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.
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
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gS4n5vz9Tw
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
Looks like Nanosail-D has successfully ejected from FASTSAT!
http://twitter.com/NanoSailD/status/11680456701382656
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...)
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)
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/nanosaild.html - but you're not gonna like it
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.
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
NanoSail-D Ejects - NASA Seeks Amateur Radio Operators' Aid to Listen for Beacon Signal
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=32522
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
This is excellent news!
(Okay, Spirit.... it's your turn... )
CORRECTION: The sail should actually be deployed tomorrow...around 10 PM, EST
http://twitter.com/NanoSailD/status/27930831225888768
According to this person who Tweeted to @NanoSailD, the sail has been deployed! Hopefully it will be confirmed soon
http://twitter.com/naeisel/status/28306790504464384
"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
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!
I was wondering if you were successful...congrats, I owe you beer!
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!!!)
Nick, go to http://www.heavens-above.com enter your location (from the database, or manually) and away you go... Good for shuttle, ISS, Hubble and many other sats, too...
Thanks for that Stu. I was using other less friendly sites.
You can also use http://www.n2yo.com/passes/?s=90027
"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...
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
Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)