Minotaur V - LADEE - September 6, 2013

[savuporo]

The only source for an actual upcoming launch date i found was here :
http://www.marsspaceport.com/ladee

Is this still on or no ?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

May 2013, so it's still on target. 

And several threads out there, including one with SpaceX protesting the launch contract:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=12631.0

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=24338.0

[savuporo]

Hah, i was somehow convinced its this year.

[bolun]

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Operations/SEMCXUAXH3H_0.html

In 2013, a NASA satellite will beam digital signals to an ESA receiving station fast enough to stream dozens of movies at once. The test will help to demonstrate the readiness of next-generation optical links for future data-intensive deep-space missions.

The joint ESA/NASA activity is part of NASA’s Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD) project, which will use a new optical terminal flying on NASA’s Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer – LADEE – spacecraft to communicate with a trio of stations on Earth. 

NASA’s LADEE spacecraft, to be launched to the Moon in 2013, will transmit laser signals to two NASA stations, one in California and one in New Mexico, and to ESA’s Optical Ground Station (OGS), in Tenerife, Spain.

[block51]

An neat video I found on facebook (alas no youtube or direct download) showing all of LADEE's solar panels being installed over a 2 day period. Time lapse.

[block51]

A link to the video might be useful!

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101655711173363

[AnalogMan]

Launch update

Date posted: 2013-05-14
Mission: LADEE
Change: Launch date is 9/6/2013 UTC
Source: Amy E. Grigg, GSFC Office of Communications, 5/13/2013

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/change_log.php

Launch time is listed as September 6, 2013 at 02:37 UTC  (September 5, 22:37 EDT)

Spacecraft details and mission updates can be found here:

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraftDisplay.do?id=LADEE
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LADEE/main/