MESSENGER ARRIVES, Mercury Orbit Insertion |
MESSENGER ARRIVES, Mercury Orbit Insertion |
Mar 17 2011, 05:29 AM
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#1
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
Less than 20 hours now until the MESSENGER spacecraft fires its engine to enter orbit at Mercury.
Live Webcast March 17th – broadcast starts at 0030 UTC. Follow the progress: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/mer_orbit.html. There will be commentary on the mission, real-time coverage of the maneuver, animation of what the spacecraft is doing, a view of the carrier’s Doppler as they receive it, and live video from MESSENGER Mission Operations. Remember that the Canberra DSN is providing two-way communication with MESSENGER We'll be using both DSS43 (70-metre) and DSS34 (34-metre) antennas. Good luck to the team at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). |
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Mar 17 2011, 06:19 AM
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#2
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Aim your dishes well, Astro0, and may no passing birds cause the loss of a single bit!
Very exciting time. "Firsts" just never get old. Best of luck to the entire Messenger team, including of course the FAR too-often unappreciated people who keep the DSN up & running! -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 17 2011, 06:39 AM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2090 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
Mercury is a disk already in the 'where is MESSENGER now' view. It's getting exciting already...
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Mar 17 2011, 12:15 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 340 Joined: 11-April 08 From: Sydney, Australia Member No.: 4093 |
7.9 billion kilometers just to get there. That makes it one of the longest distances flown by a spacecraft:
(http://www.dmuller.net/spaceflight/realstats.php?stats=flown). Anyway, my standard realtime simulation is now updated for MOI: http://www.dmuller.net/messenger -------------------- |
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Guest_Sunspot_* |
Mar 17 2011, 02:25 PM
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#5
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Guests |
I can't get "Mars" Orbit Insertion (MOI) out of my head, rather than Mercury Orbit Insertion (MOI) !!!!
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Mar 17 2011, 07:24 PM
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#6
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1276 Joined: 25-November 04 Member No.: 114 |
Is there a way to listen to MOI via my cell phone?
I would love to watch but I'm working at that time. Audio would be great! Any help? |
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Mar 17 2011, 07:55 PM
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#7
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Member Group: Members Posts: 470 Joined: 24-March 04 From: Finland Member No.: 63 |
Answering my own post: looks like that the Nasa-TV schedule has been updated and Messenger will be followed on Nasa-TV from 19:55 ESST onwards: 7:55 p.m. - MESSENGER: Mercury Orbit Insertion Coverage from APL - APL/HQ (ALL Channels) -------------------- Antti Kuosmanen
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Mar 17 2011, 10:24 PM
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#8
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Member Group: Members Posts: 259 Joined: 23-January 05 From: Seattle, WA Member No.: 156 |
Since this mission's run by JHUAPL and not JPL, do we still need to get our dry-roasted peanuts for MOI?
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Mar 17 2011, 10:35 PM
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#9
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 51 Joined: 31-December 10 From: Earth Member No.: 5589 |
7.9 billion kilometers just to get there. That makes it one of the longest distances flown by a spacecraft: (http://www.dmuller.net/spaceflight/realstats.php?stats=flown). Anyway, my standard realtime simulation is now updated for MOI: http://www.dmuller.net/messenger Shouldn't the last item on that list read "Start of first mission extension"? |
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Mar 17 2011, 11:36 PM
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#10
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14433 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
It's in Eyes on the Solar System as well - complete with the change of attitude, and the engine burn http://go.usa.gov/4u1
(shortcut works great in Firefox/Safari/IE - but there's a bug that we need to sort out about Chrome) |
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Mar 17 2011, 11:37 PM
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#11
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Good to know! I tried getting MESSENGER to work in Celestia with the spice kernels available from the PDS, but it keeps balking
-------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
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Mar 18 2011, 12:30 AM
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#12
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1372 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
Hello everyone.
Pretty exciting ! |
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Mar 18 2011, 12:31 AM
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#13
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Member Group: Members Posts: 555 Joined: 27-September 10 Member No.: 5458 |
QUOTE It's in Eyes on the Solar System as well Yes and Mercury is getting quite large on the screen. Eyes On The Solar System is definitely a great tool! -------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 12:43 AM
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#14
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Member Group: Members Posts: 146 Joined: 31-October 08 Member No.: 4473 |
I like the Irish music in the background of some of the on-line presentations. Nice!
