KBO encounters |
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KBO encounters |
 Jul 2 2014, 03:06 AM
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#271
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 Merciless Robot  Group: Admin Posts: 8783 Joined: 8-December 05 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 602  |
John, congratulations to you, Alan, and the team. We knew you'd do it, but it sure is a relief to have targets in sight!
-------------------- 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.
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Jul 2 2014, 11:43 AM
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#272
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 IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 2250 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
Awesome news - congratulations.
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Jul 2 2014, 05:48 PM
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#273
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 334 Joined: 11-December 12 From: The home of Corby Crater (Corby-England) Member No.: 6783 |
Agreed, fantastic news for what could be an even more rewarding voyage. In my line of work it's the three Ps', preparation, preparation, preparation, this would apply here also, but with perseverance, perseverance, perseverance, again, well done and really looking forward to this one, especially perhaps some of the images to come down!
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Jul 2 2014, 07:33 PM
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#274
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 Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 66 Joined: 3-August 12 Member No.: 6454 |
QUOTE (ngunn @ Jul 1 2014, 09:31 PM)  I bet. Two is very low number statistics so this represents a dangerous moment passed, but not really a guarantee of success with the full search. Now it's less about luck and more about what's out there. Here's hoping . . My thoughts exactly. Fabulous news nevertheless. Best wishes on the full-scope search ! (....keep us posted pls!) |
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Mar 17 2015, 08:28 PM
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#275
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1729 Joined: 3-August 06 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Member No.: 1004 |
so, the two candidate KBOs now have preliminary designations courtesy of the Minor Planet Center: PT1 is now known as 2014 MU69 and PT3 is 2014 PN70.
you can find orbital elements in this Minor Planet Electronic Circular. search for K14M69U and K14P70N. both are low inclination and small eccentricity "cold" KBOs orbiting near 44 AUs. I am surprised by the small eccentricity of 2014 MU69: only 0.05 |
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Jul 15 2015, 03:13 AM
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#276
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Member Group: Members Posts: 540 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 557 |
Now that New Horizons appears to be safely beyond Pluto, we can begin anticipating the KBO encounter in 2019 with more confidence. The preferred target right now seems to be 2014 MU69,
although 2014 PN70 is still in the running. The latter is somewhat larger (or at least brighter) but will require more fuel. I read in an interview with Alan Stern that he mentioned a decision as to which one will be made in August. |
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Jul 15 2015, 04:34 AM
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#277
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 35 Joined: 10-July 11 Member No.: 6055 |
QUOTE (Holder of the Two Leashes @ Jul 14 2015, 08:13 PM) Now that New Horizons appears to be safely beyond Pluto, we can begin anticipating the KBO encounter in 2019 with more confidence. The preferred target right now seems to be 2014 MU69, although 2014 PN70 is still in the running. The latter is somewhat larger (or at least brighter) but will require more fuel. I read in an interview with Alan Stern that he mentioned a decision as to which one will be made in August. Do you have any idea why the fuel usage is a concern? Is there any possibility of additional targets after the second encounter? -kap |
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Jul 15 2015, 05:17 AM
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#278
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Member Group: Members Posts: 540 Joined: 17-November 05 From: Oklahoma Member No.: 557 |
Probably not so much the hope of a second KBO as simple caution at this point, although there might be some people hoping and still holding out for a second iceball. Just a guess, but I think the main concern is that targeting 2014 PN70 would leave NH with substantially less remaining fuel reserve. With four years to go they may want a better margin for just-in-case whatever. This would be a good question for someone actually on the team.
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Jul 15 2015, 05:58 AM
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#279
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2079 Joined: 13-February 10 From: Ontario Member No.: 5221 |
I recall from other missions that it is standard to just 'burn to depletion' and empty the fuel tanks to get good estimates for how much was in them, as an engineering exercise. Maybe after a flyby it would be best to use the rest to just get as close as possible to a second KBO? Obviously this is early speculation...
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Jul 15 2015, 11:26 AM
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#280
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Forum Contributor Group: Members Posts: 1372 Joined: 8-February 04 From: North East Florida, USA. Member No.: 11 |
QUOTE (kap @ Jul 15 2015, 04:34 AM) Do you have any idea why the fuel usage is a concern? Is there any possibility of additional targets after the second encounter? -kap They want to operate the spacecraft for years and years after the KBO encounter, you need thruster fuel to do that, so that is why thruster fuel is always a concern. |
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Jul 15 2015, 11:32 AM
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#281
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 Member Group: Members Posts: 362 Joined: 12-June 05 From: Kiama, Australia Member No.: 409 |
Just out of interest, what delta V do each of the candidates need compared to the delta V still in the tank? or What is NH's the cone of reachability and how close is each to the edge?
Have any followup observations been done or are planed by Hubble to identify any further targets now that the search area is smaller? |
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Jul 15 2015, 12:41 PM
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#282
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 1729 Joined: 3-August 06 From: 43° 35' 53" N 1° 26' 35" E Member No.: 1004 |
QUOTE (abalone @ Jul 15 2015, 01:32 PM) Just out of interest, what delta V do each of the candidates need compared to the delta V still in the tank? this paper should answer most of your questions: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/1301.pdf |
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Jul 15 2015, 12:59 PM
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#283
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Member Group: Members Posts: 362 Joined: 12-June 05 From: Kiama, Australia Member No.: 409 |
QUOTE (Paolo @ Jul 15 2015, 11:41 PM) this paper should answer most of your questions: http://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2015/pdf/1301.pdf Thanx |
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Jul 15 2015, 06:50 PM
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#284
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 Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2918 Joined: 14-February 06 From: Very close to the Pyrénées Mountains (France) Member No.: 682 |
Another answer, 100m delta V: https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/621381270640197637
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Jul 16 2015, 12:46 PM
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#285
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Member Group: Members Posts: 362 Joined: 12-June 05 From: Kiama, Australia Member No.: 409 |
QUOTE (climber @ Jul 16 2015, 04:50 AM) Another answer, 100m delta V: That's a bit confusing 100m/s, what does that include? |
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