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Nh - The Launch Thread, Godspeed little one
djellison
post Jan 16 2006, 03:08 PM
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I thought it was time, with the Atlas V about to roll out - for a new thread for NH for the launch etc.

Someone asked over at the HZ just how NH can go so fast, this was my reply....

QUOTE
How do you get a spacecraft to Jupiter in under a year? Easy. Make it very very light, and put it on a very very big rocket. The config of Atlas V rocket being used to launch NH (551 - 5m fairing, 5 solids, and one engine on the Centaur stage ) would typically put 8,670kg into GTO or 20,520 into LEO.
New Horizons is 478kg, and it's Star 48B 3rd stage is 2,137kg - so instead of hauling 20 tons, this vehicle is hauling about 2.5 tons thus you get a HUGE velocity out of it. AND, once it's done that, you have the final kick of the 48B, 591 thousand kgs-s (thus accelerating is all a further 3.5 - 4km/s ball park speed, if my maths is right)
At launch - the vehicle is 573,160kg. NH is 0.083% of it.
Imagine the Apollo entry capsule on top of a Saturn V...tiny tiny tiny... that was 5,800 kg on a 3,038,500kg rocket - 0.191% - more than double that percentage of NH. The cutaway's are almost comical, with this tiny gold-clad box on an enormous vehicle.
Basically - it's a LOT of rocket, and not a lot of payload.
For comparison, look how much fuss was made of Stardust that entered so quickly. It took >16 hrs to get from the distance of the moon to Utah. NH makes that journey in 9 hours smile.gif
One thing the NH mission is not short of, is superlatives.


I'm not one for good luck charms (although I'll eat peanuts during a Martian EDL with the best of them), but this mission has been so long in coming, that it deserves every ounce of luck it can have - the best, most accurate launch possible, the cleanest checkout, and incident free cruise to Jupiter.

Goodluck and Godspeed little one, we're with you every step of the way.

Doug
PS - Alan, you're a credit to your field, spending so much time answering questions and writing the PI Perspectives, it's been a hell of a journey!
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Toma B
post Jan 16 2006, 03:27 PM
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Atlas-5 with New Horizons is moving toward launch pad!!! biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif


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The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
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imran
post Jan 16 2006, 03:28 PM
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Yes, Godspeed indeed. The launch will be spectacular and although I will be working tomorrow, I plan on coming home for lunch and watching the coverage live on my 56-inch HDTV. Hopefully the weather cooperates and we have a launch tomorrow. Good luck to the NH team!
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Toma B
post Jan 16 2006, 03:37 PM
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On the way!!!

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The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
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My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr...
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helvick
post Jan 16 2006, 03:47 PM
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QUOTE (Toma B @ Jan 16 2006, 04:37 PM)
On the way!!!

Hey she's scooting along at a good 4-5mph now. smile.gif
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Toma B
post Jan 16 2006, 04:10 PM
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Rocket is in place....Yippeee!!! smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif biggrin.gif smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif
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The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare

My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr...
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Guest_Myran_*
post Jan 16 2006, 04:17 PM
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4-5 mph helvick? That was a humble start. Now its on the pad it will be a lot more soon. Even though New Horizon wont beat the Voyagers in the end.
Good luck little probe, I hope they did check your optics and fuel tank properly.
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ljk4-1
post Jan 16 2006, 04:35 PM
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01.12.06

J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
Phone: (202) 358-5241

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Phone: (321) 867-2468

STATUS REPORT: ELV-011206

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

MISSION: New Horizons
LAUNCH VEHICLE: Lockheed Martin Atlas V 551 (AV-010)
LAUNCH PAD: Complex 41
LAUNCH SITE: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
LAUNCH DATE: Jan. 17, 2006
LAUNCH WINDOW: 1:24 p.m. - 3:23 p.m.

The Flight Readiness Review was successfully completed today at the
Kennedy Space Center. The launch of New Horizons remains scheduled
for Jan. 17. The White House Office of Science Technology Policy has
also given approval for the launch to proceed.

Final spacecraft closeouts are under way and will conclude Friday,
Jan. 13. The payload test team will be conducting spacecraft
electrical tests on Saturday, Jan. 14, and the fairing access doors
will be closed for flight.

Rollout of the Atlas V from the Vertical Integration Facility is
scheduled to occur at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16. That afternoon,
the storable RP-1 fuel will be loaded aboard the Atlas first stage
tank.

On Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 10:39 a.m., Pad 41 will be cleared of
personnel in preparation for cryogenic fueling operations which are
scheduled to begin at L-2 hours, or 11:24 a.m.


--------------------
"After having some business dealings with men, I am occasionally chagrined,
and feel as if I had done some wrong, and it is hard to forget the ugly circumstance.
I see that such intercourse long continued would make one thoroughly prosaic, hard,
and coarse. But the longest intercourse with Nature, though in her rudest moods, does
not thus harden and make coarse. A hard, sensible man whom we liken to a rock is
indeed much harder than a rock. From hard, coarse, insensible men with whom I have
no sympathy, I go to commune with the rocks, whose hearts are comparatively soft."

- Henry David Thoreau, November 15, 1853

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odave
post Jan 16 2006, 05:40 PM
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That's quite an inspiring sight. Wunderground's forecast for the cape tomorrow is "partly sunny. Breezy. Highs in the upper 70s. South winds 15 to 20 mph."

Since my company don't 'low no streamin', I think a late-lunch trip to the library is in order...


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Guest_Analyst_*
post Jan 16 2006, 05:55 PM
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Goodluck and sunny weather tomorrow. It's been a long road and still so many miles to go.

Btw, it's the very same launch pad both Voyager's used 1977 (and both Viking's did in 1975).

I will be watching, NASA TV online and hopefully one German TV channel will broadcast the launch. It's 7:24 pm CET, right after work.

Analyst
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Toma B
post Jan 16 2006, 06:24 PM
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It is now exactly T-24 hours until liftoff………..if everything goes as planed at first possible opportunity.
God luck & sunny weather !!!


--------------------
The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare

My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr...
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elakdawalla
post Jan 16 2006, 06:47 PM
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I'm checking out the really wonderful Expendable Launch Vehicle Countdown Portal at KSC's website, and there's a lot of info there, but I'm finding it confusing. Can someone help straighten me out?

- First of all, the clock showing GMT and EST time shows 18:00 GMT when my own clock shows 10:41 (PST). So it appears that on my machine at least the applet appears to be running behind by 41 minutes. Does anybody else see a similar delay, or is the clock on the display synchronized to yours?

- Second, the "Window opening time" is listed as 016:17:25:00, which I think is a ddd:hh:mm:ss display. But if that's the case, that refers to a time that passed about an hour ago, and I don't think NH has launched yet smile.gif Am I reading this wrong or is the applet messed up and does anybody else see the same thing?

--Emily


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punkboi
post Jan 16 2006, 06:48 PM
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QUOTE (Analyst @ Jan 16 2006, 10:55 AM)
Btw, it's the very same launch pad both Voyager's used 1977 (and both Viking's did in 1975).
*


Didn't Cassini launch from there as well? Or was that Complex 40?

QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Jan 16 2006, 11:47 AM)
I'm checking out the really wonderful Expendable Launch Vehicle Countdown Portal at KSC's website, and there's a lot of info there, but I'm finding it confusing.  Can someone help straighten me out?

- First of all, the clock showing GMT and EST time shows 18:00 GMT when my own clock shows 10:41 (PST).  So it appears that on my machine at least the applet appears to be running behind by 41 minutes.  Does anybody else see a similar delay, or is the clock on the display synchronized to yours?

- Second, the "Window opening time" is listed as 016:17:25:00, which I think is a ddd:hh:mm:ss display.  But if that's the case, that refers to a time that passed about an hour ago, and I don't think NH has launched yet smile.gif  Am I reading this wrong or is the applet messed up and does anybody else see the same thing?

--Emily
*


The only countdown clock I follow is the one on the JHU website...since it's much simpler
smile.gif


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imran
post Jan 16 2006, 06:54 PM
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Check Spaceflight Now for latest mission updates.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/status.html

1830 GMT (1:30 p.m. EST):
Weather forecasters are still predicting an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions for tomorrow's launch.
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Toma B
post Jan 16 2006, 07:02 PM
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NEW IMAGES at Spaceflightnow.com smile.gif smile.gif smile.gif

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av010/...t/rollout1.html

Isn't she a beauty?
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--------------------
The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful.
Jules H. Poincare

My "Astrophotos" gallery on flickr...
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