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Posted by: ustrax Aug 3 2007, 08:34 PM

I have a feeling telling me to start this one...

Posted by: nprev Aug 3 2007, 08:48 PM

From your blog: "...science, hard work and truth." Can't think of a better motto for this event...

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 3 2007, 08:51 PM

Right now there is no news. And no news is good news. I hope there won't be any issues with first stage loading, tower retraction and so on. And the weather is on our side.

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Aug 3 2007, 08:52 PM

Posted by: nprev Aug 3 2007, 09:02 PM

Yeah, sorry about the erroneous weather allusion on the other thread. Was using Google News, didn't note the source, but I think now that there's some advance concern for Endeavour, not Phoenix; either the article or I mixed things up.

GO PHOENIX!!!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 3 2007, 09:10 PM

Don't worry.
In case weather worsens for the first launch opportunity we could skip it and proceed with the second... I don't believe that weather is the big issue for tomorrow.

Posted by: BPCooper Aug 3 2007, 09:44 PM

I hate to say it but that's pad B with Dawn's rocket :-\

Phoenix was on the left from your viewpoint.

Posted by: helvick Aug 3 2007, 09:53 PM

Why's that picture on the http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/ then?

Posted by: ugordan Aug 3 2007, 10:12 PM

Should we also be starting a "Phoenix Post-launch News" thread?

Posted by: Tom Tamlyn Aug 3 2007, 10:19 PM

Ben,

How many cameras have you set up for the Phoenix launch?

TTT

Posted by: elakdawalla Aug 3 2007, 10:19 PM

A bunch of pictures of Phoenix' instruments were posted on Photojournal today. There's a nice illustration of the business end of the robotic arm:
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA09949

I also note that that is number 9949 on Photojournal...should just be a couple weeks before they hit 10,000

--Emily

Posted by: punkboi Aug 3 2007, 10:41 PM

Ignore it. Despite having a nice layout, there are so many faults with the Phoenix website.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 04:57 AM

What's the status with the rollback? I woke up a little late and can't track the latest status...

Posted by: Jim from NSF.com Aug 4 2007, 05:23 AM

watch here
http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 06:28 AM

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/phoenix/status.html

The current update is already here.

Posted by: djellison Aug 4 2007, 07:15 AM

That was damn fast to 10,003 gallons. I wish I could fill up our Ford Focus that fast

Doug

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 07:24 AM

... and now, waiting for LOX fill By the way did you see the last update on NASA Website? Now only 10% chance of weather prohibiting launch.

Posted by: djellison Aug 4 2007, 07:27 AM

Well the weather briefing guy just said 20% - but they almost never say less than that.

Doug

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 07:47 AM

... and we have LOX fill ongoing Thumbs up for successful load!

Posted by: punkboi Aug 4 2007, 08:27 AM

Living in California, I went to bed around 10 PM to try to get 4 hours of sleep, before getting back on the comp around 2 AM to catch the last 26 minutes of the countdown. Needless to say, there's still an hour left before launch...and I obviously couldn't get back to sleep. Too much excitement!

EDIT: Weather officer HAS IMPROVED the launch weather forecast to 90%!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 08:37 AM

Nobody can sleep right know

now performing tests on the engines

Posted by: Ant103 Aug 4 2007, 08:48 AM

I'm in

Here in France, the Sun is high in the sky but I'm awake since 7 a.m (paris local time, GMT+2). I have sleeping a little between 7 and now...

I am watching NasaTV and all seems to be okay, no?

Posted by: paxdan Aug 4 2007, 08:51 AM

howdy folks....

i'm in

Posted by: djellison Aug 4 2007, 08:54 AM

These 'live' threads can get a bit crazy and pointless - so for those wanting something a bit like that...

http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.php?autocom=chatpara

Posted by: djellison Aug 4 2007, 09:34 AM

Away on time, beautifully.

Posted by: mars loon Aug 4 2007, 09:39 AM

Parking orbit achieved SECO done !!!

Posted by: mars loon Aug 4 2007, 09:41 AM

Update from spaceflightnow.com

0936 GMT (5:36 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 9 minutes, 28 seconds. SECO 1. The second stage engine cutoff has occurred, completing the motor's first firing of the day. The Delta 2 rocket and Phoenix have arrived in a preliminary orbit around Earth following launch this morning from Cape Canaveral. The vehicle will coast for more than an hour before the second stage is re-ignited.

0938 GMT (5:38 a.m. EDT)

T+plus 12 minutes. The rocket has successfully achieved a parking orbit with an apogee of 90.09 miles, perigee of 89.98 miles and inclination of 28.5 degrees. That is right on the pre-planned orbit parameters.



The second stage engine will re-start at T+plus 73 minutes. No telemetry from the rocket is expected until then.

Posted by: Stu Aug 4 2007, 09:50 AM

Yep, beautiful even on my shuddery, kaleidescopic Real Player window on dialup...!

Lost count of the number of times I've heard a launch commentator say "T minus 10... 9... 8..." but it still makes me sit forward in my chair and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up...

Posted by: mchan Aug 4 2007, 10:05 AM

ken, stu, folks are on chat, click doug's link above

Posted by: paxdan Aug 4 2007, 10:05 AM

stu come join us in the Live Chat, we're killilng time till 2nd stage restart

Posted by: punkboi Aug 4 2007, 10:46 AM

Third stage ignition!

Posted by: abalone Aug 4 2007, 10:59 AM

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/phoenix/status.html
Signal aquired!!!

Posted by: abalone Aug 4 2007, 11:04 AM

We are on our way!!!