Being part of this exploration history never gets old... |
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Mar 18 2011, 12:56 AM
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#15
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2090 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
Start of burn confirmed, looking at Doppler.
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Mar 18 2011, 12:57 AM
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#16
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IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 2251 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
"Thruster firing, everything looking just perfect"
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Mar 18 2011, 01:00 AM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
Gotta say that I'm enjoying the JHU/APL broadcast. Very slick. Live audience adds a nice element.
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Mar 18 2011, 01:04 AM
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#18
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Member Group: Members Posts: 166 Joined: 20-September 05 From: North Texas Member No.: 503 |
Emily has a great Twitter feed going, if you can't view the Webcast. Follow her at @elakdalla.
ADMIN: http://twitter.com/elakdawalla |
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Mar 18 2011, 01:06 AM
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#19
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1441 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
MESSENGER is in orbit of Mercury now.
-------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Mar 18 2011, 01:09 AM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1441 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
End of main burn, tweaking now.
Edit: Lots of clapping, handshakes, looks like everything went just perfectly! Waiting on data from spacecraft to confirm. Edit2: High rate telemetry is being received. We know now the burn did last as long as expected. Edit3: Official confirmation of successful MOI burn. Made the target to within 0.5-sigma. -------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Mar 18 2011, 01:59 AM
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#21
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Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 29-December 05 From: NE Oh, USA Member No.: 627 |
unmanned spacecraft in orbit.. firsts..
1966 Luna 10 Moon 1971 Mariner 9 Mars 1975 Venera 8 Venus Venera 9 was the first Venus orbiter. Venera 8 was a lander with a flyby bus. 1995 Galileo Jupiter 2004 Cassini Saturn 2011 Messenger Mercury Lived through all of them.... HOW SWEET IT IS! i ate peanuts Congrats team! |
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Mar 18 2011, 01:59 AM
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#22
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 22 Joined: 6-March 10 From: London, Ontario, CANADA Member No.: 5247 |
Messenger is confirmed to be in orbit around Mercury -Hooray!!
...Now the serious visit begins! -pjam -------------------- "We absolutely must leave room for doubt or there is no progress and there is no learning." -Richard P. Feynman
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Mar 18 2011, 02:14 AM
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#23
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Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 29-December 05 From: NE Oh, USA Member No.: 627 |
And... of course...
Sputnik 1957 Earth... the shot that started it all... yeah Earth is a planet. Glorious 54 years... I was 4 that year. Craig |
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Mar 18 2011, 03:12 AM
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#24
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Member Group: Members Posts: 903 Joined: 30-January 05 Member No.: 162 |
Was super busy all day today, and just now came to this thread, and with a rising sense of anticipation, read all the posts.
Whew! And attaboys and 'ham sammiches' to everyone! I did go out the other night to see Mercury and Jupiter after sunset, and was hoping all was well. |
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Mar 18 2011, 03:54 AM
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#25
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 98 Joined: 29-July 05 From: Amsterdam, NL Member No.: 448 |
At long last, MESSENGER enters orbit! Congrats to the team and let the science begin (following check out, of course)!
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Mar 18 2011, 06:22 AM
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#26
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1729 Joined: 3-August 06 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Member No.: 1004 |
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Mar 18 2011, 06:27 AM
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#27
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2090 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
And Itokawa! (if it counts as 'orbiting' at all....)
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Mar 18 2011, 07:19 AM
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#28
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1729 Joined: 3-August 06 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Member No.: 1004 |
Itokawa was too small. Hayabusa didn't do much orbiting, only station keeping in solar orbit
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Mar 18 2011, 07:45 AM
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#29
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Member Group: Members Posts: 146 Joined: 23-August 06 From: Vriezenveen, Netherlands Member No.: 1067 |
Congrats! Great to hear that it worked!
