Author Topic: LIVE: Delta II - WISE - Dec 14, 09 (Read 59225 times)

jacqmans · « **on:** 08/08/2009 07:37 am »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 10, 2009 (tentative)

Ground support equipment for the WISE spacecraft will arrive at
Vandenberg on Monday, Aug. 10. It will go to the Astrotech payload
processing facility located on north Vandenberg. WISE is scheduled to
arrive on Aug. 15 to begin processing for launch.

WISE will survey the entire sky in the mid-infrared with far greater
sensitivity than any previous mission ever has. The WISE survey will
capture over a million images, from which hundreds of millions of
astronomical objects will be catalogued, providing a vast storehouse
of knowledge about the Solar System, the Milky Way, and the Universe.

jacqmans · « **Reply #1 on:** 08/18/2009 05:52 am »

News release: 2009-127 August 17, 2009

NASA's WISE Mission Arrives at Launch Site

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, has arrived at its last stop on Earth -- Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

WISE is scheduled to blast into space in December, aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket from NASA's Space Launch Complex 2. Orbiting around Earth, it will scan the entire sky at infrared wavelengths, unveiling hundreds of thousands of asteroids, and hundreds of millions of stars and galaxies.

The spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg along the central California coast today, after a winding journey via truck from Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation in Boulder, Colo. Ball built the mission's spacecraft; its telescope and science instrument were built by Space Dynamics Laboratory in Logan, Utah.

"WISE has arrived and is almost ready to go," said William Irace, the mission's project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "After we check the spacecraft out and fill the telescope cooling tanks with solid hydrogen, we'll mate it to the rocket and launch."

WISE is an infrared space telescope like two currently orbiting missions, NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and the Herschel Space Observatory, a European Space Agency mission with important NASA participation. But, unlike these missions, WISE will survey the entire sky. It is designed to cast a wide net to catch all sorts of unseen cosmic treasures. Millions of images from the survey will serve as rough maps for other observatories, such as Spitzer and NASA's upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, guiding them to intriguing targets.

"WISE will survey the cosmic landscape in the infrared so that future telescopes can home in on the most interesting 'properties,'" said Edward Wright, the principal investigator for the mission at UCLA.

The infrared surveyor will pick up the heat from a cornucopia of objects, both near and far. It will find hundreds of thousands of new asteroids in our main asteroid belt, and hundreds of near-Earth objects, which are comets and asteroids with orbits that pass relatively close to Earth. The mission will uncover the coldest stars, called brown dwarfs, perhaps even one closer to us than our closest known neighbor, Proxima Centauri, which is 4 light-years away. More distant finds will include nurseries of stars, swirling planet-building disks and the universe's most luminous galaxies billions of light-years away.

The data will help answer fundamental questions about how solar systems and galaxies form, and will provide the astronomical community with mountains of data to mine.

"WISE will create a legacy that endures for decades," said Peter Eisenhardt, the mission's project scientist at JPL. "Today, we still refer to the catalogue of our predecessor, the Infrared Astronomical Satellite, which operated in 1983."

The Infrared Astronomical Satellite was a joint infrared survey mission between NASA, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. WISE's survey, thanks to next-generation technology, will be hundreds of times more sensitive.

The mission will scan the sky from a sun-synchronous orbit, 500 kilometers (about 311 miles) above Earth. After a one-month checkout period, it will map the whole sky over a period of six months. Onboard frozen hydrogen, which will cool the infrared detectors, is expected to last several months longer, allowing WISE to map much of the sky a second time and see what has changed.

JPL manages the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. The mission's principal investigator, Edward Wright, is at UCLA. The mission was competitively selected under NASA's Explorers Program managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The science instrument was built by the Space Dynamics Laboratory, Logan, Utah, and the spacecraft was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo. Science operations and data processing will take place at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.

NASA’s Launch Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is responsible for government oversight of the Delta II and launch countdown management.

More information is online at http://wise.astro.ucla.edu .

jacqmans · « **Reply #2 on:** 08/18/2009 05:52 am »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 10, 2009 (tentative)

Ground support equipment for the WISE spacecraft arrived at Vandenberg
on Aug. 10 and will be processed in the Astrotech payload processing
facility located on north Vandenberg. WISE arrived on Aug. 14 and was
offloaded and lifted out of its transportation canister on Saturday.

This week, the spacecraft is scheduled to be transferred to a work
stand to begin processing for launch.

WISE will survey the entire sky in the mid-infrared with far greater
sensitivity than any previous mission ever has. The WISE survey will
capture over a million images, from which hundreds of millions of
astronomical objects will be catalogued, providing a vast storehouse
of knowledge about the Solar System, the Milky Way, and the Universe.

