PhilCo126
Feb 16 2008, 07:49 PM
The year 2008 proves to become extremely exciting as the European Laboratory for particle physics (CERN = Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire) will start-up the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world’s largest sub-atomic particle accelerator in an underground circular tunnel near Geneva Switzerland, in order to study nature’s fundamental elements and their interactions at the smallest scale. Meanwhile, NASA’s GLAST space telescope will study the same processes as the LHC does but in their natural cosmic settings.
Thought this mission should get its own topic
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/GLAST/sp...raft/index.html
PhilCo126
Feb 16 2008, 08:55 PM
Does anyone know of another website with images of the GLAST space telescope?
The General Dynamics site on GLAST is down...
http://glast.gsfc.nasa.gov/public/resources/images/
PhilCo126
Feb 17 2008, 09:40 AM
Two weeks ago, NASA's Alan Stern, associate administrator for Science at NASA Headquarters, launched a public competition, closing 31 March 2008, to re-name GLAST in a way that would "capture the excitement of GLAST’s mission and call attention to gamma-ray and high-energy astronomy...
Well I hope they will retain GLAST acronym along the new name as otherwise science writers will have to do some editing to articles in preparation
PhilCo126
Feb 20 2008, 05:54 PM
ngunn
Feb 21 2008, 04:24 PM
I've been trying, but it's not an easy assignment to make gamma rays and high energy particle physics popular topics round the breakfast table. Even the word gamma itself has connotations of a fail grade. It's not the sexiest greek letter. Added to that the acronym GLAST is actually one of the more catchy and pronouncable ones around. So my suggestion would be - GLAST. I haven't bothered submitting it.
dvandorn
Feb 21 2008, 05:08 PM
They could always call it the GAmma Ray Burst Observer -- GARBO.
Then again, what do you do when a high-tech orbital observatory announces that it wants to be alone?
-the other Doug
hendric
Feb 21 2008, 07:36 PM
GLASTnost?
GAMMELEON?
GaRaBu (Rhymes with Caribou)?
HULK?
GODZILLA?
mps
Feb 21 2008, 08:35 PM
GLASTnost is a good one
But people would mix it with GLONASS
Jeff7
Feb 22 2008, 05:33 PM
GLaDOS?
It would need some sort of CAKE instrumentation.
It would serve as an excellent portal through which to view the Universe.
mps
Feb 22 2008, 07:33 PM
Or why not GLAD (Gamma-ray Large Area Detector) - there's much worser acronyms out there
dvandorn
Feb 23 2008, 06:11 AM
I was trying to come up with words that would form the acronym KOOL-AID, but first I had to change the name of gamma rays to kappa rays... *sigh*...
-the other Doug
djellison
Feb 23 2008, 09:31 AM
GONAD (Gamma-Ray Observatory 'n' Astronomical Discoverer )
mps
Feb 23 2008, 02:56 PM
GOLEM (Gamma-ray Observing Laboratory Explorer Mission)
centsworth_II
Feb 23 2008, 06:05 PM
I think it's: Gamma Ray Extended Area Telescope!
The GREAT mission.
Del Palmer
Feb 29 2008, 11:26 PM
If NASA doesn't receive any good suggestions, they could name it TWAIN (Telescope Without An Interesting Name).
djellison
Feb 29 2008, 11:31 PM
FLAT : (Four Letter Acronym Telescope)
Or, slightly more seriously, the Feenberg Telescope, or the Kemble telescope.
Doug
PhilCo126
Mar 5 2008, 06:46 PM
GLAST arrived at Kennedy Space Center
The rocket that will launch GLAST is a Delta II 7920-H, manufactured and prepared for launch by United Launch Alliance. It is a heavier-lift model of the standard Delta II that uses larger solid rocket boosters. The first stage is scheduled to be erected on Pad 17-B the week of March 17. Launch is planned for 16th May 2008...
christian_d
Mar 20 2008, 02:30 PM
How about POSTGRAD - Powerful Orbital Space Telescope for Gamma Rays And Dark matter
Maybe that would attract bright, young scientists
ollopa
Apr 19 2008, 09:58 AM
Florida Today's Flame Tranch blog is reporting:
04/18/2008 03:13 PM GLAST delay expected after accident
http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/...loridatoday.comI can't open the link. Does anyone know more?
Edit: removed parentheses around link
Please don't add parentheses around long links, it makes the page too wide to read and breaks the link.
alan
Del Palmer
Apr 19 2008, 10:42 AM
Looks like a damaged adapter beam (they've apparently already organized and tested a replacement). Processing will continue on Monday, so only a short delay.
PhilCo126
May 23 2008, 12:29 PM
djellison
May 23 2008, 12:42 PM
Ben - your check out photos are SO much better than the stuff the usual KSC PAO photographers come up with. Stunning images.
Doug
BPCooper
May 23 2008, 07:02 PM
Well, thanks. :-)
The June 3 launch day will only occur if the shuttle goes May 31. If the shuttle is scrubbed 24, 48 hours then GLAST will delay accordingly with three days between them. If the shuttle were to be delayed much beyond it, GLAST would surely go first.
PhilCo126
May 24 2008, 11:59 AM
Launch of NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope, or GLAST, is targeted for Tuesday, June 3, from Pad 17-B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch window extends from 11:45 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. EDT and remains unchanged through Aug. 7.
NASA will hold a pre-launch news conference at NASA's Kennedy Space Center news center at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. The briefing will be carried live on NASA Television.
