odave
Aug 9 2005, 07:22 PM
According to the
MRO Site, launch has been postponed at least one day.
And from
spaceflightnow:
QUOTE
Engineers are working to determine if there are any problems with a pair of Redundant Rate Gyro Units (RRGUs) aboard the Atlas 5 rocket that will launch the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The units are part of the vehicle's flight control system.
The concern stems from an RRGU that failed factory testing while being readied for a future launch.
If the issue can be resolved promptly, liftoff will proceed on Thursday morning.
(crosses fingers)
djellison
Aug 9 2005, 07:29 PM
Shuttle landing and MRO launch inside 24 hrs was almost too much for me to handle.
But MRO HAS to go in this window - so I hope they dont have to delay too long - the weather at KSC recently has demonstrated how hard it can be to get a break meterologically.
Doug
blobrana
Aug 9 2005, 10:16 PM
The launch window is between 11:54 to 13:39 GMT, Wednesday.
If the launch is postponed, additional launch windows open daily at different times each morning through August.
Analyst
Aug 10 2005, 09:55 AM
There is a positive effect of launching later in the window: The MOI delta v goes down, from about 1000 m/s with launch on august 10th to less than 900 m/s at the end of the launch window. C3 is rising, but the Atlas has the surplus power to handle this. By launching late we save propellant for extended missions/orbital changes etc. But we must launch in the window, of course.
Analyst
odave
Aug 10 2005, 06:47 PM
Update at
spaceflightnow:
QUOTE
A round of engineering meetings this morning gave a tentative approval to proceed with launch tomorrow, a NASA spokesman says. A final review is scheduled to start around 3 p.m. EDT this afternoon to give the formal approval to enter the countdown this evening.
They also report the weather for tomorrow AM as favorable...
Sunspot
Aug 11 2005, 12:14 PM
Weather plays havoc with Mars launch countdown
An overnight thunderstorm forced the evacuation of Cape Canaveral's Launch Complex 41, throwing the countdown for the launch of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter aboard an Atlas 5 rocket behind schedule.
Liftoff is now scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT).
AndyG
Aug 11 2005, 12:22 PM
QUOTE (Sunspot @ Aug 11 2005, 12:14 PM)
Liftoff is now scheduled for 9:00 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT). Thirty minutes to go, now. Good luck MRO. I need more pictures!
Andy (fingers crossed) G
Sunspot
Aug 11 2005, 12:50 PM
Fueling glitch holds up Mars probe launch countdown
Liftoff has slipped to the end of the launch window at 9:35 a.m. EDT (1335 GMT).
chris
Aug 11 2005, 12:50 PM
QUOTE (AndyG @ Aug 11 2005, 12:22 PM)
Thirty minutes to go, now. Good luck MRO. I need more pictures!
Andy (fingers crossed) G
Looking very likely it may be scrubbed again due to a fuelling problem.
djellison
Aug 11 2005, 12:50 PM
Dealyed to the very end of the window to hepl give time to fix a problem with a fuel flow meter type thing
Blood fuel sensors - always causing trouble
Doug
AndyG
Aug 11 2005, 12:55 PM
QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 11 2005, 12:50 PM)
Dealyed to the very end of the window to hepl give time to fix a problem with a fuel flow meter type thing
Blood fuel sensors - always causing trouble
Doug
Ha! Back tomorrow, then!?
Andy G
JES
Aug 11 2005, 01:10 PM
Today's launch of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been postponed due to a software issue involving the Atlas V's Centaur upper stage. The next launch window is Friday, Aug. 12. More details to follow. (Aug. 11, 6 a.m.)
djellison
Aug 11 2005, 01:15 PM
The later it goes in the window, the smaller the MOI delta V I guess...dont want to wait TOO long though
the less dV we need for MOI - the longer the mission can last
Astonishing fact of the day
The MOI engines for MRO are 6 of the descent engines designed for the orig 2001 Mars lander
Sunspot
Aug 11 2005, 01:22 PM
QUOTE (djellison @ Aug 11 2005, 02:15 PM)
Astonishing fact of the day
The MOI engines for MRO are 6 of the descent engines designed for the orig 2001 Mars lander
OMG
Redstone
Aug 11 2005, 01:25 PM
So what is Phoenix using then???
They are keeping the rocket on the pad, so they must be reasonably hopeful they can resolve this withinn 24hrs.
Two hour window tomorrow - 7:43 am EDT to 9:43 am
odave
Aug 11 2005, 01:39 PM
Hmmm, maybe Doug should rename this topic to "MRO Launch" - we should be sending a more positive message down to KSC
RNeuhaus
Aug 11 2005, 04:46 PM
QUOTE (odave @ Aug 11 2005, 08:39 AM)
Hmmm, maybe Doug should rename this topic to "MRO Launch" - we should be sending a more positive message down to KSC
Next time, to wakup at 7:50 am Friday August 12, ready to zoom to Mars.
Rodolfo
Tesheiner
Aug 12 2005, 07:23 AM
Nice photos (from LockMart) posted on the Spaceflight Now website.
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av007/rolloutgallery/01.html
odave
Aug 12 2005, 12:00 PM
No delay today - nice looking launch, right on time! She's just entered the coast period. Bon Voyage, MRO!
Chmee
Aug 12 2005, 12:28 PM
Man, that Atlas assembly building is CLOSE to the launch pad. Well, it looks like they brought some operations specialists in when they designed that. If there is a storm or a problem with the vehicle, it looks like they can quickly roll it back in.
RNeuhaus
Aug 12 2005, 02:00 PM
MRO was already launched on Friday August 12, 2005 at 7:43 AM EDT
Rodolfo
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