AnalogMan · « **Reply #3 on:** 08/18/2009 06:43 pm »

Quote from: jacqmans on 08/18/2009 05:52 am

"WISE has arrived and is almost ready to go," said William Irace, the mission's project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "After we check the spacecraft out and fill the telescope cooling tanks with solid hydrogen, we'll mate it to the rocket and launch."

This is really a geek question and I am not really expecting a reply unless there are any WISE managers/engineers/technicians reading this forum.

How is the cryostat loaded with solid hydrogen? I am anticipating that this is done by loading the tank with liquid hydrogen, which boils at 20.3K, followed by pumping away of the gaseous hydrogen above the liquid to cool the remaining hydrogen to solid state at 14K (atmospheric).

How soon does this have to happen before the payload is installed on the Delta II? I'm guessing that heat load prior to launch may be quite important, or is the insulation on the cryostat good enough that this is not critical?

Jim · « **Reply #4 on:** 08/19/2009 12:32 am »

Quote from: AnalogMan on 08/18/2009 06:43 pm

How is the cryostat loaded with solid hydrogen? I am anticipating that this is done by loading the tank with liquid hydrogen, which boils at 20.3K, followed by pumping away of the gaseous hydrogen above the liquid to cool the remaining hydrogen to solid state at 14K (atmospheric).

How soon does this have to happen before the payload is installed on the Delta II? I'm guessing that heat load prior to launch may be quite important, or is the insulation on the cryostat good enough that this is not critical?

I believe Liquid Helium is involved. It will take a few weeks and it is off the pad.

Lewis007 · « **Reply #5 on:** 08/19/2009 07:07 am »

Pictures of the arrival and first check-out of the WISE spacecraft at VAFB are now available at the KSC media gallery: http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/

jacqmans · « **Reply #6 on:** 08/22/2009 08:57 am »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009 (tentative)

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, WISE
has been transferred to a work stand to begin processing for launch.
The batteries are currently being charged in preparation for the
start of spacecraft functional testing on Aug. 24. The testing will
require approximately ten days.

jacqmans · « **Reply #7 on:** 08/31/2009 05:19 pm »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, WISE
has been transferred to a work stand to begin processing for launch.
Battery conditioning, spacecraft cleaning and post-ship functional
testing were completed on Aug. 25. The spacecraft functional testing
began on Aug. 24 and is expected to be complete in approximately
seven days.

jacqmans · « **Reply #8 on:** 09/04/2009 08:58 pm »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, the
WISE spacecraft functional testing was successfully completed early
this week as planned. Simulated launch pad operations tests were
performed on Sept. 1. These are functional tests associated with
launch day spacecraft flight system power on and final configuration
for launch. All were successfully completed.

Build-up of the Delta II at Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled to
begin on Oct. 19 with hoisting of the first stage into the launcher.

jacqmans · « **Reply #9 on:** 09/11/2009 09:18 pm »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 9:10 - 9:23 a.m. EST

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, the
WISE spacecraft functional testing is complete. This week no work was
scheduled to allow for crew crest after the longer work days required
to support the ten days of spacecraft functional testing. Processing
will resume next week.

Vandenberg Air Force Base experienced the effects of a 3.9 magnitude
(light) earthquake at 4:22 a.m. PDT on Sept. 10. The epicenter was
offshore in the Pacific Ocean approximately 9 miles west of Lompoc.
WISE personnel performed an inspection of the spacecraft and no
anomalies were noted. Also, nothing unusual was found after an
inspection of the Astrotech payload processing facility.

Build-up of the Delta II at Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled to
begin on Oct. 19 with hoisting of the first stage into the launcher.

gospacex · « **Reply #10 on:** 09/12/2009 12:17 pm »

This bird may find us a few more planets (in *our* Solar system, not exoplanets)!

jacqmans · « **Reply #11 on:** 09/19/2009 07:29 am »

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 9:10 - 9:23 a.m. EST

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, WISE
spacecraft testing continues. This week the Mission Sequence Test and
Operational Readiness Test are under way and will conclude next week.

Build-up of the Delta II at Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled to
begin on Oct. 19 with hoisting of the first stage into the launcher.

jacqmans · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/02/2009 06:24 pm »

STATUS REPORT: ELV-100209

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: No earlier than Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 6:10 - 6:23 a.m. PST

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, WISE
spacecraft processing is going well and continues on schedule. The
spacecraft instrument closeouts are under way. The spacecraft launch
initiation test is complete. The spacecraft has also been weighed and
mated to the payload attach fitting. A contamination inspection and
cleaning is being performed.

Build-up of the Delta II at Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled to
begin on Oct. 19 with hoisting of the first stage into the launcher.