@Volcanopele you can find good spice kernels on the NAIF FTP site in the PDS folder for use in Celestia, including the main mission period. |
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Mar 18 2011, 08:17 AM
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#30
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Fantastic news! And if you haven't seen it already, Emily has made an absolutely gorgeous pic for her blog, showing Mercury's size compared to other familiar bodies in the solar system...
http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002965 -------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 08:57 AM
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#31
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Member Group: Members Posts: 154 Joined: 21-April 05 From: Rochester, New York, USA Member No.: 336 |
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Mar 18 2011, 09:36 AM
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#32
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3516 Joined: 4-November 05 From: North Wales Member No.: 542 |
Emily has made an absolutely gorgeous pic for her blog, showing Mercury's size compared to other familiar bodies in the solar system... Indeed, a very nice comparison. But we already know of two other bodies in that size range, namely Pluto and Eris, making a total of 10. |
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Mar 18 2011, 09:57 AM
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#33
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
True, but we haven't got very good images of those to use, tho.
-------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 11:38 AM
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#34
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Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 29-December 05 From: NE Oh, USA Member No.: 627 |
unmanned spacecraft in orbit...
how did I miss the worldlets????? Eros and possibly Itokawa.... must be my age... and the beer. Thanks for the corrections folks. The Eyes on the Solar System site had a terrific simulation.... really felt like I was riding along as I listened to the webcast. Terrific experience... Kudos all ..... Craig |
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Mar 18 2011, 01:07 PM
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#35
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
Emily's survey is great! I felt proud to recognize each orb, like a bunch of old friends.
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Mar 18 2011, 01:58 PM
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#36
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
like a bunch of old friends. I used to have friends like that; remote, lonely, frigid, two-faced, endlessly going in circles, still showing the obvious scars that impacted them long ago. Sure there was always at least one hot one, but she'd usually be prone to eruptions. Since then I found UMSF and a whole new universe of friends. -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Mar 18 2011, 01:59 PM
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#37
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
-------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 02:11 PM
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#38
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Member Group: Members Posts: 796 Joined: 27-February 08 From: Heart of Europe Member No.: 4057 |
Congratulation to the MESSENGER team!
I used to have friends like that; remote, lonely, frigid, two-faced, endlessly going in circles, still showing the obvious scars that impacted them long ago. Sure there was always at least one hot one, but she'd usually be prone to eruptions. Since then I found UMSF and a whole new universe of friends. -------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 02:43 PM
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#39
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
VERY proud that the MESSENGER team used a new poem I wrote for them, marking MOI...
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/mer_orbit.html (bottom right) -------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 03:54 PM
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#40
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Member Group: Members Posts: 212 Joined: 19-July 05 Member No.: 442 |
Congratulations to NASA!
I'm eagerly awaiting the first light photo from orbit... |
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Mar 18 2011, 04:32 PM
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#41
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Fantastic news! And if you haven't seen it already, Emily has made an absolutely gorgeous pic for her blog, showing Mercury's size compared to other familiar bodies in the solar system... http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00002965 I'm glad you liked that; I'm pleased with how it turned out, though of course it looks good mostly because of Ted's excellent processing work. It's wonderful what matching phase angles and lighting directions will do to improve the feel of a montage. I spent half an hour discussing that image with my girls' babysitter last night -- a fun conversation Indeed, a very nice comparison. But we already know of two other bodies in that size range, namely Pluto and Eris, making a total of 10. As Stu said, we don't have images of those! --but in the text and caption I did make an error about how these were all the things in the solar system between 2000 and 6000 km across -- should've stuck with 2500-6000 and I'd've been correct; or just left Triton off and left it at 3000-6000. I have a massive cheat sheet above my desk that I use to do quick size comparisons, but I don't have the KBOs on there yet because I'm still working on hunting down the best estimates of their sizes. I have got to finish that project. Emily's survey is great! I felt proud to recognize each orb, like a bunch of old friends. Me too The challenge for us uber-geeks is to know just from looking at them which spacecraft was responsible for each image. -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Mar 18 2011, 04:59 PM
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#42
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Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
-but in the text and caption I did make an error about how these were all the things in the solar system between 2000 and 6000 km across -- should've stuck with 2500-6000 and I'd've been correct; or just left Triton off and left it at 3000-6000. It isn't an error - all are in that range. -------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 06:14 PM
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#43
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Belated congrats after a long night of work to the MESSENGER team for their own many, many long nights of work that resulted in not only a spectacular success but a truly historical achievement.
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 18 2011, 07:10 PM
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#44
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Member Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Columbia, MD Member No.: 1083 |
I was in the studio audience last night and I want to give kudos to APL for putting on a very entertaining and informative show. Pretty amazing that by July we'll have spacecraft orbiting 8 solar system bodies (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Moon, Mars, Vesta and Saturn). Too bad MESSENGER probably won't be around in 2016 when Juno arrives at Jupiter to make it 9!
