Ascent Timeline from JPL's press kit.
Quote from: redliox on 09/18/2024 10:35 pmThis mission is still planned to be fully expended? Not even the side boosters recovered?Yes, all three expended.
This mission is still planned to be fully expended? Not even the side boosters recovered?
Quote from: abaddon on 09/17/2024 07:26 pmThe statement/paraphrase attributed the performance increase to "hardware mods allowing more complete burning of propellant". Changing the throttle profile doesn't sound like a good match. Agreed we have no idea on what stage/booster the mods were implemented.Could the hardware mods be as simple as removing the landing legs and grid fins from both the side boosters?
The statement/paraphrase attributed the performance increase to "hardware mods allowing more complete burning of propellant". Changing the throttle profile doesn't sound like a good match. Agreed we have no idea on what stage/booster the mods were implemented.
To avoid additional gravity assists as JUICE is doing, Clipper needs only one Earth and one Mars flyby to reach Jupiter by April 2030, over 1 year before JUICE, launched in April 2023. So FH is pouring out all its power to pitch Clipper as hard as it can.
Quote from: MattMason on 09/20/2024 11:57 amTo avoid additional gravity assists as JUICE is doing, Clipper needs only one Earth and one Mars flyby to reach Jupiter by April 2030, over 1 year before JUICE, launched in April 2023. So FH is pouring out all its power to pitch Clipper as hard as it can.To be fair, I believe the first JUICE Earth flyby was just to set the conditions for the rest of the cruise flyby sequence. This being due to Ariane V not having a restartable upper stage, limiting the Earth-escape hyperbolic trajectories available *. Rosetta had to do the same thing. To boil it down, JUICE has a +1 year extra cruise compared to what it would need if Ariane had a restartable upper stage.[*] That's my understanding at least. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Status report on Europa Clipper: All good for launch Oct. 10. Fueling of the spacecraft was completed over the weekend. Falcon Heavy's boosters were also mated together in the last few days.
Quote from: Kiwi53 on 09/17/2024 09:20 pmQuote from: abaddon on 09/17/2024 07:26 pmThe statement/paraphrase attributed the performance increase to "hardware mods allowing more complete burning of propellant". Changing the throttle profile doesn't sound like a good match. Agreed we have no idea on what stage/booster the mods were implemented.Could the hardware mods be as simple as removing the landing legs and grid fins from both the side boosters?They are talking about the mods at 42:22[...]- better coverage through TDRS allows better burns (ground assets needs to be close to the area, where burns occurr)
A major lesson learned was that all spacecraft should retain telemetry or visual contact during critical phases of the mission.
Always maintain telemetry or visual contact with spacecraft during critical phases of the mission.
Quote from: Remes on 09/20/2024 06:54 amQuote from: Kiwi53 on 09/17/2024 09:20 pmQuote from: abaddon on 09/17/2024 07:26 pmThe statement/paraphrase attributed the performance increase to "hardware mods allowing more complete burning of propellant". Changing the throttle profile doesn't sound like a good match. Agreed we have no idea on what stage/booster the mods were implemented.Could the hardware mods be as simple as removing the landing legs and grid fins from both the side boosters?They are talking about the mods at 42:22[...]- better coverage through TDRS allows better burns (ground assets needs to be close to the area, where burns occurr)This last point, TDRS coverage, could be a biggy. For the most efficient possible injection, you pick a parking orbit and a location where the injection burn needed is precisely in line with the orbital velocity at that point. This ideal location is often in the middle of nowhere (say over the South Pacific). But then (especially since parking orbits are typically very low altitude) there is often no ground station contact at that point.For a long time this was just considered a cost of doing business. But then in 2002 the CONTOUR mission died while attempting this maneuver, and the cause could never be firmly established (though there were some good guesses), since there was no telemetry. In the failure report lessons learned they saidQuoteA major lesson learned was that all spacecraft should retain telemetry or visual contact during critical phases of the mission.and the recommendation was:QuoteAlways maintain telemetry or visual contact with spacecraft during critical phases of the mission.To adhere to this rule, if Europa Clipper could only use ground stations, they would need to do the injection at a non-optimum time and place. But then since they would not be at the optimum place, they would need to fire at an angle to the flight path. This costs performance, potentially a lot of it.But if they can use TDRS, they can fire at the right place and the right time, while still maintaining telemetry as required. This can be a big help.
