Preparations for a Santa Flyby

[MeteorWayne]

Dec. 20, 2007<br />Bill Johnson<br />Kennedy Space Center, Fla. <br />321-867-2468 <br />william.r.johnson@nasa.gov<br />RELEASE: 60-07<br /><br />KENNEDY SPACE CENTER AIRSPACE ADVISORY FOR SANTA FLYBY DEC. 24<br /><br />CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA has granted permission to Santa Claus to <br />access Kennedy Space Center's airspace on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.<br /><br />The jolly fellow, in his reindeer-propelled sleigh, is expected to fly <br />over the center sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight to take a close <br />look at the ongoing construction at Launch Pad 39B. Workers are <br />installing a new lightning protection system as part of the efforts <br />to transition the pad from a space shuttle facility into the launch <br />site for the Constellation Program's Ares I crew launcher.<br /><br />North Pole officials are interested in the weather safety upgrades at <br />the launch pad because they may install a similar system around <br />Santa's workshop. The new system at Pad 39B will feature large cables <br />strung between three 594-foot-tall steel and fiberglass towers. The <br />towers will be the tallest structures on KSC property when completed, <br />surpassing the 52-story Vehicle Assembly Building.<br /><br />"We're always concerned about safety, so following NASA's lead is <br />always a good idea," said chief toymaker Buzz Elfrin. He added that <br />Space Coast residents and families living in surrounding areas may be <br />able to catch a glimpse of Santa during his flyby of the center, <br />depending on the sleigh's altitude.<br /><br />The launch pad will be the site of the first Ares test flight, called <br />Ares I-X, scheduled for 2009. NASA's Constellation Program is <br />developing a new space transportation system that will carry humans <br />back to the moon in the next decade and enable them to stay.<br /><br />The automated landing systems will be left on in the automatic mode at <br />the Shuttle Landing Facility during <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>

 

[bobblebob]

Just had my Christmas party at work and i am quite drunk. Having just read that email i got saying the same thing, think i best wait until i sober up before replying. Seems very surreal <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />

 

[h2ouniverse]

Sigh....<br />I had during a milllisecond the hope that you were announcing that some agncy was considering a fly-by mission of 2003EL61...<br />Disappointed... Disappointed...

 

[MeteorWayne]

I figured the title might do that.<br /><br />Just keep yer bright nose lit.<br /><br />Maybe in a decade or so we WILL plan a mission to Santa. <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>

 

[h2ouniverse]

This ambiguity would not occur if IAU made their mind and gave a suitable name to 2003EL61. Apparently they have confirmed Ortiz as discoverer so why do they wait for the naming?<br />(Brown had proposed an Hawaiian divinity name).<br /><br />The situation for 2005FY9 is even less understandable as there is no dispute for the discovery.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Speaking of which, jpl has a nice diagram of the outer solar system including the position of "Santa" on Oct 1.<br /><br />It also shows the orbit of Sedna, which demonstrates what a unique object it is.<br /><br /> link <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>

 

[billslugg]

<font color="yellow"> No government expense is involved in leaving these landing systems on. </font><br /><br />Good thing they put that in there. The fun wreckers would have had a field day if an any money was spent on that! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[h2ouniverse]

MW,<br /><br />in reply to<br />----------<br />" Sedna, which demonstrates what a unique object it is"<br />-----------<br /><br />I am confident that many others will be found.<br />If you propagate the orbits of all the green dots on this picture you will see than within 50, 100 years many of them go quite far. Even the classical Belt "inflates" with time until about 2150 (2005+290/2). (average period of classical belt obj = 290yrs)<br />This is of course (extremely likely to be!!) due to the observational bias of having spotted mostly the closest objects and not to a specific dynamic of KB! The already identified KBO and IOO are often relatively close to their perihelion. When you propagate the orbits, the majority tend to go further from the sun.<br /><br />You can also see that some sectors have not been searched. Or less than others.<br /><br />So a huge potential for many discoveries to come...<br /><br />Best regards.