket during the final two hours of tomorrow's countdown. - Countdown work resumes before dawn tomorrow when the Atlas 5 is powered up at about 5:24 a.m. EST. Routine pre-flight tests of vehicle systems and preparations for cryogenic fueling are among the chores during the morning. - At 10:44 a.m., the count will enter a planned 30-minute built-in hold at the T-minus 120 minute mark. This pause gives the launch team the opportunity to catch up on any work running behind the timeline or deal with technical glitches. A poll of team members occurs five minutes before the end of the hold to verify everyone is ready for liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen fueling. - Chilling of propellant lines and tanks is performed to thermally condition the equipment in preparation for flowing the super-cold fuels. Centaur liquid oxygen loading should begin at about 11:31 a.m., followed by Atlas first stage liquid oxygen and finally Centaur hydrogen fueling. - A final hold is planned at T-minus 4 minutes. This will be a 10-minute hold starting at 1:10 p.m. EST to conduct readiness polls of senior management, the launch team members, Range an <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

teije · Jan 17, 2006

Bummer, I want to live close to a launch site too! Oh well, can't be helped... (on short notice anyway) I'll have to make do with a webcast. Anybody who knows if there is going to be a webcast somewhere? Cheers, Teije

rfoshaug · Jan 17, 2006

NASA TV will show the launch, I think. http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> ----------------------------------My minds have many opinions </div>

rhodan · Jan 17, 2006

CNN usually provides live coverage of launches as well, at least CNN International does.

jmilsom · Jan 17, 2006

I am watching NASA TV now. They are re-playing the NH news conference from Sunday at the moment. Yes they will cover the launch. Times are: January 17, Tuesday 10 a.m. - NASA Administrator's News Conference - KSC (Local Only) 11 a.m. - Pluto / New Horizons Launch Commentary Begins (Launch 1:24 p.m.) - KSC (Mission Coverage) We have had no electricity all day here and are running the generator. I hope the power comes back on, otherwise I am going to miss the launch coverage. Days 0 Hours 07 Mins 29 Secs 29 - until launch!!!/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jmilsom · Jan 17, 2006

OK. Switching off the generator. If you do not see me at launch time, it's because I have no power. Unfortunately I cannot switch it on in the wee hours of the morning as I'll wake everyone up. Fingers crossed. Days 0 Hours 07 Mins 03 Secs 23 - until launch!!!/safety_wrapper> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

teije · Jan 17, 2006

Thanks guys. I'm going home now (5 p.m. here <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> ) and sit back and enjoy the launch. Teije

jschaef5 · Jan 17, 2006

Luckily, I don't have class today until 2:30 so I will be able to watch it. I better go get lunch soon to beat the crowd and so I don't miss the launch. 2 hours to go. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

The Centaur liquid oxygen tank has been completely filled. The first stage LOX tank is at 30%. The first stage was loaded with kerosene yesterday. The Centaur will soon be loaded with liquid hydrogen; the propellant lines for LH2 have begun their chilldown process in preparation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

First stage LOX tank is over half full. Centaur engine chilldown has begun in preparation for LH2 loading. Winds have increased at the launch site, with sustained winds of 25 knots and gusts of 35 knots. Flight rules limit liftoff winds to 33 knots, so everybody cross your fingers! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

LH2 loading is underway. Final flight control preparations have begun. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

formulaterp · Jan 17, 2006

Interesting to see the frost buildup on the outside of the rocket body as the propellants are loaded.

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

The tanks are basically full now; the system has moved to "topping off" mode. The team is making final checks of the range safety system now. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

llivinglarge · Jan 17, 2006

What is the worst case scenario for launch and orbital escape?

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

An anomaly has been detected; something about a LOX fill and drain valve, if I heard it correctly. It wasn't clear whether this could delay launch; they're going to discuss it while the flight team proceeds as normal. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />What is the worst case scenario for launch and orbital escape? <hr /></blockquote> Worst case scenario precludes orbital escape. <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> (I assume you are referring to escaping Earth's gravity.) Worst case scenario would probably be a catastrophic launch vehicle failure before the vehicle has attained orbital velocity, followed by a failure of the range safety system. The range safety system is the self-destruct system. It breaks the rocket up into pieces that won't threaten people on the ground so much. The RTG should survive this process as well as the subsequent reentry intact. It's extremely unlikely that the RTG would be fractured, and even less likely that it would be broken into pieces small enough to pose an environmental hazard. The greatest danger is actually from the rocket itself, which can go boom rather dramatically if things go badly. Update on the valve: there's a LOX valve that needs to close properly at the end of the topping off phase of propellant loading, but it's not clear whether or not it will do so. This has caused some concern and could conceivably lead to a scrub so they can detank and test the valve. We'll have to see. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

holmec · Jan 17, 2006

t-12 minutes for launch <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "SCE to AUX" - John Aaron, curiosity pays off </div>

llivinglarge · Jan 17, 2006

RTG? BTW, which stream is closest to live?

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

No update on the fill and drain valve yet, or a decision about the gusty winds. The latest guidance and steering data have been uploaded. It is now T-10 minutes. I believe there is one last built-in hold, though. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

CalliArcale · Jan 17, 2006

<blockquote>In reply to:<hr />RTG? BTW, which stream is closest to live?<hr /></blockquote> RTG = Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator. It contains plutonium, which in addition to being radioactive, is also very toxic. It has been designed to withstand the most severe accidents they forsee. There have been three accidents involving RTGs, and none have led to the release of plutonium. One RTG was even recovered and reused following its launch vehicle failure. The most notable (and probably the largest) was Apollo 13's RTG. It's at the bottom of the Tonga Trench in unknown condition, but is believed to be intact. I'm using NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html Proton flux is normal. Temperatures are in the mid-70s. Upper wind profile is nominal. Only one gust in excess of 33 knots has been detected, and that was a while ago; as long as no more gusts exceeding 33 knots are detected prior to launch, the weather is a go! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "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." -- The Tenth Doctor, "Blink" </div>

New Horizons I (and II!) Mission Update Thread

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