Preparing for launch |
Preparing for launch |
Aug 8 2011, 11:36 PM
Post
#31
|
|
Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
Whose was this idea? Somebody we know here? Nah...They just have EXTREMELY good taste!!! -------------------- 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.
|
|
|
Sep 1 2011, 01:11 PM
Post
#32
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
Due to longer tests of EDL phase during August the spacecraft will be encapsulated four days later in October than originally scheduled.
If launch timeline will be affected by that should be clear in 2 weeks. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew...amp;NewsID=1149 |
|
|
Sep 13 2011, 08:47 PM
Post
#33
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2922 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
Atlas stacking underway: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/...ing/index1.html
-------------------- |
|
|
Oct 5 2011, 06:32 PM
Post
#34
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 540 Joined: 25-October 05 From: California Member No.: 535 |
MSL launch prep page now up on the KSC Media Gallery:
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=237 -------------------- 2011 JPL Tweetup photos: http://www.rich-parno.com/aa_jpltweetup.html
http://human-spaceflight.blogspot.com |
|
|
Oct 6 2011, 06:10 PM
Post
#35
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 408 Joined: 3-August 05 Member No.: 453 |
Some really detailed photos there; thanks for the heads up. I'm just drooling over those close ups!
Interesting to note that that the two rockets in each pair are not quite pointed in the same direction; I would hazard a guess that the ones pointing slightly more "outward" are the ones used at the end (to minimize the blast effects on any surface dust). And the wheels are covered in Mylar (or something similar to that) - I can't imagine they will be left like that; surely that must be to keep them as clean as possible until right before final packing up? If the covering is left on then it is bound to be shredded through use on Mars which would be very bad to then have lots of little pieces of insulation floating around. Airbag |
|
|
Oct 6 2011, 06:32 PM
Post
#36
|
|
Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14434 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
I would hazard a guess that the ones pointing slightly more "outward" are the ones used at the end (to minimize the blast effects on any surface dust). Exactly that - the proj. animation reflects that. What it doesn't show is the jolt the system gets transitioning from all 8 to just the final four in prep for the skycrane maneuver. And, I think the mylar's coming off....probably just contamination control and esd protection. |
|
|
Oct 6 2011, 08:07 PM
Post
#37
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
QUOTE And, I think the mylar's coming off....probably just contamination control and esd protection. Correct, see the latest mission update and this picture in full res. It´s maybe the last view of MSL before closing it completely into aeroshell.All mylars from wheels and RBF covers are off the rover and sky crane. |
|
|
Oct 6 2011, 08:23 PM
Post
#38
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
|
|
|
Oct 7 2011, 06:56 PM
Post
#39
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 540 Joined: 25-October 05 From: California Member No.: 535 |
And the wheels are covered in Mylar (or something similar to that) - I can't imagine they will be left like that; surely that must be to keep them as clean as possible until right before final packing up? The Mylar is now removed. The photo on the JPL page linked below shows the wheels nice and black just as the rover is about to be enclosed by the heat shield: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-313 -------------------- 2011 JPL Tweetup photos: http://www.rich-parno.com/aa_jpltweetup.html
http://human-spaceflight.blogspot.com |
|
|
Oct 14 2011, 07:39 PM
Post
#40
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2922 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
-------------------- |
|
|
Oct 24 2011, 08:14 AM
Post
#41
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 4-May 11 From: Pardubice, CZ Member No.: 5979 |
All MSL elements assembly (except MMRTG and some covers) is complete.
Do we know what's on schedule / preparation checklist for following 5 weeks prior to launch? Thx |
|
|
Oct 24 2011, 11:25 AM
Post
#42
|
|
Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1089 Joined: 19-February 05 From: Close to Meudon Observatory in France Member No.: 172 |
|
|
|
Oct 24 2011, 07:20 PM
Post
#43
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 706 Joined: 3-December 04 From: Boulder, Colorado, USA Member No.: 117 |
Glad he's wearing a bunny suit over his traditional outfit!
John |
|
|
Oct 24 2011, 07:50 PM
Post
#44
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 753 Joined: 23-October 04 From: Greensboro, NC USA Member No.: 103 |
Hopefully he's not thinking, "Now where did I leave that wrench?"
-------------------- Jonathan Ward
Manning the LCC at http://www.apollolaunchcontrol.com |
|
|
Oct 25 2011, 01:42 AM
Post
#45
|
|
Merciless Robot Group: Admin Posts: 8785 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602 |
....no worries, Jonathon; the tool accountability procedures are undoubtedly VERY strict.
Even on aircraft (which you can actually fix later on, 'cause they come back) they are quite stringent; a lost tool is a BIG deal. -------------------- 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.
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 23rd September 2024 - 09:49 AM |
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. |