IPB

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

109 Pages V   1 2 3 > »   
Reply to this topicStart new topic
New Horizons: Pre-launch, launch and main cruise, Pluto and the Kuiper belt
cIclops
post Feb 8 2005, 02:09 PM
Post #1


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 133
Joined: 29-January 05
Member No.: 161



Yes it's happening after all these years, the mission to the last planet!

And maybe to celebrate the confirmation of budget, NASA approval preparations and the fueling of the RTG (radioisotope thermoelectric generator), there is an updated web site at http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/

Launch will be January 2006 with arrival at the Pluto Charon system July 2015 (mark your calender!) and then on through the Kuiper belt during 2016-2020 and beyond.

20.8-centimeter telescope for 100m resolution at closest approach
IR/UV spectrometers
2 x 8GB data recorders
data rate: 768 bps (sic) to 70m DSN
465kg including fuel
$650m

336 days to launch


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
djellison
post Feb 8 2005, 04:17 PM
Post #2


Founder
****

Group: Chairman
Posts: 14431
Joined: 8-February 04
Member No.: 1



768 bps isnt too bad actually

given say an 8 hr DSN pass - that's 21.6 Mbits

One a day, for a week = 151 Mbits

Heck - 8 Gigabits.

ohmy.gif

tongue.gif

Doug
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
gpurcell
post Feb 10 2005, 11:19 PM
Post #3


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 242
Joined: 21-December 04
Member No.: 127



Yeah, but in 2015 we'll be posting on a BBS where some 20-year old cracker will wonder why the thing wasn't launched with a 30 MB camera and 1GB/sec data transfer capabilities...after all, you can get it at any Best Buy!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
remcook
post Feb 11 2005, 04:10 PM
Post #4


Rover Driver
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1015
Joined: 4-March 04
Member No.: 47



...but will it survive a decade in space?
hey, most don't even work a decade on earth!
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Guest_BruceMoomaw_*
post Feb 14 2005, 10:32 AM
Post #5





Guests






It is still touch and go whether NH will be launched in 2006 -- a final decision will be made on this in April. If it is delayed until 2007, the flight, without a Jupiter gravity assist, will take three years longer -- but as a compensation, NH will be more likely to have its supply of plutonium fuel (whose processing has been very seriously delayed by the Los Alamos security scandal) topped up enough to allow it to fly by one or more KBOs after Pluto. It is very much open to doubt whether it could operate long enough to reach another KBO after Pluto if it's launched in 2006, despite its shorter flight time.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
cIclops
post Feb 15 2005, 05:41 PM
Post #6


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 133
Joined: 29-January 05
Member No.: 161



Audio interview with Hew Horizons (NH) Principle Investigator, Alan Stern available here:

http://www.planetary.org/audio/pr20050214.html

Project update based on audio interview:

NH in final assembly stage: 5 out of 6 science instruments mounted on spacecraft
launch vehicle under contract
application for launch approval pending

launch window is two weeks long starting January 2006, launching in early part of the window means arrival in July 2015.

329 days till launch window opens


--------------------
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Alan Stern
post Feb 19 2005, 04:25 PM
Post #7


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 529
Joined: 19-February 05
Member No.: 173



Attached is a picture of New Horizons in build from last month. Enjoy!
Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
 
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
lyford
post Feb 19 2005, 06:39 PM
Post #8


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1281
Joined: 18-December 04
From: San Diego, CA
Member No.: 124



QUOTE (Alan Stern @ Feb 19 2005, 08:25 AM)
Attached is a picture of New Horizons in build from last month. Enjoy!

WOW - they're gonna need longer cables than that if they want to reach to Pluto! biggrin.gif

Nice pic, thank you! - Where is the spacecraft being assembled?


--------------------
Lyford Rome
"Zis is not nuts, zis is super-nuts!" Mathematician Richard Courant on viewing an Orion test
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
dot.dk
post Feb 19 2005, 06:48 PM
Post #9


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 578
Joined: 5-November 04
From: Denmark
Member No.: 107



Remember to send your name to Pluto cool.gif

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/ecard/sendName_ecard_content.html


--------------------
"I want to make as many people as possible feel like they are part of this adventure. We are going to give everybody a sense of what exploring the surface of another world is really like"
- Steven Squyres
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Alan Stern
post Feb 19 2005, 06:53 PM
Post #10


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 529
Joined: 19-February 05
Member No.: 173



New Horizons is being assembled at Johns Hopkins, Applied Physics Lab. If you are not familiar with APL, it is where NEAR, CONTOUR, and MESSENGER were built, along with approx. 30 earth orbital missions, like TIMED, Transit, and MSX. By mid-summer the spacecraft is planned to be at Goddard for environmental testing.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
remcook
post Feb 19 2005, 07:53 PM
Post #11


Rover Driver
****

Group: Members
Posts: 1015
Joined: 4-March 04
Member No.: 47



Great news! thanks for the input Alan...didn't know PI's post on message boards cool.gif

so, is everything going on schedule?
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Alan Stern
post Feb 19 2005, 08:02 PM
Post #12


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 529
Joined: 19-February 05
Member No.: 173



Well, PIs are just people as far as I can tell.

New Horizons has its challenges, like many missions, but the big picture is very promising. We just passed a major review at NASA HQ, and we have over 80% of the flight avionics on the spacecraft. Mission sims begin next month.

At the same time we are building NH, we are pressing for a backup mission, New Horizons 2 for launch in 2008-2009.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
DEChengst
post Feb 19 2005, 09:05 PM
Post #13


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 270
Joined: 29-December 04
From: NLA0:
Member No.: 133



Alan, can you give an update on the RTG status ?


--------------------
PDP, VAX and Alpha fanatic ; HP-Compaq is the Satan! ; Let us pray daily while facing Maynard! ; Life starts at 150 km/h ;
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
Alan Stern
post Feb 19 2005, 09:09 PM
Post #14


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 529
Joined: 19-February 05
Member No.: 173



The RTG and the necessary fuel are both in good shape. Previous problems resolved.
All needed fuel is now ready. We expect 190 W or a tad more at Pluto in mid-2015.
The s/c requires ~165W, so there is a healthy margin. The launch approval process
has begun, and will take the remainder of the year to complete.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post
DEChengst
post Feb 19 2005, 09:15 PM
Post #15


Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 270
Joined: 29-December 04
From: NLA0:
Member No.: 133



QUOTE (Alan Stern @ Feb 19 2005, 09:09 PM)
The RTG and the necessary fuel are both in good shape. Previous problems resolved. All needed fuel is now ready. We expect 190 W or a tad more at Pluto in mid-2015. The s/c requires ~165W, so there is a healthy margin.

Why does bad news always make big headlines and the good news somehow just doesn't get mentioned ? They scare the hell out off you by telling telling New Horizons may fly late or not at all due to lack of plutonium, but once the problems are solved the press somehow keeps silent. Thanks for the update and making me sleep a little bit better tonight wink.gif


--------------------
PDP, VAX and Alpha fanatic ; HP-Compaq is the Satan! ; Let us pray daily while facing Maynard! ; Life starts at 150 km/h ;
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

109 Pages V   1 2 3 > » 
Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 19th March 2024 - 09:33 AM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and 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.