Posted by: mars loon Aug 4 2007, 12:30 PM

update from spaceflightnow.com

1210 GMT (8:10 a.m. EDT)

"The launch team did a spectacular job getting us on the way," said Barry Goldstein, Phoenix project manager. "Our trajectory is still being evaluated in detail; however we are well within expected limits for a successful journey to the red planet. We are all thrilled!"

and more from space.com
http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/070804_phoenix_launchday.html

Red Planet Rising: NASA's Phoenix Probe Launches Towards Mars
By Tariq Malik
and Dave Mosher
posted: 4 August 2007

This story was updated at 7:09 a.m. ET (1109 GMT)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander lit up the predawn Florida sky Saturday, launching spaceward on a mission to determine whether the planet could have once supported primitive life.

A United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket launched Phoenix towards Mars at 5:26:34 a.m. EDT (0926:34 GMT) from Pad 17A at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The three-stage booster is bound for the flat northern plains of Vastitas Borealis near the martian north pole, where it is expected to dig into and sample the region's icy soil with its eight-foot (2.4-meter) robotic arm.

Posted by: ustrax Aug 4 2007, 02:30 PM

Wow...Wow! WOW!!!

Strange creatures we are...getting all excited, with tears in the eyes by seing a machine rising above a pilar of flames into the skies...

May now the journey be safe!

WOW!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 02:34 PM

Yes, Go, Phoenix!

And we want an article on SpacEurope

Posted by: ustrax Aug 4 2007, 02:44 PM

Let's see what we can do...I could do one on how the beach looks so incredible right now...

Posted by: gndonald Aug 4 2007, 02:46 PM

Next Stop... !!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 4 2007, 02:56 PM

We have another Mars vehicle for this year... Dawn! Eh, only a flyby, but it's better than nothing

Currently there's a press conference on NASA TV. The spacecraft is in an excellent health

Posted by: Stu Aug 4 2007, 04:24 PM

Some nice launch pics on here...

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/194929

Posted by: Tom Tamlyn Aug 4 2007, 07:39 PM

Does anyone understand what the 20 minute telemetry problem was?

Was it simply a problem getting data from the receiving stations to KSC?

TTT

Posted by: scalbers Aug 4 2007, 08:14 PM

I noticed that there's a 9 minute NASA TV launch replay posted on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1PDAGcmUdTI

Posted by: abalone Aug 5 2007, 12:45 AM

Great to watch, have played it about 5 times

Posted by: ustrax Aug 5 2007, 05:13 PM

Guys...Please just read the http://spaceurope.blogspot.com/2007/08/photo-credit-kevin-stubeexhaust-from.html...
A mission with a PI like this can only be...incredible...
Pure poetry!
I can't wait...

Posted by: nprev Aug 5 2007, 05:29 PM

Yes, that was poetic, Rui. I'm personally impressed that Peter Smith knows something of observational astronomy...get the feeling that he's making a life-long dream come true, and that's always a wonderful thing to watch!

Posted by: ustrax Aug 5 2007, 05:33 PM

Couldn't agree more, there is nothing more fullfilling than to see that glow in the eyes of some people's words...
To quote you...wonderful!

Posted by: mars loon Aug 5 2007, 09:55 PM

Peter Smith was quite eloquent after launch. It was such a pleasure to hear his moving and poetic story of the launch and the cloud of "Phoenix Bird" rising !

His eyes were absolutely glowing

He'll be a great PI with martian tales we'll long remember

be sure to take the time and listen to a replay of Saturday's press conference

Posted by: Astro0 Aug 6 2007, 04:10 AM

While watching the launch, the engine plume reminded me more of the Phoenix Rising.

I think Peter Smith's phoenix in the cloud trail was good too, but the plume really caught my attention.
Hopefully all these spirit's of the Phoenix flying about will bode well for the rest of the mission.

Astro0

Posted by: climber Aug 6 2007, 09:18 AM

Any link to this ?

Posted by: climber Aug 6 2007, 11:11 AM

You'll see here two pictures of the launch including what Peter Smith was saying about the trajectory throught the constellations and onward to Mars :

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/phoenix/launchgallery/

Posted by: stewjack Aug 6 2007, 07:03 PM

If you mean the Phoenix Science Briefing this is the link from Space MultiMedia. I believe it was on Friday.

It's a Widows Media Video file, and it is 90 MB! I only have dial-up,
but I use True Downloader and download just a little bit each day.

http://labrador.freepgs.com/6m/Phoenix%20%20Mission%20Science%20Briefing.wmv

Otherwise: You can also check out Space MultiMedia, but I think most formats are for Windows

http://tinyurl.com/ooxl4

Jack

Posted by: stevesliva Aug 6 2007, 07:34 PM

There's an amusing article about the lander CPU up here:
http://www.edn.com/blog/980000298/post/1090012709.html

Ancient Junkbot. sheesh.

Posted by: climber Aug 6 2007, 08:33 PM

Thanks so much Jack! At least, this as worked...

Posted by: mars loon Aug 6 2007, 10:27 PM

here is another beautiful plume shot:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/mars/phoenix/panoramas/d325pano4.jpg

Posted by: monty python Aug 7 2007, 07:54 AM

Check out all of the launch photos on SpaceflightNow. A breathtaking time exposure of the rocket arching thru orion with the solids twinkling down around it!

Posted by: BPCooper Aug 11 2007, 02:40 AM

Finally can share my Phoenix shots:

http://www.launchphotography.com/Phoenix.html

For anyone that attended the launch I would love to see theirs and hear their experiences.

Posted by: remcook Aug 11 2007, 09:17 AM

that 2nd image...wow!