Propellant Load Complete!The #EuropaClipper propulsion module is a large aluminum cylinder holding 24 engines, 6,067.6 pounds of propellant, and the helium pressurant tanks. Together they will create a controlled chemical reaction to produce thrust in space during its journey!
Clipper's flight plan shows Falcon Heavy yeeting the spacecraft some distance beyond Mars orbit--not unlike its maiden flight to dispose of Elon Musk's car. A Mars 2/2025 assist, together with an Earth 12/2026 assist, gives all the energy needed.Ariane 6 might've done a similar speedy run for JUICE, were it available, but alas, it was not. I concur. JUICE gets the scenic path to Jupiter since Ariane 5's upper stage couldn't relight. Main thing is that it gets there, and NASA and ESA can have a data lovefest in the system not unlike their Parker Solar Probe/Solar Orbiter work.
The spacecraft’s launch period opens Oct. 10, 2024, with opportunities through Oct. 30. Additional contingency dates in early November are also available, if needed.
NASA is still expecting to launch the Europa Clipper probe on October 10 at the beginning of its multi-week launch window, but if necessary it could launch as late as November 6. That’s several days beyond the original window thanks to SpaceX finding ways to get more performance out of the Falcon Heavy rocket and not needing to rely on ground stations to track the rocket’s trajectory.
QuoteNASA is still expecting to launch the Europa Clipper probe on October 10 at the beginning of its multi-week launch window, but if necessary it could launch as late as November 6. That’s several days beyond the original window thanks to SpaceX finding ways to get more performance out of the Falcon Heavy rocket and not needing to rely on ground stations to track the rocket’s trajectory.
Quote from: redliox on 09/18/2024 10:35 pmThis mission is still planned to be fully expended? Not even the side boosters recovered?Depending on what press kit you look at, Clipper is the heaviest interplanetary spacecraft to-date, at about 13,371 lb/6065 kg. JUICE is around this number. Cassini was around 12,000 lb. To avoid additional gravity assists as JUICE is doing, Clipper needs only one Earth and one Mars flyby to reach Jupiter by April 2030, over 1 year before JUICE, launched in April 2023. So FH is pouring out all its power to pitch Clipper as hard as it can.
NASA’s mission coverage is as follows (all times Eastern and subject to change based on real-time operations):Tuesday, Oct. 81 p.m. – In-person, one-on-one interviews, open to media credentialed for this launch.3:30 p.m. – NASA’s Europa Clipper science briefing with the following participants:Gina DiBraccio, acting director, Planetary Science Division, NASA HeadquartersRobert Pappalardo, project scientist, Europa Clipper, NASA JPLHaje Korth, deputy project scientist, Europa Clipper, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)Cynthia Phillips, project staff scientist, Europa Clipper, NASA JPLCoverage of the science news conference will stream live on NASA+ and the agency’s website, Learn how to stream NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.Media may ask questions in person and via phone. Limited auditorium space will be available for in-person participation. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom no later than one hour before the start of the event at: [email protected].Wednesday, Oct. 92 p.m. – NASA Social panel at NASA Kennedy with the following participants:Kate Calvin, chief scientist and senior climate advisor, NASA HeadquartersCaley Burke, Flight Design Analyst, NASA’s Launch Services ProgramErin Leonard, project staff scientist, Europa Clipper, NASA JPLJuan Pablo León, systems testbed engineer, Europa Clipper, NASA JPLElizabeth Turtle, principal investigator, Europa Imaging System instrument, Europa Clipper, APLThe panel will stream live on NASA Kennedy’s YouTube, X, and Facebook accounts. Members of the public may ask questions online by posting to the YouTube, X, and Facebook live streams or using #AskNASA.3:30 p.m. – NASA’s