Quote from: plutogno on 12/15/2012 08:18 amanybody know what the two sentences in purple between the L2 orbit and the Toutatis flyby mean?http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/58b49184jw1dzubmjhtyhj.jpgThe first of the two has the same structure as the two previous purple phrases. I guess these denote 1st, 2nd and 3rd maneuvers. The last purple line may denote the approach TCM.
anybody know what the two sentences in purple between the L2 orbit and the Toutatis flyby mean?http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/58b49184jw1dzubmjhtyhj.jpg
I assume its now exhausted all its propellant after this extended phase of its mission?
Quote from: Star One on 12/15/2012 05:33 pmI assume its now exhausted all its propellant after this extended phase of its mission?there is some 30 m/s of delta-V remaining. it's not much and probably no meaningful missions would be possible, but I sincerely hope that they will try to get as much deep space tracking and navigation experience as possible and keep contacts as long as possible
Quote from: plutogno on 12/15/2012 06:36 pmQuote from: Star One on 12/15/2012 05:33 pmI assume its now exhausted all its propellant after this extended phase of its mission?there is some 30 m/s of delta-V remaining. it's not much and probably no meaningful missions would be possible, but I sincerely hope that they will try to get as much deep space tracking and navigation experience as possible and keep contacts as long as possibleThanks. Good points especially if they do intend to send vehicles to the outer planets such as Jupiter.
Currently, the remaining delta-v is less than 10 m/s.
Quote from: Zero-G on 12/16/2012 12:24 pmCurrently, the remaining delta-v is less than 10 m/s.interesting. does it mean that the optimized trajectory I summarized here http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19644.msg961832#msg961832 was not eventually implemented?
The fly-by was just confirmed by CCTV that it will take place today. http://news.cntv.cn/china/20121213/100038.shtml
There was more indication than that, just not in a very high profile way; for example, here is a Xinhua article from July that mentions it as part of an overview of CNSA plans in general.
Jim, I have been monitoring the Chinese online press everyday for weeks before the encounter and there was next to nothing. I think I have posted everything that I have found either here or on unmannedspaceflight.com
Two more weeks and not even ONE more mention in the Chinese news media? Very odd.