A prelaunch webcast will take place on Monday, June 2 at noon on NASA Direct, Kennedy's Internet broadcasting network.
BPCooper
May 29 2008, 10:22 PM
Launch is now June 5, same time.
BPCooper
Jun 2 2008, 04:15 PM
June 6 now, earliest.
BPCooper
Jun 2 2008, 09:02 PM
Now June 7 and counting :-P I'm not sure what the issues are exactly.
BPCooper
Jun 3 2008, 05:27 PM
There is a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather both the 7th and 8th.
PhilCo126
Jun 4 2008, 03:30 PM
The GLAST prelaunch news conference is planned for 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 5, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center News Center. Question and answer capability will be available from participating NASA locations.
There were some issues with the Delta II launch vehicle, the launch window extends from June 7 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. EDT and remains unchanged through Aug. 7. Fingers crossed!
BPCooper
Jun 4 2008, 05:10 PM
Launch postponed to June 8 now :-P
BPCooper
Jun 4 2008, 11:25 PM
We're looking at an indefinite postponment now. The range is refusing to allow a waiver on a rocket issue, for both GLAST and Jason.
BPCooper
Jun 5 2008, 01:25 AM
It appears that this involves a battery with respect to the flight termination system (FTS) and that the GLAST vehicle will get its battery from Jason; Jason will get a new one. I don't know what that means for the dates.
BPCooper
Jun 5 2008, 04:19 PM
June 11 now.
BPCooper
Jun 10 2008, 11:58 PM
If anyone is still paying attention, live coverage begins on NASA TV's media channel (only) at 9:45am EDT. There is a 40% chance of weather violation. Today they would have been no go for sure, it was stormy from around 10am through the day.
PhilCo126
Jun 11 2008, 12:39 PM
Indeed, the GLAST gamma-ray telescope, a $690 million successor to one of NASA's original Great Observatories, is scheduled for launch Wednesday 11th June 2008 from Cape Canaveral. 60% acceptable meteo conditions…
Liftoff aboard a Delta 2-Heavy rocket is targeted for 11:45 a.m. EDT.
Countdown just went in a planned 60-minute built-in hold
climber
Jun 11 2008, 04:01 PM
Launch in another 5 minutes on media channel
jmjawors
Jun 11 2008, 04:05 PM
climber
Jun 11 2008, 04:05 PM
Lift Off
MahFL
Jun 11 2008, 04:08 PM
QUOTE (climber @ Jun 11 2008, 04:05 PM)
Lift Off
Lol I was just going to say Lift off !
SkyeLab
Jun 11 2008, 04:16 PM
Should that not be GLAST-off ?
PhilCo126
Jun 11 2008, 05:18 PM
GLAST-off
June 11, 2008 - 12:05 p.m. EDT
GLAST has launched into space out of plumes of smoke and clouds at 12:05 p.m. EDT. The spacecraft will be going through a coast phase for about 50 minutes. GLAST will then be in the perfect orbit to monitor the universe. Let's hope everything will work out fine!
jmjawors
Jun 11 2008, 05:22 PM
GLAST has just separated from the second stage and is now on its own. Congrats to the GLAST team!
edit : posted too soon. Still awaiting solar array deploy...
edit2 : I think we've had confirmation of solar array deploy. GLAST is truly on its way.
Sunspot
Jun 11 2008, 05:22 PM
1720 GMT (1:20 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 75 minutes, 9 seconds. SPACECRAFT SEPARATION! NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space Telescope has been deployed from the Delta 2 rocket's second stage to complete today's launch from Cape Canaveral.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/delta/d333/status.html
djellison
Jun 11 2008, 05:53 PM
Looked a bit unusual to me - blackening on the GEM's - and what looked like venting from the 1st stage shortly after launch.
Nice to hear it's up and away though
Doug
hendric
Jun 11 2008, 10:02 PM
Any word when we will find out the winner of the naming contest?
ugordan
Jun 11 2008, 10:11 PM
Nice launch! Showed more different camera angles and zooms than your typical Delta II launch. You gotta love that zoom shot with loads of condensation sticking to the vehicle. The combination of sound, tracking footage and cloudy skies reminds me of the New Horizons launch pretty much.
PhilCo126
Jun 12 2008, 09:55 AM
Any word when we will find out the winner of the naming contest?
good question hendric... hopefully soon as I need that new name for my upcoming article on this beauty of a space telescope
lastof7
Jun 12 2008, 03:20 PM
QUOTE (djellison @ Jun 11 2008, 01:53 PM)
Looked a bit unusual to me - blackening on the GEM's - and what looked like venting from the 1st stage shortly after launch.
Doug
I noticed that, too, and a colleague showed me it blackened the rocket all the way up to the fairing. I haven't watched a ton of Delta launches, but I don't recall ever seeing such an effect.
EDIT: Sorry, misread your post. You weren't saying venting caused the blackening. Any thoughts on what might have?
ugordan
Jun 12 2008, 08:54 PM
QUOTE (lastof7 @ Jun 12 2008, 05:20 PM)
You weren't saying venting caused the blackening. Any thoughts on what might have?
Looks like the solid booster backblast simply charred it. It's pretty chaotic from launch to launch - for example RocketCams on Delta II can get blasted with the charring at liftoff or can remain pretty clean. Just a stroke of luck I'd say.
PhilCo126
Jun 17 2008, 05:26 PM
Any news/hints when GLAST will be renamed ?
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