Nh - The Launch Thread, Godspeed little one |
Nh - The Launch Thread, Godspeed little one |
Jan 16 2006, 03:08 PM
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14433 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 24 2006, 02:36 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 183 Joined: 22-October 05 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Member No.: 534 |
Just to share, I made Astronomy Picture of the Day today:
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060124.html pretty cool! -------------------- |
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Jan 25 2006, 06:43 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2492 Joined: 15-January 05 From: center Italy Member No.: 150 |
QUOTE (BPCooper @ Jan 24 2006, 02:36 PM) Just to share, I made Astronomy Picture of the Day today: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060124.html pretty cool! I join to the congrats chorus..! I always asked myself how similar pictures were taken... there are many other examples, taken from even closer distances (eg the popular shuttle view from below, shortly after launch)... I understand they are remotely taken, but how cameras are protected from extremely high temperature/pressure from engines? Thanks. -------------------- I always think before posting! - Marco -
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Jan 25 2006, 08:56 AM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4279 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
QUOTE (dilo @ Jan 25 2006, 07:43 AM) I always asked myself how similar pictures were taken... there are many other examples, taken from even closer distances (eg the popular shuttle view from below, shortly after launch)... I understand they are remotely taken, but how cameras are protected from extremely high temperature/pressure from engines? Thanks. IIRC, some of them (e.g. AT the shuttle launch pad) are encased on boxes which automatically close a protecting cover seconds after T0 in a process similar to the shuttle T0 umbilicals. On the other side, I remember a sequence on the ISS IMAX movie in which a camera lens (or its protecting cover) was literally broken during the Proton launch due to debris. |
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Jan 25 2006, 01:01 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 183 Joined: 22-October 05 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Member No.: 534 |
QUOTE (Tesheiner @ Jan 25 2006, 04:56 AM) IIRC, some of them (e.g. AT the shuttle launch pad) are encased on boxes which automatically close a protecting cover seconds after T0 in a process similar to the shuttle T0 umbilicals. On the other side, I remember a sequence on the ISS IMAX movie in which a camera lens (or its protecting cover) was literally broken during the Proton launch due to debris. Yes, that's correct. Many of us use boxes but not all. But for the cameras mounted on the Shuttle launch tower that get those shots, they are definitely housed inside heat and flame proof boxes that flip open for the shot and close afterwards. -------------------- |
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Jan 25 2006, 10:12 PM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2492 Joined: 15-January 05 From: center Italy Member No.: 150 |
Thanks Tesheiner/BPCooper, I suspected this answer but is great to know from experts!
Where is possible to see broken IMAX camera movie? -------------------- I always think before posting! - Marco -
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Jan 25 2006, 11:26 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 183 Joined: 22-October 05 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Member No.: 534 |
The IMAX film Space Station 3D (2D on DVD format though).
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