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Mar 18 2011, 07:21 PM
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#45
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Me too The challenge for us uber-geeks is to know just from looking at them which spacecraft was responsible for each image. A challenge indeed, considering Ted's great skill at reprocessing data from older missions! Okay, I'll take a shot, from left to right (the last one is a gimmie, though): Messenger, Clementine, Cassini, Galileo, Galileo, Voyager 1, Cassini, Voyager 2. <braces for humiliation>... (And congratulations to Stu for his terrific poem posted on Messenger's most special day.... ) -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 18 2011, 07:49 PM
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#46
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
You got half right, Nick!
-------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Mar 18 2011, 08:57 PM
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#47
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Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
The moon looks like an oddly colored earth-based view, Titan is clearly from Cassini. I will ignore the others, since that really wouldn't be fair.
-------------------- |
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Mar 18 2011, 09:13 PM
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#48
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Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 8-February 04 From: Arabia Terra Member No.: 12 |
The Mercury view is Mariner 10 - you can see the Caloris basin on the terminator.
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Guest_Oersted_* |
Mar 18 2011, 11:13 PM
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#49
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Guests |
Congrats to the Messenger team and their new in-house poet, Stu!
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Mar 19 2011, 01:57 AM
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#50
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
"The challenge for us uber-geeks is to know just from looking at them which spacecraft was responsible for each image. "
share?! |
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Mar 19 2011, 04:23 AM
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#51
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Mercury: Mariner 10; Moon, an Earth-based photographer (sorry, that was a trick one); the Galileans all from Galileo; Titan from Cassini; Triton from Voyager 2.
See http://planetimages.blogspot.com/2009/09/f...om-galileo.html and http://www.lpod.org/coppermine/displayimag...m=37&pos=97 -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Mar 19 2011, 05:17 AM
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#52
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Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
Successfully named orbs, but camera names - not...hopefully,a few more years of UMSF, PS and AmateurSpaceImages etc., should take good care of that!
Congrats to the MESSENGER team, looking forward to the images. -------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Mar 19 2011, 10:05 AM
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#53
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Member Group: Members Posts: 890 Joined: 18-November 08 Member No.: 4489 |
a few days old
I have been ill QUOTE Good to know! I tried getting MESSENGER to work in Celestia with the spice kernels available from the PDS, but it keeps balking same here there is some "odd" thing going on i has been a few months but right now celestia thinks it is out by mars right now i am thinkint to just skip the first 3 trips around and use only the CURRENT and forward then fix it . - quote from "CAP-Team" QUOTE @Volcanopele you can find good spice kernels on the NAIF FTP site in the PDS folder for use in Celestia, including the main mission period. for those here that do not know that address ftp://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/pds/data/ |
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Mar 19 2011, 04:17 PM
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#54
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 29-November 05 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 590 |
The Messenger site has updated the "Where is Messenger" page with seven new views, including the Messenger ground track. Check it out.
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/whereis/index.php --Greg |
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Mar 19 2011, 05:32 PM
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#55
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 94 Joined: 22-March 06 Member No.: 722 |
Though I'm a little late to the thread, I'd like to congratulate everyone involved on a job well-done.
-------------------- Mayor: Er, Master Betty, what is the Evil Council's plan?
Master Betty: Nyah. Haha. It is EVIL, it is so EVIL. It is a bad, bad plan, which will hurt many... people... who are good. I think it's great that it's so bad. -Kung Pow: Enter the Fist |
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Mar 20 2011, 09:31 AM
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#56
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Member Group: Members Posts: 362 Joined: 13-April 06 From: Malta Member No.: 741 |
congrats to the messenger team..a job well done!
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Mar 20 2011, 04:09 PM
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#57
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Member Group: Members Posts: 214 Joined: 30-December 05 Member No.: 628 |
I can't load Greg's "where is Messenger" link. Maybe the site is taking a well-deserved weekend's rest along with the personnel?
In the temporary absence of photographic evidence of Messenger's arrival, we'll have to stave off our hunger by consuming a week's worth of sims. Will try again Monday. |
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Mar 20 2011, 05:02 PM
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#58
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
My eyes are getting thirsty for pics!!
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Mar 20 2011, 07:34 PM
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#59
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2090 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
The link is fine on my end.