Europa Clipper prelaunch news conference (following completion of the Launch Readiness Review), with the following participants:NASA Associate Administrator Jim FreeSandra Connelly, deputy associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA HeadquartersTim Dunn, launch director, NASA’s Launch Services ProgramJulianna Scheiman, director, NASA Science Missions, SpaceXJordan Evans, project manager, Europa Clipper, NASA JPLMike McAleenan, launch weather officer, 45th Weather Squadron, U.S. Space ForceCoverage of the prelaunch news conference will stream live on NASA+, the agency’s website, the NASA app, and YouTube.Media may ask questions in person and via phone. Limited auditorium space will be available for in-person participation. For the dial-in number and passcode, media should contact the NASA Kennedy newsroom no later than one hour before the start of the event at [email protected].5:30 p.m. – NASA’s Europa Clipper rollout show. Coverage will stream live on NASA+, the agency’s website, the NASA app, and YouTube.Thursday, Oct. 1011:30 a.m. – NASA launch coverage in English begins on NASA+ and the agency’s website.11:30 a.m. – NASA launch coverage in Spanish begins on NASA+, the agency’s website and NASA’s Spanish YouTube channel.12:31 p.m. – LaunchAudio Only CoverageAudio only of the news conferences and launch coverage will be carried on the NASA “V” circuits, which may be accessed by dialing 321-867-1220, -1240 or -7135. On launch day, “mission audio,” countdown activities without NASA+ media launch commentary, is carried on 321-867-7135.Live Video Coverage Prior to LaunchNASA will provide a live video feed of Launch Complex 39A approximately 18 hours prior to the planned liftoff of the mission on the NASA Kennedy newsroom YouTube channel. The feed will be uninterrupted until the launch broadcast begins on NASA+.NASA Website Launch CoverageLaunch day coverage of the mission will be available on the agency’s website. Coverage will include links to live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 10 a.m., Oct. 10, as the countdown milestones occur. On-demand streaming video and photos of the launch will be available shortly after liftoff.Follow countdown coverage on the Europa Clipper blog. For questions about countdown coverage, contact the Kennedy newsroom at 321-867-2468.Para obtener información sobre cobertura en español en el Centro Espacial Kennedy o si desea solicitar entrevistas en español, comuníquese con Antonia Jaramillo: [email protected] o Messod Bendayan: [email protected]Attend the Launch VirtuallyMembers of the public can register to attend this launch virtually. NASA’s virtual guest program for this mission also includes curated launch resources, notifications about related opportunities or changes, and a stamp for the NASA virtual guest passport following launch.Watch, Engage on Social MediaLet people know you’re following the mission on X, Facebook, and Instagram by using the hashtags #EuropaClipper and #NASASocial. You can also stay connected by following and tagging these accounts:X: @NASA, @EuropaClipper, @NASASolarSystem, @NASAJPL, @NASAKennedy, @NASA_LSP Facebook: NASA, NASA’s Europa Clipper, NASA’s JPL, NASA’s Launch Services ProgramInstagram: @NASA, @nasasolarsystem, @NASAKennedy, @NASAJPLFor more information about the mission, visit:https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper-end-
🤩 One last look at #EuropaClipper as the payload fairings close!The spacecraft will be on a nearly 6-year journey to investigate if there are habitable conditions on Jupiter’s moon Europa. Liftoff is targeted for Oct. 10 on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy!🚀blogs.nasa.gov/europaclipper/
Before encapsulation, technicians mated Europa Clipper to the payload adapter and payload attach fitting that will connect the spacecraft to the the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Teams encapsulated @NASA 's Europa Clipper spacecraft into Falcon Heavy's fairing earlier this week ahead of next week's Falcon Heavy launch from pad 39A in Florida