Nh - The Launch Thread, Godspeed little one |
Nh - The Launch Thread, Godspeed little one |
 Jan 16 2006, 03:08 PM
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#1
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Founder  Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1  |
I thought it was time, with the Atlas V about to roll out - for a new thread for NH for the launch etc.
Someone asked over at the HZ just how NH can go so fast, this was my reply.... QUOTE How do you get a spacecraft to Jupiter in under a year? Easy. Make it very very light, and put it on a very very big rocket. The config of Atlas V rocket being used to launch NH (551 - 5m fairing, 5 solids, and one engine on the Centaur stage ) would typically put 8,670kg into GTO or 20,520 into LEO. New Horizons is 478kg, and it's Star 48B 3rd stage is 2,137kg - so instead of hauling 20 tons, this vehicle is hauling about 2.5 tons thus you get a HUGE velocity out of it. AND, once it's done that, you have the final kick of the 48B, 591 thousand kgs-s (thus accelerating is all a further 3.5 - 4km/s ball park speed, if my maths is right) At launch - the vehicle is 573,160kg. NH is 0.083% of it. Imagine the Apollo entry capsule on top of a Saturn V...tiny tiny tiny... that was 5,800 kg on a 3,038,500kg rocket - 0.191% - more than double that percentage of NH. The cutaway's are almost comical, with this tiny gold-clad box on an enormous vehicle. Basically - it's a LOT of rocket, and not a lot of payload. For comparison, look how much fuss was made of Stardust that entered so quickly. It took >16 hrs to get from the distance of the moon to Utah. NH makes that journey in 9 hours  One thing the NH mission is not short of, is superlatives. I'm not one for good luck charms (although I'll eat peanuts during a Martian EDL with the best of them), but this mission has been so long in coming, that it deserves every ounce of luck it can have - the best, most accurate launch possible, the cleanest checkout, and incident free cruise to Jupiter. Goodluck and Godspeed little one, we're with you every step of the way. Doug PS - Alan, you're a credit to your field, spending so much time answering questions and writing the PI Perspectives, it's been a hell of a journey! |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:05 PM
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#91
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2454 Joined: 8-July 05 From: NGC 5907 Member No.: 430 |
NEWSALERT: Tuesday, January 17, 2005 @ 1658 GMT
--------------------------------------------------------------------- The latest news from Spaceflight Now +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ NEW HORIZONS READY TO GO ------------------------ A space probe tiny in size stands ready for blastoff today atop a massive rocket from Cape Canaveral. It is bound for the outskirts of our solar systems -- a journey stretching many years and billions of miles -- in pursuit of exploration and discovery. Follow this historic launch of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft aboard a Lockheed Martin Atlas 5 rocket in our live status center: http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html MISSION VIDEO COVERAGE: http://www.spaceflightnowplus.com/index.ph...to+New+Horizons ATLAS 5 ROCKET ROLLS TO PAD ON EVE OF LAUNCH -------------------------------------------- A grand adventure to explore the outer frontier of the solar system was moved to the launch pad Monday morning for the final day of preparations leading to blastoff. http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/060116rollout.html IMAGES: MONDAY MORNING'S ROLLOUT http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/0601...t/rollout1.html FIRST MISSION TO 9TH PLANET --------------------------- New Horizons was built to become the first robotic explorer to visit Pluto and probe the Kuiper Belt in the outskirts of the planetary neighborhood. Check out this highly-detailed five-part preview story examining NASA's New Horizons mission. http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/060114preview.html -------------------- "After having some business dealings with men, I am occasionally chagrined,
and feel as if I had done some wrong, and it is hard to forget the ugly circumstance. I see that such intercourse long continued would make one thoroughly prosaic, hard, and coarse. But the longest intercourse with Nature, though in her rudest moods, does not thus harden and make coarse. A hard, sensible man whom we liken to a rock is indeed much harder than a rock. From hard, coarse, insensible men with whom I have no sympathy, I go to commune with the rocks, whose hearts are comparatively soft." - Henry David Thoreau, November 15, 1853 |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:05 PM
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#92
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1372 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
Didn't they have a similar problem with the MRO ?
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Jan 17 2006, 06:08 PM
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#93
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 648 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Subotica Member No.: 384 |
There was only ONE gust of wind greater than 33 knots...
-------------------- The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr... |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:11 PM
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#94
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 Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2262 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Melbourne - Oz Member No.: 16 |
Who scheduled this for 5am?
I'm going to have to have words with Alan!  James :Yawn: Couldn't miss this though! -------------------- |
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| Guest_PhilCo126_* |
Jan 17 2006, 06:11 PM
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#95
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Guests |
Still exciting though ... T-4 minutes ... built-in 2 minutes hold
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Jan 17 2006, 06:13 PM
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#96
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1372 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
Engineers have determined the first stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve issue is not a constraint. The issue is understood.
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Jan 17 2006, 06:13 PM
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#97
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Member Group: Members Posts: 648 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Subotica Member No.: 384 |
QUOTE (PhilCo126 @ Jan 17 2006, 09:11 PM) Still exciting though ... T-4 minutes ... built-in 2 minutes hold  It's actually 10 minute hold...
-------------------- The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr... |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:14 PM
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#98
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 370 Joined: 12-September 05 From: France Member No.: 495 |
NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff has being delayed to 1:45 p.m. EST due to gusty ground winds.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:15 PM
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#99
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1372 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff has been delayed to 1:45 p.m. EST due to gusty ground winds. Also, the valve issue needs to be wrapped up
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Jan 17 2006, 06:16 PM
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#100
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Member Group: Members Posts: 477 Joined: 2-March 05 Member No.: 180 |
QUOTE (Rakhir @ Jan 17 2006, 01:14 PM) NEW LAUNCH TIME! Liftoff has being delayed to 1:45 p.m. EST due to gusty ground winds. http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html Geez. Place your bets if it'll actually launch today. |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:16 PM
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#101
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1281 Joined: 18-December 04 From: San Diego, CA Member No.: 124 |
jamescanvin can go back to bed for a bit then....
-------------------- Lyford Rome
"Zis is not nuts, zis is super-nuts!" Mathematician Richard Courant on viewing an Orion test |
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Jan 17 2006, 06:18 PM
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#102
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 134 Joined: 13-March 05 Member No.: 191 |
Good view on NASA TV now of the wind in the palm trees. The vapour from the cryogenic boiloff is being blown a long way from the rocket too.
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Jan 17 2006, 06:20 PM
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#103
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Member Group: Members Posts: 509 Joined: 2-July 05 From: Calgary, Alberta Member No.: 426 |
Get them fingers crossed lads (and lasses)! Here we go!
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| Guest_Sunspot_* |
Jan 17 2006, 06:26 PM
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#104
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Guests |
1824 GMT (1:24 p.m. EST)
A new flight profile based on the upper level winds needs to be performed for the delayed launch time. Ground winds are still a concern, and the first stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve problem has not been put to rest yet. I'm just waiting for the words SCRUB ! to appear 
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Jan 17 2006, 06:27 PM
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#105
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Member Group: Members Posts: 648 Joined: 9-May 05 From: Subotica Member No.: 384 |
QUOTE (MahFL @ Jan 17 2006, 08:54 PM) Border line winds. [attachment=3452:attachment] Any news on that wind? -------------------- The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr... |
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