A brush fire has been under way near the Vandenberg main gate but has
not had a significant impact on activities at NASA's Space Launch
Complex 2 or on payload processing. The fire has been contained and
is now burning only at a low level.

jacqmans · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/09/2009 03:17 pm »

STATUS REPORT: ELV-100909

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 6:10 - 6:23 a.m. PST

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, WISE
spacecraft testing is complete. Work now is beginning to prepare the
spacecraft for loading of the cryogenic hydrogen which will be used
to supercool the infrared telescope during its six months of
observations.

Build-up of the Delta II rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 is scheduled
to begin on Oct. 16 with hoisting of the first stage into the
launcher.

jacqmans · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/16/2009 08:10 pm »

STATUS REPORT: ELV-101609

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 6:10 - 6:23 a.m. PST

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, work
has been under way this week to set up the necessary ground support
equipment for loading of the cryogenic hydrogen which will be used to
supercool the infrared telescope during its six months of
observations. The vacuum pumpdown of the spacecraft is now under way
and will be followed by testing at cryogenic temperatures. This will
be followed by two weeks of activity to load and then freeze the
cryogenic hydrogen.

Build-up of the Delta II rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 now is
scheduled to begin next week with hoisting of the first stage into
the launcher on Monday. The three solid rocket boosters will then be
attached on Oct. 21, and the second stage will be hoisted atop the
first stage on Oct. 22.

Antares · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/19/2009 07:27 pm »

Next come the light poles

jacqmans · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/30/2009 09:43 pm »

STATUS REPORT: ELV-103009

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 6:10 â?" 6:23 a.m. PST

Build-up of the Delta II rocket at Space Launch Complex 2 was
completed last week as planned. Testing was conducted this week on
the Tracking & Data Relay Satellite transmitter that will be tested
on this Delta II for possible use on future missions.

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, work
has been completed to test the spacecraftâ?Ts sensors at cryogenic
temperatures. Work is now under way to load and then freeze the
cryogenic hydrogen. This will be used to supercool the infrared
telescope during its six months of observations. This work requires
approximately two weeks and will be followed by one final week of
spacecraft testing.

jacqmans · « **Reply #17 on:** 11/06/2009 03:00 pm »

STATUS REPORT: ELV-110609

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Spacecraft: Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE)
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: SLC-2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Dec. 7, 2009
Launch Window: 6:10 - 6:23 a.m. PST

Testing has been conducted successfully on the Tracking & Data Relay
Satellite transmitter that will be used on the rocket. It will relay
vehicle data to the ground during the launch and will be evaluated
for possible use on future Delta II missions from Vandenberg. Second
stage propellant system qualification testing has been completed.
Three days of guidance and control system checks are currently under
way. The Delta II flight simulation is currently scheduled for Nov.
11. The first stage will be loaded with liquid oxygen on Nov. 12 for
leak checks and associated testing.

At the Astrotech payload processing facility on north Vandenberg, work
continues to load and then freeze the cryogenic hydrogen. This
activity is approximately 60 percent complete and will continue for
about another week. This will be used to supercool the infrared
telescope during its six months of observations. There then will be
one final week of spacecraft testing before work begins to prepare
WISE to move to the launch pad for integration with the Delta II.

jacqmans · « **Reply #18 on:** 11/10/2009 09:02 pm »

MEDIA ADVISORY: M09-216

WISE STAR AND ASTEROID-HUNTING SPACECRAFT TOPIC OF NASA BRIEFING

WASHINGTON - NASA will hold a media briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at
noon EST, to discuss the upcoming launch of the Wide-field Infrared
Survey Explorer, or WISE, mission. WISE is scheduled to launch Dec.
7, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Once in Earth orbit,
WISE will scan the entire sky at infrared wavelengths, unveiling
hundreds of thousands of asteroids and hundreds of millions of stars
and galaxies.

The briefing will take place in the James E. Webb Memorial Auditorium
at NASA Headquarters, 300 E St. S.W., in Washington. NASA TV will
broadcast the briefing on the NASA Education Channel.

Panelists will be:
-- Jon Morse, NASA's Astrophysics division director at NASA
Headquarters
-- Edward (Ned) Wright, WISE principal investigator at UCLA
-- William Irace, WISE project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.
-- Amy Mainzer, WISE deputy project scientist, JPL
-- Peter Eisenhardt, WISE project scientist, JPL

Reporters may ask questions from participating NASA locations,
including NASA's Kennedy Space Center, or by phone. To reserve a
phone line, journalists should send an e-mail listing name, media
affiliation, and telephone number to:

[email protected]

For NASA TV streaming video, schedules and downlink information,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv

For the latest information about the WISE mission, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/wise

-end-

madscientist197 · « **Reply #19 on:** 11/11/2009 07:16 am »

Is there going to be a 'warm' WISE mission, like the Spitzer warm mission? Or will WISE run out of attitude propellent?