Author Topic: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - Pre Launch Updates  (Read 378448 times)

Offline Jorge

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #720 on: 11/25/2011 08:49 am »
One reason I would prefer not to have a launch site in Texas is that Bomb grade materials for the us gov. is worked on there.

That has got to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've read on this site. The only nuclear weapons site in Texas is the Pantex plant near Amarillo. That's about 750 miles from the proposed SpaceX launch site in Willacy County.

You do realize there's an active nuclear weapons site (Savannah River) only 376 miles from Cape Canaveral, right?

Texas is a *big* state.
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Offline FinalFrontier

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #721 on: 11/25/2011 09:14 am »
One reason I would prefer not to have a launch site in Texas is that Bomb grade materials for the us gov. is worked on there.

That has got to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've read on this site. The only nuclear weapons site in Texas is the Pantex plant near Amarillo. That's about 750 miles from the proposed SpaceX launch site in Willacy County.

You do realize there's an active nuclear weapons site (Savannah River) only 376 miles from Cape Canaveral, right?

Texas is a *big* state.


Agreed. There is absolutely no issue with having launch facilities in this state.


Moving on, is everything still green for launch this morning? I have been following the MSL mission since it was conceived (officially) and built. And I have also been hoping that JWST would have already been in flight by now.....MSL was supposed to come later, but look how things worked out.....
Anyway, can't wait to see it launch!
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Offline Jim

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #722 on: 11/25/2011 09:22 am »
Preps for roll in work

Offline dsmillman

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #723 on: 11/25/2011 12:06 pm »
Is the following stream covering the Atlas rollout?

http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo1.rm

I see some activity but I can't be sure what is going on.

Offline Bugfix

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #724 on: 11/25/2011 12:07 pm »
The rollout has started, there's coverage on www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av028/status.html

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #725 on: 11/25/2011 12:13 pm »
Streams can be found here:

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #726 on: 11/25/2011 12:21 pm »
On the move.

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #727 on: 11/25/2011 12:25 pm »
Roughly walking pace.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #728 on: 11/25/2011 12:28 pm »
That's walking pace? Seems for that first mile, it is going at a good clip!
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Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #729 on: 11/25/2011 12:28 pm »
Seem to be toting a tiny bit of gear behind.   :D

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #730 on: 11/25/2011 12:31 pm »

Offline Lee Jay

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #731 on: 11/25/2011 12:41 pm »
Just about home?
« Last Edit: 11/25/2011 12:42 pm by Lee Jay »

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #732 on: 11/25/2011 01:47 pm »
That's a cool looking rocket. I think I'll write an Atlas V article - Commercial Crew etc - ahead of what will be a launch preview article by William.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #733 on: 11/25/2011 02:55 pm »
Nov. 25, 2011

David Weaver
Headquarters, Washington     
202-358-1898
[email protected]   



RELEASE: 11-398

NASA ADMINISTRATOR TOURS COMPANY ASSISTING WITH MARS ROVER LAUNCH

Highlights Local Firm on Eve of Small Business Saturday

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden toured
Kegman Inc. of Melbourne, Fla., one company that supplied technology
and engineering support to the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
Curiosity rover.

Bolden's tour of Kegman coincided with the Second Annual Small
Business Saturday, a day to support the local small businesses that
create jobs, boost the economy and preserve neighborhoods around the
country.

"On Saturday, NASA will be launching our most sophisticated science
laboratory to date, the Mars Science Laboratory, and the work of
dozens of small businesses helped make this happen," Bolden said.
"Even in a project as expansive and with dramatic long-range impact,
small businesses like Kegman and nearly two dozen other small
businesses around the nation are playing a large role."

Kegman Inc. is an economically disadvantaged, woman-owned,
veteran-owned small business. It monitors and analyzes the wind
impact during launch preparations.

The data is used by the mission's weather officer to determine whether
conditions are right to launch the Curiosity rover. The $2.5 billion
laboratory will study past and present potentially habitable
environments on Mars after it lands on the planet in August 2012.

NASA officials estimate more than 40 American companies, universities
and organizations with over 5,000 workers in 31 states and nine
countries contributed to the development and construction of
Curiosity. Of those companies, at least two dozen are small
businesses.

"Curiosity's mission is to get Mars to give up its secrets," Bolden
said. "But we can't get Mars to talk without the contributions of
companies like Kegman who contribute technology, innovation,
component parts and know-how to the project."

For more information about the Mars Science Laboratory launch and
mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/msl

For more information about Small Business Saturday, visit:
http://www.smallbusinesssaturday.com   

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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #734 on: 11/25/2011 03:19 pm »
The United Launch Alliance Atlas V with NASA’s Mars Science Lab rover Curiosity is now at Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad ready for tomorrow’s launch. The opening of the one hour and 43 minute launch window is 10:02 a.m. EST. Below is a cutline to go with two nice photos taken this morning during the roll to the pad. The L-1 forecast continues to show a 70 percent chance of favorable weather condition for a launch tomorrow. 

Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (Nov. 25, 2011) -  A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Mars Science Lab (MSL) rover Curiosity rolls out to its Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad arriving at 8:40 a.m. EST today.  After landing on Mars in August 2012, MSL’s prime mission will last one Martian year (nearly two Earth years). Researchers will use the rover’s tools to study whether the landing region has environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life. The launch of the MSL mission is set for Saturday, Nov. 26 with the launch window opening at 10:02 a.m. EST. 

Photos by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance
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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #735 on: 11/25/2011 03:20 pm »
Sexy:
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Offline Prober

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #736 on: 11/25/2011 04:34 pm »
One reason I would prefer not to have a launch site in Texas is that Bomb grade materials for the us gov. is worked on there.

That has got to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've read on this site. The only nuclear weapons site in Texas is the Pantex plant near Amarillo. That's about 750 miles from the proposed SpaceX launch site in Willacy County.


your right, thought for some reason Amarillo was further south east for some reason.
Enough said on the matter.
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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #737 on: 11/25/2011 04:59 pm »
That's a cool looking rocket. I think I'll write an Atlas V article - Commercial Crew etc - ahead of what will be a launch preview article by William.

Lots of love for Atlas V ;D

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/11/the-respected-atlas-v-making-early-strides-transition/

Will give it a standalone thread.
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Offline sdsds

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Re: Atlas-V - Mars Science Laboratory - November 26, 2011
« Reply #739 on: 11/26/2011 04:59 am »
I've been puzzling through the easily available information about this ascent.  Having just learned the concept of an "Africa gate" I've been trying to answer the question, "At what point during this ascent will the launch vehicle pass through its Africa gate?"  (Short background summary:  the range will send a destruct command unless it can confirm the vehicle has passed through its Africa gate.)  It looks like this will take place during the first Centaur burn, even though the ground trace shows that at MECO1 the vehicle has barely passed Antigua. 

The reasoning supporting that conclusion involves the location of MES2, which takes place while the vehicle is over Africa.  The IIP at MES2 is the same as the IIP at MECO1, yes?  So this must surely be somewhere in the Indian Ocean.  Or is the vehicle already orbital at MECO1?

As a side note it looks like they have telemetry coverage up the wazzoo for the second Centaur burn.  Hartebeesthoek, Diego Garcia, and TDRS 275?  No expense spared!
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