TRMM & GPM Missions @NASA_Rain#GPM is currently on track to launch on February 14th 2014
Nov. 24th, GPM arrived kitakyushu airport in Japan.Next shipping to the Tanegashima by ship.
I wonder why they flew to Kitakyushu and not Kagoshima? (no immigration officers stationed there?)
The core observatory for the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission arrived at Kitakyushu Airport in Japan from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in the U.S.A. about 12:28 p.m. on Nov. 24 (Sun.) The GPM core observatory was jointly developed by JAXA and NASA. After arrival at the airport, the satellite was then transported to the Tanegashima Space Center by cargo ship for launch by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle. Its arrival here was originally scheduled for the 22nd, but it was delayed for two days due to bad weather in Alaska, where the cargo plane stopped for refueling.
Quote from: Fuji on 11/25/2013 12:24 amNov. 24th, GPM arrived kitakyushu airport in Japan.Next shipping to the Tanegashima by ship.I wonder why they flew to Kitakyushu and not Kagoshima? (no immigration officers stationed there?)
Recent improvements to the Kitakyushu airport in Japan facilitated the transportation of the GPM satellite. A freshly paved concrete staging area supported a massive crane as it lifted the satellite into the cargo hold of an ocean barge.
This month, the number of NASA personnel at the Japanese launch site will increase from the normal staff of 50 to approximately 80-90 in order to allow 24/7 operations during Comprehensive Performance Test (CPT). This activity involves engineers making final preparations to the satellite and verifying that all the elements of the observatory are ready to support mission objectives.Formal CPT activity is scheduled to begin on next Monday, Dec. 9, 2013 and all scheduled work should be completed in plenty of time for the NASA group to return home for Christmas.
Status Update, Dec. 12: GPM Begins Final Comprehensive Performance Test http://www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/status-update-dec-12-gpm-begins-final-comprehensive-performance-test/#.Uqo-SSfkGM8The Global Precipitation Measurement mission's Core Observatory began its final Comprehensive Performance Test at Tanegashima Space Center in Japan on Dec. 9, 2013. The test will run 24/7 over the next few weeks as every system and subsystem is turned on and run through its tasks.This is the first time all the Core Observatory systems have been powered on since its shipment to Japan. The results of the tests will be compared to pre-shipment performance test results to ensure than no problems have arisen due to transit, and that the spacecraft is prepared for on-orbit operations.GPM's Core Observatory has more than 30 systems and subsystems that are being tested. Almost all the systems have fully redundant electronics in case of a failure on-orbit, so each test has to be run more than once. The engineering team for each system monitors the progress around the clock in the control room outside the clean room at Tanegashima Space Center.
Scheduled date of Launch : February 28 (Friday), 2014 (Japan Standard Time)Launch time : 3:07 a.m. thru 5:07 a.m. (Japan Standard Time)Launch Window : March 1 (Saturday) through March 31 (Monday), 2014.
Some very nice photos of the area can be found on this site.http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157641344480584/
Quote from: Prober on 02/25/2014 12:02 amSome very nice photos of the area can be found on this site.http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157641344480584/Love seeing the N-1 rocket on display. The U.S. doesn't have a Long Tank Delta rocket on display anywhere to my knowledge. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 02/26/2014 04:40 pmQuote from: Prober on 02/25/2014 12:02 amSome very nice photos of the area can be found on this site.http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasahqphoto/sets/72157641344480584/Love seeing the N-1 rocket on display. The U.S. doesn't have a Long Tank Delta rocket on display anywhere to my knowledge. - Ed Kyleis the one on display at VAFB a Delta or am earlier Thor if so what type??
Here's William Graham's expansive overview:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/02/japanese-h-iia-rocket-gpm-core/
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/27/2014 01:11 pmHere's William Graham's expansive overview:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/02/japanese-h-iia-rocket-gpm-core/Excellent article William!
NASA TV's coverage is mainly talking heads. Great work with the better feed, Rui.
Concentrating on the science on NTV. Enthusiastic at least.
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 02/27/2014 05:23 pmConcentrating on the science on NTV. Enthusiastic at least.Indeed, was just about to post the vary same.
Any MHI press kit for this? http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/library/archives/index.html has nice press kits for some of the earlier H2 missions but I haven't found anything for this flight yet. They usually have nice detailed timelines and drawings of the drop zones and so on...
Quote from: jcm on 02/27/2014 07:43 pmAny MHI press kit for this? http://h2a.mhi.co.jp/library/archives/index.html has nice press kits for some of the earlier H2 missions but I haven't found anything for this flight yet. They usually have nice detailed timelines and drawings of the drop zones and so on...Try this.http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2013/12/20131226_h2af23.pdfAnd here is piggy back payload press kit.http://www.satnavi.jaxa.jp/gpmdpr_special/links/files/gpm_project_small_satellite.pdf