Dec 4th News Conference |
Dec 4th News Conference |
Dec 4 2008, 05:38 PM
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#16
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
And for those of you who are hoping that your pet instrument might now be added onto MSL, per Doug McCuistion, "Is this an opportunity to update the payload? No." There will be no re-scoping or changes to the payload that aren't driven by engineering concerns that arise out of continued testing. In other words, no changes to the science payload.
On the other hand, Ed Weiler says that this delay is the perfect opportunity (albeit for the wrong reasons) to begin to design the architecture for MSR, Mars Sample Return. -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Dec 4 2008, 05:43 PM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
When asked why it's so important to have the actuators at this point for an '09 launch, McCuistion says "The actuators do everything we do on Mars. They turn the wheels, they stop the wheels, they move the robotic arm. If we get to Mars and we can't move, we can't move the arm, we can't take samples, we just have about a metric ton of junk on the Martian surface."
And someone just asked about the 2011 launch window -- McCuistion says the window extends from October through December, with highest likelihood of late October through early November. Sounds like it won't extend into 2012. -the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Dec 4 2008, 05:43 PM
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#18
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
2011 window is October to December - yet to be determined where in that window.
Doug |
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Dec 4 2008, 05:43 PM
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#19
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
My question was answered. 2011 goes from Oct through December potentially; most likely is late october to early november.
--Emily -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Dec 4 2008, 05:49 PM
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#20
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2511 Joined: 13-September 05 Member No.: 497 |
Griffin says that the coast thermal vac tests are going ahead on their current schedule. Give me credit for knowing a little more about my instruments than Griffin. In general, cruise T/V doesn't involve the surface payload. -------------------- Disclaimer: This post is based on public information only. Any opinions are my own.
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Dec 4 2008, 05:53 PM
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#21
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
OK, Mike -- thanks. I just figured that since the cruise thermal vac was including the entire stack, with the assembled rover inside the aeroshell, that anything you'd be doing to calibrate the instruments on it would be involved with the T/V. Thanks for the correction.
-the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Dec 4 2008, 05:58 PM
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#22
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
I got one in but not my other one, which was: When MSL arrives, MRO will have been in orbit for 6 years and no future telecom orbiter is planned. Isn't there risk in assuming MRO will survive for long enough to support MSL communications? -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Dec 4 2008, 06:01 PM
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#23
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Spoke too soon, there, eh, Emily? Good to hear your voice!
-the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Dec 4 2008, 06:01 PM
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#24
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Founder Group: Chairman Posts: 14432 Joined: 8-February 04 Member No.: 1 |
Damn good question Emily.
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Dec 4 2008, 06:03 PM
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#25
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3419 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Minneapolis, MN, USA Member No.: 15 |
Also good to hear that the decay of the plutonium in the RTG will have an insignificant impact, and that they may well wait a while before fueling the MMRTG.
-the other Doug -------------------- “The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right.” -Mark Twain
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Dec 4 2008, 06:04 PM
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#26
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Is 5% insignificant, given the fact that the traverses were already going to be power-limited?
-------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Dec 4 2008, 06:14 PM
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#27
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Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
I've been wondering that too Emily.
I just checked in, can anyone give me the short answer? EDIT: (or blog about it later today ) -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
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Dec 4 2008, 06:34 PM
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#28
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
OK, and here's one more question that I wouldn't have gotten a straight answer to anyway. Can anybody here think of what planetary missions there are that would have big budgets in 2010 and 2011 for MSL to raid? The only one I can think of is Juno.
--Emily -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Dec 4 2008, 06:38 PM
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#29
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 3648 Joined: 1-October 05 From: Croatia Member No.: 523 |
Can anybody here think of what planetary missions there are that would have big budgets in 2010 and 2011 for MSL to raid? I really hope it doesn't get to that. -------------------- |
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Dec 4 2008, 06:51 PM
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#30
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 63 Joined: 18-November 08 Member No.: 4490 |
Wasn't there talk of Maven being delayed? Another question - will they need a bigger launch vehicle for 2011? I have an idea 2009 was a low energy trajectory year..
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