Phoenix Mars Lander.

[3488]

Thanks swampcat.<br /><br />I feel a lot better now. <img src="/images/icons/tongue.gif" /><br /><br />Yes you are correct shuttle_guy. <br /><br />Lets hope that second stage restarts!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />This is a very important mission, scientifically & for me personally. I was personally involved to<br />make it happen.<br /><br />Well done the Delta / Boeing launch team. A superb launch. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />The Phoenix is now flying. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[Swampcat]

Agreed, excellent launch, thanks to ULA. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="3" color="#ff9900"><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>------------------------------------------------------------------- </em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong><em>"I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government."</em></strong></font></p><p><font size="1" color="#993300"><strong>Thomas Jefferson</strong></font></p></font> </div>

 

[3488]

Yes definately swampcat.<br /><br />It was bloody brilliant. Very well done to all involved.<br /><br />The Delta 2 has proven herself again.<br /><br />From Spaceflightnow.com. Justin Ray.<br /><br />1011 GMT (6:11 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 45 minutes. The Delta rocket is in the midst of its longest-ever coast period between <br />burns of the second stage. The engine will ignite again at T+plus 74 minutes for a <br />planned two-minute burn that will boost the vehicle into a higher elliptical orbit.<br /> That will be followed by separation between the second and third stages. <br />The solid-fuel upper stage then burns to eject Phoenix from Earth orbit. <br /><br />1001 GMT (6:01 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 35 minutes. The official liftoff time this morning was 5:26:34.596 a.m., <br />which was right in the middle of the one-second launch window. <br /><br />0959 GMT (5:59 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 33 minutes. A review of data from the first and second stage burns of the <br />Delta 2 rocket shows the vehicle has performed well. <br /><br />"Everything seems to be indicating we've got a pretty good launch going," NASA spokesman <br />George Diller says. <br /><br />Image Below: The Delta II rocket carrying the Phoenix spacecraft lifts off from Pad 17A. <br />Image Credit: NASA TV <br /><br />A Delta II rocket lit up the early morning sky over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station <br />in Florida as it carried the Phoenix spacecraft on the first leg of its journey to Mars. <br />The powerful three-stage rocket with nine solid rocket motors lifted off at 5:26 a.m. EDT. <br /><br />The Phoenix Mars lander's assignment is to dig through the Martian soil and ice in the <br />arctic region and use its onboard scientific instruments to analyze the samples it retrieves. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

From Spaceflightnow.com. Justin Ray. <br /><br />1021 GMT (6:21 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 55 minutes. The rocket's launch trajectory following liftoff from the eastern <br />coast of Florida has taken the vehicle across the Atlantic and southern Africa. <br />The path continues over the Indian Ocean and northwestern Australia. <br />The upcoming second and third stage burns will happen over the central Pacific, then <br />deployment of the Phoenix spacecraft occurs as third stage nears North America. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

OK, Ann is awake, I am back.<br />All is proceeding smoothly I see, about 15 min to second stage restart.<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

I hope Ann is keeping well, friend.<br /><br />Yes things appear to be going extremely well.<br /><br />From Spaceflightnow.com. Justin Ray.<br /><br />T+plus 70 minutes. About four minutes remain until second stage engine restart. <br /><br />1031 GMT (6:31 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 65 minutes. The "Big Crow" tracking plane is expected to acquire the rocket's<br />signal about eight minutes from now. The mobile telemetry aircraft <br />will follow the vehicle during the second stage burn. A ground tracking station in Hawaii <br />then acquires the telemetry stream for the final events of the launch. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

From Spaceflightnow.com. Justin Ray. <br /><br />1043 GMT (6:43 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 76 minutes, 30 seconds. The second stage has completed its second burn of this launch. <br />In the next minute, tiny thrusters on the side of the rocket will be fired to spin up the <br />vehicle in preparation for jettison of the second stage. <br /><br />1042 GMT (6:42 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 76 minutes. Good chamber pressure reported from the second stage engine. <br /><br />1041 GMT (6:41 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 75 minutes. The second stage is indeed firing as planned to continue pushing<br />Phoenix on its way. <br /><br />1040 GMT (6:40 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 74 minutes. The burn should be underway. However, engineers at the <br />Cape have not yet received live telemetry from the tracking plane over the Pacific. <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

TECO. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

3 min from spacecraft separation <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

