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#40
by
Targeteer
on 23 Sep, 2013 19:28
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From Facebook
NASA's Launch Services Program
MAVEN's twin power-producing solar arrays, now attached to the spacecraft, underwent a full deployment test today at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The arrays were put through the same deployment sequence they'll experience in space after separating from the Centaur upper stage of the Atlas V launch vehicle. The deployment test was followed by a solar array illumination test, verifying the arrays were responding to light and generating power.
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#41
by
robertross
on 24 Sep, 2013 00:28
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#42
by
jacqmans
on 28 Sep, 2013 09:00
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News Media Sees MAVEN Up Close
Fri, 27 Sept 2013 12:49 PM EDT
Reporters and photographers look over the MAVEN spacecraft and interview program officials Friday inside the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. MAVEN is going through pre-launch processing at Kennedy ahead of its trip to Mars which is to begin with a liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket on Nov. 18. Engineers will fold MAVEN's power-generating solar arrays into launch position on either side of the spacecraft's main body. The craft is built to orbit Mars to detail the composition of the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet. Researchers hope the information will reveal to them what happened to make Mars a dry, desolate world.
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#43
by
aga
on 01 Oct, 2013 07:56
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perhaps my question was already answered somewhere or so, but was not able to find it:
what does the gov. shutdown mean for the maven? will it launch? will the launch be postponed?
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#44
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 01 Oct, 2013 08:02
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#45
by
aga
on 01 Oct, 2013 08:04
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thanks
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#46
by
Star One
on 01 Oct, 2013 10:01
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Thanks sounds like there is a danger of both a hefty scientific & financial penalty unless things get moving.
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#47
by
Jim
on 01 Oct, 2013 10:34
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Since KSC is shutdown, there is no access to MAVEN for anybody to work on it.
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#48
by
vapour_nudge
on 01 Oct, 2013 12:24
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Since KSC is shutdown, there is no access to MAVEN for anybody to work on it.
Will processing continue on the LV?
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#49
by
Jim
on 01 Oct, 2013 12:25
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Since KSC is shutdown, there is no access to MAVEN for anybody to work on it.
Will processing continue on the LV?
They are independent of KSC and NASA support, so yes.
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#50
by
Lurker Steve
on 01 Oct, 2013 12:28
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Since KSC is shutdown, there is no access to MAVEN for anybody to work on it.
Will processing continue on the LV?
They are independent of KSC and NASA support, so yes.
Is access restricted at CCAFS at this time ?
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#51
by
Star One
on 02 Oct, 2013 17:17
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What happens to the Atlas if MAVEN misses its launch window. Is it put into storage or allocated to another payload?
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#52
by
Kim Keller
on 02 Oct, 2013 19:18
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What happens to the Atlas if MAVEN misses its launch window. Is it put into storage or allocated to another payload?
It'll be assigned to another mission.
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#53
by
ChrisGebhardt
on 03 Oct, 2013 23:58
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#54
by
Lurker Steve
on 04 Oct, 2013 00:03
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Well, that's one small bit of sanity for today
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#55
by
Star One
on 04 Oct, 2013 08:20
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#56
by
Borklund
on 04 Oct, 2013 10:46
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Hello,
I hope this isn't off-topic.
For a while now I've been planning on making MAVEN my maiden in-person rocket launch viewing. I was sad to hear the news of the US govt shutdown and its effects on NASA, but obviously now MAVEN will press on regardless. My question is if the Nov 18 date is still the date, or if there's slight slippage? When could I be reasonably be expected to know a firm date (as far as launch preparations for the LV and MAVEN are concerned)? I'd hate to fly all the way from Sweden to America and back only to see the inside of KSC (and I can't stay for the duration of the whole launch window).
Thanks in advance!
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#57
by
jamesl
on 04 Oct, 2013 13:55
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The visitor center said they might know about launch viewing tickets in late October. My daughter and I are coming from California for the launch + Disney. I think the MAVEN PI said they have a week or so of slack in the schedule, but anything can happen to delay the launch including weather. I think they had to replace a battery in the MSL Atlas V and that delayed the launch a day from the original target.
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#58
by
DaveS
on 04 Oct, 2013 15:21
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The visitor center said they might know about launch viewing tickets in late October. My daughter and I are coming from California for the launch + Disney. I think the MAVEN PI said they have a week or so of slack in the schedule, but anything can happen to delay the launch including weather. I think they had to replace a battery in the MSL Atlas V and that delayed the launch a day from the original target.
According to all news stories I have read states that they were 9 days ahead of the schedule when they were shut down so they should be down 2-3 days so no impact to the November 18 launch date unless they start to run into some serious problems that eats the rest of the contingency days.
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#59
by
jacqmans
on 19 Oct, 2013 13:06
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MAVEN Launch Preps on Schedule
Friday, October 18, 2013 - 10:24
MAVEN launch preparations remain on schedule and have continued to go well since spacecraft processing resumed earlier this month. On Tuesday, Oct. 22, MAVEN is slated for a spin test without propellant aboard. Once complete, the spacecraft will be prepared for fueling. The Atlas V rocket payload fairing will be moved into the clean room on Oct. 21 in preparation for MAVEN's encapsulation beginning in early November.
The Atlas booster was hoisted into the vertical integration facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 41 on Oct. 11, and the Centaur upper stage was hoisted atop the Atlas the following Monday. United Launch Alliance has completed powering on the stacked vehicle for checkout. The Combined Systems Test, an electrical test of the rocket, is scheduled for Oct. 22.
The launch of MAVEN is scheduled for Nov. 18 at 1:28 p.m. EST.