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Mar 20 2011, 08:10 PM
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#60
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Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
It isn't going to take pictures until March 29, so don't hold your breath.
-------------------- |
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Mar 21 2011, 04:13 AM
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#61
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 29-November 05 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 590 |
I can't load Greg's "where is Messenger" link. Seems to be working now: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/whereis/index.php Perhaps they do site maintenance on Sundays. --Greg |
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Mar 21 2011, 06:41 PM
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#62
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Director of Galilean Photography Group: Members Posts: 896 Joined: 15-July 04 From: Austin, TX Member No.: 93 |
Too bad MESSENGER probably won't be around in 2016 when Juno arrives at Jupiter to make it 9! Ah, but May 2014 will have Rosetta orbiting Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (can we start calling it C-G now? ), so if it made it to 2014, it would make operating spacecraft around 10 solar system objects! -------------------- Space Enthusiast Richard Hendricks
-- "The engineers, as usual, made a tremendous fuss. Again as usual, they did the job in half the time they had dismissed as being absolutely impossible." --Rescue Party, Arthur C Clarke Mother Nature is the final inspector of all quality. |
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Mar 22 2011, 09:59 AM
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#63
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Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
(can we start calling it C-G now? Nope, and you have to say it fast five times every time you mention it. -------------------- |
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Mar 25 2011, 08:52 PM
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#64
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Really wanted to get this pic to mark MESSENGER's arrival, so tonight I hiked up to the castle even with my knackered knee...!
Four days before MESSENGER starts photographing Mercury - Mercury seen from Kendal: http://twitpic.com/4d8896 -------------------- |
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Mar 25 2011, 10:51 PM
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#65
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Member Group: Members Posts: 100 Joined: 25-April 08 From: near New York City, NY Member No.: 4103 |
Nice shot!
It's good to get a wide-angle view (like yours) before getting the close-up (MESSENGER's). P.S., if anyone hasn't seen Mercury in the evening sky - low in the west 30 minutes after sunset - do it now as Mercury is fading fast (from Earth's point of view). bob http://bkellysky.wordpress.com/ |
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Mar 25 2011, 11:00 PM
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#66
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The Poet Dude Group: Moderator Posts: 5551 Joined: 15-March 04 From: Kendal, Cumbria, UK Member No.: 60 |
Thanks Even wider angle shot...
http://twitpic.com/4d88na (Mercury's a bit hard to see - you need to enlarge the image by putting your cursor at the pic's top right to bring up an "enlarge" optionm then you'll see Mercury between the tower and tree. You might need to squint, but it's there. Honest. -------------------- |
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Mar 25 2011, 11:44 PM
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#67
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Member Group: Members Posts: 100 Joined: 25-April 08 From: near New York City, NY Member No.: 4103 |
*Sigh*
That's wonderful! My photos were taken from a high school football field's bleachers. Your shot was worth the climb! |
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Mar 26 2011, 08:17 PM
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#68
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Member Group: Members Posts: 541 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 557 |
Everything seems to be going okay so far.
Spaceflight Now Link "Engineers switched on six of MESSENGER's seven science instruments Wednesday to start commissioning and calibrations ..." |
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Mar 29 2011, 04:17 AM
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#69
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1018 Joined: 29-November 05 From: Seattle, WA, USA Member No.: 590 |
First pics tomorrow. Will anyone attend the press conference?
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/news_room/details.php?id=164 |
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Mar 29 2011, 04:28 AM
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#70
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 3108 Joined: 21-December 05 From: Canberra, Australia Member No.: 615 |
It's a 'teleconference' so any media only need to phone-in.
Plus anyone can listen in via the News Audio Stream. |
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Mar 29 2011, 04:32 AM
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#71
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
IIRC, some of the first images will be of a previously unobserved region near the North Pole?
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 29 2011, 04:35 AM
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#72
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
I *think* Louise said south pole. It's gonna be one of the poles though. I'll be phoning in for the telecon. If anybody thinks of a great question to ask, post here or Tweet me
-------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Mar 29 2011, 04:40 AM
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#73
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Well, not a 'great' question, but what is the expected resolution of the first images, and what other instruments will be acquiring data?
-------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 29 2011, 07:51 AM
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#74
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
South pole it is.