From Spaceflightnow.com. Justin Ray.<br /><br />1046 GMT (6:46 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 79 minutes, 35 seconds. The Thiokol Star 48B third stage has burned out <br />of its solid fuel, ending the Delta 2 rocket's powered flight for the launch of Phoenix. <br /><br />1045 GMT (6:45 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 79 minutes. The upper stage appears to be burning well. <br /><br />1044 GMT (6:44 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />T+plus 78 minutes, 8 seconds. Third stage ignition! The second stage was separated <br />and the upper stage motor has been lit. <br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Confirmed. Mars Phoenix Lander is now on the way to Mars. Interplanetary cruise<br />has begun.<br /><br />A HONKING HUGE RELIEF. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />I hope BPCooper got some nice pictures. Looking forward to seeing them.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Launch of Delta 2 with Mars Phoenix Lander.<br /><br />Image: NASA.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Whew, Golstone is communicating with the bird. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Juice flowing from the solar panels <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Juice flowing from the solar panels <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

From Spaceflightnow.com. Justin Ray.<br /><br />1108 GMT (7:08 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />Confirmation of a successful launch has been announced by Chuck Dovale, the NASA <br />launch manager. <br /><br />NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has embarked on its 10-month, 420-million-mile <br />cruise from Earth to Mars, departing aboard a United Launch Alliance <br />Delta 2 rocket this morning bound for the Red Planet to examine the frozen water<br /> in the northern plains that could be a habitable zone for life. <br /><br />1102 GMT (7:02 a.m. EDT)<br /><br />Data from Phoenix indicates the spacecraft reorienting itself to point its solar arrays <br />toward the sun, a NASA spokesman says. <br /><br />----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />I assume therefore the seperation from the Solid Stage was successful?<br /><br />Excellent day today.<br /><br />Phoenix on her way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /> .<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

OK, NASA TV finished until 11AM EDT (1500 UT) post launch news conference.<br /><br />PS, Dawn still scheduled for Sept 26th. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Lets hope that on: Wednesday 26th September 2007, we are all here reporting on a similar<br />outcome for DAWN, on way to Asteroid 4 Vesta!!!!<br /><br />One down (Phoenix) & one to go (DAWN).<br /><br />It was great following this launch with you all. Thank you very much MeteorWayne, <br />shuttle_guy & swamcat.<br /><br />It was a real pleasure to share this launch with you.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[dfrank]

Great news!<br /><br />Now how are they going to dig down in that frozen soil and ice without a chainsaw? Any ideas?<br /><br />Dfrank, aka, the organ grinder. Stay away from my monkey<br />

 

[3488]

Hi dfrank.<br /><br />Thank you for your question.<br /><br />Answer below.<br /><br />From Planetary Photojournal.<br /><br />This illustration shows some of the components on and near the end of the robotic arm on <br />NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. Primary and secondary blades on the scoop will aid <br />in the collection of soil samples. A powered rasp will allow the arm to sample an<br />icy layer expected to be about as hard as concrete. The thermal and electrical <br />conductivity probe, which is one part of the Microscopy, Electrochemistry and <br />Conductivity Analyzer, will assess how heat and electrons move through <br />the soil from one spike to another of a four-spike electronic fork that will be <br />pushed into the soil at different stages of digging by the arm. <br /><br />Image Credit: <br />NASA/JPL-Caltech <br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Hopefully Phoenix looks like this now.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

Route of Mars Phoenix Lander.<br /><br />Arrival at Scandia Colles, Mars on: Sunday 25th May 2008.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[jimfromnsf]

"Are you involved in this one Jim? "<br /><br />Nope, due to some personnel assignment quirks I wasn't able to do all the Mars missions, Just MER, MRO and MSL. I got an USAF mission (STSS) that was suppose to fly originally in Sep.

 

[3488]

So a pretty busy schedule for you then. <img src="/images/icons/crazy.gif" /><br /><br />Lets hope that this will be a good year for all of us. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing this launch with me. <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" /><br /><br />Good to see that Endeavour is coming on well.<br /><br />Cheers friend.<br /><br />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

I hope MSL goes as smoothly for you!<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[brellis]

Nice pic here from Reuters <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font size="2" color="#ff0000"><em><strong>I'm a recovering optimist - things could be better.</strong></em></font> </p> </div>