NASA Hosts NASA TV News Briefing on Upcoming Lunar MissionAug. 15, 2013 LADEE Readies for Orbital Maneuvering Thruster Burn Artist's ConceptAn artist's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft orbiting the moon and preparing to fire its maneuvering thrusters to maintain a safe orbital altitude.Image Credit: NASA Ames/ Dana BerryNASA will host a news briefing at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday, Aug. 22, at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. SW in Washington, to discuss the agency's next, and first mission to the moon launching from the Virginia coast.The briefing will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) mission is scheduled to launch at 11:27 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.Data from the mission will provide unprecedented information about the environment around the moon and give scientists a better understanding of other planetary bodies in our solar system and beyond.Briefing participants include: Joan Salute, LADEE program executive, NASA Headquarters Sarah Noble, LADEE program scientist, NASA Headquarters Butler Hine, LADEE project manager, NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. Doug Voss, launch manager, Wallops Don Cornwell, mission manager for the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.Journalists unable to attend at Headquarters may ask questions at participating NASA locations, join by phone, or send questions via Twitter using the hashtag #askNASA. To participate by phone, reporters must contact Dwayne Brown [email protected] or 202-358-1726 with media affiliation information by 2 p.m. Aug. 22.For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntvFor more information about the LADEE mission, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ladee Text was issued as media advisory M13-135Dwayne Brown, Headquarters, Washington, 202-358-1726, [email protected]Rachel Hoover, Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., 650-604-4789, [email protected]Keith Koehler, Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va., 757-824-1579, [email protected]
Technical question: Is the Minotaur-V's fifth stage similar in any way to the Antares upper stage?
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 08/26/2013 03:55 pmTechnical question: Is the Minotaur-V's fifth stage similar in any way to the Antares upper stage?The Antares upperstage is related to the Minotaur-V's first stage. The CASTOR 30B is derived from the CASTOR 120 which was derived from the Peacekeeper first stage. The Minotaur V fifth stage is the small Star-37, which was used on Delta II missions with less than 9 solids.
Quote from: Jim on 08/26/2013 04:56 pmQuote from: Ben the Space Brit on 08/26/2013 03:55 pmTechnical question: Is the Minotaur-V's fifth stage similar in any way to the Antares upper stage?The Antares upperstage is related to the Minotaur-V's first stage. The CASTOR 30B is derived from the CASTOR 120 which was derived from the Peacekeeper first stage. The Minotaur V fifth stage is the small Star-37, which was used on Delta II missions with less than 9 solids.If Antares flew with a third stage, it would also use the Star-37.
In this photo, engineers as NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia encapsule the LADEE spacecraft into the fairing of the Minotaur V launch vehicle nose-cone. LADEE is the first spacecraft designed, developed, built, integrated and tested at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.
QuoteIn this photo, engineers as NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia encapsule the LADEE spacecraft into the fairing of the Minotaur V launch vehicle nose-cone. LADEE is the first spacecraft designed, developed, built, integrated and tested at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif.http://www.nasa.gov/content/lunar-atmosphere-and-dust-environment-explorer/
"Water and marsh areas between Wallops Island and mainland also will be closed. The Army Corp Engineers Danger Zone will be in effect for all launch attempts per 33 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part 334. Fines and arrest authority are permissible by U.S. Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Police."
http://www.nasa.gov/content/public-viewing-sites-established-for-nasa-ladee-moon-mission-from-wallops/#.Uh0Mdb99u-9says that the official public viewing area for the LADEE launch are "Robert Reed Park on Chincoteague or Beach Road spanning the area between Chincoteague and Assateague Islands".
Arbuckle Road and areas around there will not be open, nor will the Visitor Center for public viewing this time due to the time. It is unclear at this time where the public may get a good view if any.
Quote from: Rocket Guy on 08/22/2013 09:44 pmArbuckle Road and areas around there will not be open, nor will the Visitor Center for public viewing this time due to the time. It is unclear at this time where the public may get a good view if any.So those roads leading to Arbuckle Road will be closed to? How far out will roads be close? any tips on viewing? Guess I will find a field near by and just sit there and watch after it rises above the tree line.
Me too. There might end up being quite a few people here wanting to go.
Quote from: SaxtonHale on 08/29/2013 08:13 pmMe too. There might end up being quite a few people here wanting to go.I took the day off, so I was going to head out Friday morning and scout out good places to watch from, and then set up my tent over on Assateague. I figure if the launch gets delayed, oh well, I get a couple of late beach days. -Bob