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/scienc...mp;image_id=429 -------------------- |
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Mar 29 2011, 09:42 AM
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#75
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 11-April 09 From: Sweden Member No.: 4726 |
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Mar 29 2011, 01:13 PM
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#76
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1372 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
I am curious about the orbital period of the MESSENGER spacecraft. Is it exactly 12 hours? If so, how was it chosen? "The MESSENGER team designed the orbit to optimize the scientific yield of the mission and data transfer to Earth, while addressing thermal environment concerns.". MESSENGER spends most of the time away from the surface to transmit data back to earth, and not to overheat due to reflected heat. |
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Mar 29 2011, 01:59 PM
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#77
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Member Group: Members Posts: 541 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 557 |
"Finnegan told Spaceflight Now the spacecraft is in an orbit with a closest approach 128.5 miles above Mercury's surface and a high point of 9,482.7 miles. The orbit is inclined 82.5 degrees to Mercury's equator and it takes MESSENGER more than 12 hours to complete one circuit of the planet, according to Doppler tracking data."
So it's more than twelve hours, but they don't say how much more. |
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Mar 29 2011, 04:30 PM
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#78
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 11-April 09 From: Sweden Member No.: 4726 |
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Mar 29 2011, 04:41 PM
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#79
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10186 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Twelve hours period, with a major data downlink every other orbit, would simplify operations by having the same DSN coverage each day.
From the mission design page: "After MESSENGER arrives in the primary science orbit, small forces, such solar radiation pressure – the force exerted by sunlight - slowly change the spacecraft's orbit. Although these small forces have little effect on MESSENGER's 12-hour orbit period, they can increase the spacecraft's minimum altitude, orbit inclination, and latitude of the surface point below MESSENGER's minimum altitude. Left uncorrected, the increase in the spacecraft's minimum altitude would prevent satisfactory completion of certain science goals. To keep this minimum altitude below 500 kilometers (310 miles), propulsive maneuvers must occur in pairs once every Mercury year - every 88 days. The first maneuver in each pair increases the orbit period to 12 hours, 15 minutes by speeding up the spacecraft at its closest distance from Mercury. Two-and-a-half orbits later a maneuver at the farthest distance from Mercury slows the spacecraft just enough to adjust the orbit period back to 12 hours and return the minimum altitude to 200 kilometers (124 miles). Because the sunshade must protect the main part of the spacecraft from direct sunlight during propulsive maneuvers, the timing of these maneuvers is limited to a few days when Mercury is near the same point in its orbit as it was at Mercury orbit insertion." So the current period might not be exactly 12 hours but that's immaterial, the intention is to keep adjusting it to stay around 12 hours all the time (and the correct altitude etc.). Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Mar 29 2011, 05:20 PM
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#80
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
"Finnegan told Spaceflight Now the spacecraft is in an orbit with a closest approach 128.5 miles above Mercury's surface and a high point of 9,482.7 miles. Those orbital parameters translate to 12 hours 4 minutes period if I got it right. You can never tell with "miles"... -------------------- |
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Mar 29 2011, 08:21 PM
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#81
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1441 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
-------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Mar 29 2011, 08:26 PM
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#82
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1074 Joined: 21-September 07 From: Québec, Canada Member No.: 3908 |
Messenger took 363 images after that first one. More images to be posted tomorrow at 2 pm EDT.
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Mar 29 2011, 08:50 PM
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#83
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IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 2251 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
The image is centered at approximately 15°E and 55°S. This is a major improvement over earlier imaging coverage in this area and of course there are going to be narrow angle images as well. At a quick glance nothing that looks especially interesting. There are fairly strong contrast/brightness variations associated with some of the craters. Many scarps. And there is an interesting looking crater plus some associated features at (280,255).
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Mar 29 2011, 09:00 PM
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#84
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
Looks good, nice to see the WAC behaving as if nothing happened.
-------------------- |
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Mar 29 2011, 09:23 PM
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#85
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3233 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Here is the image laid on top of the released footprint map. The blue outline is the area that was blank on the map to this point. The blue dot is the south pole.
