Neptune Orbiter, Another proposed mission |
Neptune Orbiter, Another proposed mission |
Nov 10 2005, 03:51 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 509 Joined: 2-July 05 From: Calgary, Alberta Member No.: 426 |
This seems like a good place to start off the Uranus and Neptune forum: with the next ice-giants mission.
I will admit to not knowing a whole lot about the Neptune Orbiter With Probes (NOWP), other than the fact that it's in the planning stages, and a few other details I've gathered from Wikipedia and various other Internet sources. Anyone care to get this one going with a bit more information? |
|
|
Guest_BruceMoomaw_* |
Nov 27 2005, 01:32 PM
Post
#2
|
Guests |
Just keep in mind that Galileo's antenna was exactly the same design used on the TDRS satellites, each of which carried four of them. Out of (I believe) a total of 28 on them, not one has ever shown any trouble unfolding -- which is why the Galileo failure caught virtually everyone by shock. No one had ever anticipated truck vibrations as a cause. Now they do. And so, while I distrust moving parts in space as much as anyone, I see no reason to flee screaming from the idea of an unfolding antenna. It only requires making sure that the deployment springs have enough of a margin this time.
|
|
|
Nov 29 2005, 07:51 AM
Post
#3
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 600 Joined: 26-August 05 Member No.: 476 |
QUOTE (BruceMoomaw @ Nov 27 2005, 05:32 AM) Just keep in mind that Galileo's antenna was exactly the same design used on the TDRS satellites, each of which carried four of them. Out of (I believe) a total of 28 on them, not one has ever shown any trouble unfolding -- which is why the Galileo failure caught virtually everyone by shock. No one had ever anticipated truck vibrations as a cause. Now they do. And so, while I distrust moving parts in space as much as anyone, I see no reason to flee screaming from the idea of an unfolding antenna. It only requires making sure that the deployment springs have enough of a margin this time. Galileo's folding HGA design was used on the first series of TDRS satellites, each of which carried two antennas. There were 7 satellites built and launched, but one was destroyed with Challenger. The last 3 satellites launched after the Galileo deployment (or non-deployment as it was). An antenna of very similar design was also used on the US Navy FleetSatCom satellites, of which 6 were successfully launched and deployed before Galileo. A total of 12 unfurlings, all successful, occurred prior to Galileo. Furled dish antennas of newer designs continue to be used in commercial comsats. NASA certainly has not backed away from furled structures. One need not look further than the James Webb Space Telescope. |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 31st October 2024 - 11:45 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |