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Unmanned Spaceflight.com _ Private Missions _ NanoSail-D mission set to launch from Alaska

Posted by: punkboi Nov 16 2010, 09:18 PM

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/stps26/101116nanosail/

KODIAK, Alaska -- For less than $1 million, scientists are planning to show off an innovative solar sail experiment beginning with a blastoff from the Alaska frontier Friday, proving new propulsion technologies that could help rid space of unnecessary debris.

Posted by: punkboi Nov 20 2010, 02:09 AM

The Minotaur 4 rocket carrying NanoSail-D and other satellites successfully launched from Alaska today

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/rocket-launches-solar-sail-satellites-from-alaska-101119.html

Posted by: Explorer1 Nov 21 2010, 06:20 AM

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gS4n5vz9Tw

Posted by: punkboi Dec 5 2010, 11:56 PM

Nanosail-D is set to be ejected from FASTSAT at 10:15 PM, PST tonight. The solar sail will then be deployed 3 days later

http://twitter.com/NASAJPL/status/11541869896933376

Posted by: punkboi Dec 6 2010, 07:27 AM

Looks like Nanosail-D has successfully ejected from FASTSAT!

http://twitter.com/NanoSailD/status/11680456701382656

Posted by: nprev Dec 6 2010, 07:41 AM

Awesome!!!

(I asked when they were gonna deploy, but I read back & saw that you'd already posted that. Fingers crossed for 3 days from now...)

Posted by: punkboi Dec 10 2010, 08:45 AM

There's nothing online about whether or not Nanosail-D deployed its sails. In fact... There hasn't been ANY update since it was ejected from FASTSAT last weekend. Is NASA even communicating with the spacecraft? (It's http://twitter.com/NanoSailD went silent right after ejection) unsure.gif

Posted by: lyford Dec 10 2010, 11:31 PM

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html - but you're not gonna like it sad.gif

QUOTE
NanoSail-D Mission Status Update for Dec. 10

At this time, it is not clear that NanoSail-D ejected from the Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite (FASTSAT) as originally stated on Monday, Dec. 6. At the time of ejection, spacecraft telemetry data showed a positive ejection as reflected by confirmation of several of the planned on orbit ejection sequence events. The FASTSAT spacecraft ejection system data was also indicative of an ejection event. NanoSail-D was scheduled to unfurl on Dec. 9 at 12:30 a.m., and deployment hasn't been confirmed. The FASTSAT team is continuing to trouble shoot the inability to make contact with NanoSail-D. The FASTSAT microsatellite and all remaining five onboard experiments continue to operate as planned.


Posted by: djellison Dec 10 2010, 11:37 PM

An ejection should be easily identifiable by a reaction force pushed back on FASTSAT by the spring in the P-POD. If that happened, but we've still not heard from NanoSail-D - then that's bad news.

Posted by: punkboi Dec 11 2010, 01:55 AM

So this big week in space was apparently 1/3 successful (with the flawless Falcon 9 launch but the setback with Akatsuki and possibly this mission). Darn.

I hope Lightsail has better luck next year

Posted by: punkboi Jan 19 2011, 10:31 PM

NanoSail-D Ejects - NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen for Beacon Signal

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=32522

Posted by: punkboi Jan 20 2011, 01:19 AM

Beacon heard from NanoSail-D (by radio operators in both Huntsville and PA)!

http://twitter.com/NanoSailD/status/27874289243914242

Sail should deploy by an automatic timer 3 days from now smile.gif

Posted by: Hungry4info Jan 20 2011, 01:30 AM

This is excellent news!
(Okay, Spirit.... it's your turn... )

Posted by: punkboi Jan 20 2011, 05:24 AM

CORRECTION: The sail should actually be deployed tomorrow...around 10 PM, EST smile.gif

http://twitter.com/NanoSailD/status/27930831225888768

Posted by: punkboi Jan 21 2011, 04:47 AM

According to this person who Tweeted to @NanoSailD, the sail has been deployed! Hopefully it will be confirmed soon smile.gif

http://twitter.com/naeisel/status/28306790504464384

Posted by: punkboi Jan 21 2011, 05:40 AM

"NanoSail-D has sent data that it deployed the sail. Will wait until tomorrow morning for ground based tracking to confirm. Patience ....."

http://twitter.com/#!/NanoSailD/status/28323308424396801

Posted by: djellison Jan 21 2011, 07:01 AM

Actually heard the beacon about 2 hrs earlier from the roof of Bldg 264 on lab with my Yaesu 817 and an arrow antenna. Can't wait to see it in an evening pass soon - should be nice and bright!

Posted by: nprev Jan 21 2011, 09:34 AM

I was wondering if you were successful...congrats, I owe you beer! wink.gif

General question: Does anyone have a link to a current ephemeris for N-D? If it is bright, this should provide an excellent opportunity for amateur visual observers to track its progress & contribute to the mission's objectives (and for casual observers like me to get a peek...attention outreachers!!!)

Posted by: Stu Jan 21 2011, 09:40 AM

Nick, go to http://www.heavens-above.com enter your location (from the database, or manually) and away you go... smile.gif Good for shuttle, ISS, Hubble and many other sats, too...

Posted by: ElkGroveDan Jan 21 2011, 03:25 PM

Thanks for that Stu. I was using other less friendly sites.

Posted by: djellison Jan 21 2011, 04:05 PM

You can also use http://www.n2yo.com/passes/?s=90027

Posted by: punkboi Jan 21 2011, 08:51 PM

"Breaking news! - I have been officially confirmed! Yes, I deployed! http://bit.ly/fbiyZM Much more to come ... stay tuned."

http://twitter.com/#!/NanoSailD/status/28554401861861376

"Now I can say it. Sailing, sailing over the big blue sky. Hope someone sees me before I fry."

http://twitter.com/#!/NanoSailD/status/28562304014491648

Finally... cool.gif

Posted by: bkellysky Mar 2 2011, 12:27 PM

I tried to see Nano-Sail-D it last night on its overflight of the New York City area, but didn't see it.
Anyone sight it recently? There are a number of photos at spaceweather.com

bob

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