-------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
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Mar 29 2011, 09:29 PM
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#86
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Newbie Group: Members Posts: 6 Joined: 11-April 09 From: Sweden Member No.: 4726 |
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Mar 29 2011, 09:39 PM
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#87
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10186 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
Very rough fit of the image to a colorized version of the pre-orbit mosaic, south polar view. (only adding the bit which improves on the previous coverage)
Phil -------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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Mar 30 2011, 03:56 AM
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#88
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Member Group: Members Posts: 754 Joined: 9-February 07 Member No.: 1700 |
I read an article saying thrusters have to be fired every few months to keep MESSENGER from floating into a higher orbit by the Sun's gravity. I don't get that, since it's in a polar orbit.
Oh, wait -- the Sun is ALWAYS tugging on things, and at the proximity of Mercury, it gets taken into account throughout the orbit, on a scale similar to instances where the ISS fires thrusters to stay at altitude versus miniscule atmospheric drag. Okay, I get that. When it doesn't have any fuel left, will it get sucked into the Sun? LOL! The mission science is just beginning, I'm already wondering what's going to happen to our intrepid spacecraft when it runs out of fuel! |
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Mar 30 2011, 04:04 AM
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#89
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Member Group: Members Posts: 399 Joined: 28-August 07 From: San Francisco Member No.: 3511 |
It really is astounding science, all hail MESSENGER team,
cue: heavy orchestral sounds for MESSENGER images -------------------- 'She drove until the wheels fell off...'
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Mar 30 2011, 04:44 AM
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#90
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1441 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
When it doesn't have any fuel left, will it get sucked into the Sun? The plan is for an impact on Mercury. But hypothetically, if they were to refrain from adjusting the orbit, and if MESSENGER left Mercury's hill sphere, it would orbit the sun. -------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Mar 30 2011, 05:01 AM
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#91
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Member Group: Members Posts: 237 Joined: 22-December 07 From: Alice Springs, N.T. Australia Member No.: 3989 |
What a great achievement!!!
First historic pic from orbit - and since I always love to experiment and bring out as much detail as possible in photos just for my own interest - I did a false colour (+ a few other things) version during lunch which seemed worth posting. So here it is!! Haven't been here for a while but good to see everyone's passion and skills again :-) Hi res 6 mb!! version at https://picasaweb.google.com/10220631534056...730326334840018 |
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Mar 30 2011, 05:46 PM
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#92
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2090 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
There's a link to the teleconference on this page now:
http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html |
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Mar 30 2011, 06:00 PM
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#93
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1441 Joined: 26-July 08 Member No.: 4270 |
-------------------- -- Hungry4info (Sirius_Alpha)
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Mar 30 2011, 06:32 PM
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#94
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
No raw images for this mission, but their first delivery to the PDS will be just 6 months after orbit insertion, probably including 2 months worth of data.
-------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Mar 31 2011, 05:05 AM
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#95
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Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8784 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
First color image released:
http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/scienc...r.coreg.rgb.png Hopefully this is an approximation of 'natural'; if so, we're in for a real treat! -------------------- A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Mar 31 2011, 06:45 AM
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#96
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Member Group: Members Posts: 555 Joined: 27-September 10 Member No.: 5458 |
I've actually been wondering, are the filters on the WAC as narrow as the graph below portrays? If so, how close to 'natural' is actually possible for the images?
-------------------- |
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Mar 31 2011, 01:33 PM
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#97
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14433 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I see no reason why the chart would be wrong. The aim is not to take 'natural' color photographs. The aim is to do science. Much like with MER and other spacecraft, you take those science filters and approximate a true color view using algorithms.
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Mar 31 2011, 01:40 PM
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#98
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Member Group: Members Posts: 293 Joined: 29-August 06 From: Columbia, MD Member No.: 1083 |
Hopefully this is an approximation of 'natural'; if so, we're in for a real treat! I believe it's enhanced with the IR filters to bring out the blue/yellow shades. So, I don't believe it's what your eye would see if you were in MESSENGER's position. Still a nice pic though! |
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Mar 31 2011, 01:42 PM
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#99
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Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
It is what you might see if your eyes were properly designed to study the surface composition of Mercury.
-------------------- |
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Mar 31 2011, 04:49 PM
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#100
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Solar System Cartographer Group: Members Posts: 10186 Joined: 5-April 05 From: Canada Member No.: 227 |
-------------------- ... because the Solar System ain't gonna map itself.
Also to be found posting similar content on https://mastodon.social/@PhilStooke Maps for download (free PD: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...Cartography.pdf NOTE: everything created by me which I post on UMSF is considered to be in the public domain (NOT CC, public domain) |
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