BS: Space news

Subject: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 02:17 PM

Endeavour moved to launch pad as rescue ship for Atlantis
Updated 27m ago

Space Shuttle Endeavour arrives at Launch Pad 39B. It will be on standby in the unlikely event that a rescue mission for the Atlantis's crew would be necessary.


CAPE CANAVERAL (AP) — In an unprecedented step, a space shuttle was moved to the launch pad Friday for a trip NASA hopes it will never make — a rescue mission.
The shuttle Endeavour is on standby in case the seven astronauts who go up on Atlantis next month need a safer ride home.

Atlantis and its crew are headed into space for one last repair job on the 18-year-old Hubble Space Telescope. It's a venture that was canceled when first proposed a few years ago because it was considered too dangerous.

The risk is this: If Atlantis suffers serious damage during launch or in flight, the astronauts will not be at the international space station, where they could take refuge for weeks while awaiting a ride home. They would be stranded on their spacecraft at the Hubble, where NASA estimates they could stay alive for 25 days. Air would be the first to go.

Endeavour and four more astronauts would need to blast off on a rescue flight as soon as NASA determined Atlantis was too damaged to fly home.

On Friday, Endeavour was parked at its launch pad just a mile from where Atlantis is tentatively set to lift off on Oct. 10.

It is the first time since 2001 — when flights were more closely spaced — that both of NASA's shuttle pads have been occupied. And it will probably be the last.

The Atlantis astronauts say there's a slim chance any rescue will be needed, and they say they would fly to Hubble even if there were no such backup plan.

Scott Altman, Atlantis' commander, said it may seem like overkill, but having a rescue ship on the pad is the right thing to do.

"It's kind of a belt-and-suspenders approach. But if you need the belt after your suspenders fail, you would be glad you had it," said Altman, a retired Navy captain and former fighter pilot.

On top of the usual launch and landing dangers, the Atlantis crew faces an estimated 1-in-185 chance that a piece of space junk or a micrometeoroid will cause catastrophic damage to their ship. Those are greater odds than for a typical shuttle flight because of Hubble's extremely high and debris-littered orbit.

Before reaching Hubble and again after leaving it, the Atlantis astronauts will inspect their spacecraft for signs of damage, just as crews always do while in orbit.

Ever since space shuttles resumed flying following the 2003 Columbia tragedy that killed seven astronauts, NASA has had a rescue plan in case of irreparable damage. But all those missions have been to the space station, where astronauts could camp out for two months.

The Hubble mission offers no such safe haven. That's why the Hubble repair mission was canceled in 2004; NASA's boss at the time deemed it too dangerous.

A new NASA regime reversed that decision, once space shuttles were flying safely again and repair methods became available to orbiting astronauts. The caveat was that another shuttle be on the launch pad, all prepped and ready to fly — something never before attempted.

NASA took similar steps in 1973 during its first space station program, Skylab. But a rescue was never needed.

Once Atlantis is aloft, "if it even begins to smell" like a rescue might be needed, final preparations for Endeavour will begin, said launch director Mike Leinbach. He said Endeavour could lift off within six days.

The rescue craft would fly to Atlantis and use a 50-foot robot arm to grab the damaged shuttle. The Atlantis astronauts would put on spacesuits and float, a few at a time, to Endeavour over the course of three spacewalks. Endeavour would return home with all 11 astronauts.

The toughest call, officials say, would be deciding that Atlantis indeed had serious enough damage that a rescue should be tried.

"This will be an emotional thing," Leinbach said.

Such a rescue would put four more astronauts at risk and would mean the end of Atlantis, and undoubtedly the space shuttle program, which is set to be phased out in 2010. Atlantis would be sent into the Pacific once its astronauts were aboard Endeavour.

It would rank right up there with the drama of Apollo 13, said Ed Mango, Atlantis' launch director. For Leinbach, who would head up the rescue launch, it would be the most important thing NASA has ever done, period.

Altman realizes that if pressed into service, Endeavour might not get off in time. Storms or a last-second engine shutdown could keep it grounded.

"There's no guarantee it would get there," Altman said in an interview with The Associated Press. "On the other hand, you look at how many things would have to go wrong to make it not possible to pull off. ...

"There's a scenario out there that doesn't have a happy ending, and I think we all have to come to grips with that before launch."

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:10 PM

Why not just use endevour ... (?)

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: SINSULL
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:15 PM

LOL
Partridge's dream may come true after all.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:17 PM

The risk is that the repair crew ( on Atlantis) will not be able to return (due to tile loss and/or damage from debris) and not able to get to the ISS. The Endeavour would then be launched to rescue them.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:33 PM

I admire their confidence and dedication... major attempts at 'pushing the limits' are always fraught with dangers. Ferdinand Magellan knew it, Columbus knew it, Apollo 11 knew it...and the current astronauts have better odds than they did.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:43 PM

What I mean is, if Atlantis is so decrepit that it might not be able to do the job, why take the risk and have a back up shuttle if the back up is more reliable.

What's wrong with endevour that it can't do the job and bypass the middleman as it were?

(not expressing myself very well - hoping I am not being too unclear)

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 04:50 PM

All the shuttles are in about the same shape- the mission provides a greater risk of debris hitting the shuttle.

They are phasing the shuttles out ( around 2010). Be nice if they waited fot a replaement, though.

Aries/Orion will not be ready for a few more years- until then we are depenedent on the Russians ( Soyez) for access to the ISS.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 05:06 PM

Gotcha

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 19 Sep 08 - 05:07 PM

(as in - I understand)

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 20 Sep 08 - 01:04 AM

"Aries/Orion will not be ready for a few more years- until then we are depenedent on the Russians ( Soyez) for access to the ISS."

So George & McCain are trying to heat up the cold war with Russia in the election campaign?


??????!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Sep 08 - 08:44 AM

No, the Russians are trying to heat up the cold war.



Both Obama and McCain have stated the same policy on Georgia- consistant with both this administration and NATO.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 01:34 AM

"Both Obama and McCain have stated the same policy on Georgia"

Other parts of the World have differing opinions from the Brainwashed Masses of the USA - namely that Georgia was encouraged to 'go for it' so that Russia could be beaten up on as 'the bad guy again', thus justifying more military expenditure by the USA - to the financial benefit of the US 'military industrial complex'...

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 06:05 AM

Regardless, YOU are putting blame on McCain that HAS to be shared with Obama, if you consider the policy to be wrong. Blaming ONLY McCain is bigotry.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Sep 08 - 01:11 PM

Bearded Bruce-

At any rate, a back-up plan is a welcome addition to shuttle space flights.

Courage, skill, and luck are not enough.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 09:51 AM

China launches 3-man crew into space

By WONG WAI-BOR, Associated Press Writer
29 minutes ago



JIUQUAN, China - China on Thursday successfully launched a three-man crew into space where one of them will make the country's first spacewalk, the country's most challenging space mission since first launching a person into space in 2003.

The Shenzhou 7 spacecraft, China's third manned mission, blasted off atop a Long March 2F rocket shortly after 9:00 p.m. (1300 GMT) under clear night skies in northwestern China. The spacewalk by one of the astronauts is expected to take place either on Friday or Saturday.

Underscoring the mission's heavy political overtones, Chinese President and Communist Party head Hu Jintao was shown live on state television hailing the astronauts at the launch site near the northwestern town of Jiuquan.

"You will definitely accomplish this glorious and sacred mission. The motherland and the people are looking forward to your triumphant return," Hu told the three, who were dressed in their flight suits and behind glass to avoid germs.

The mission, expected to last three to four days, is devoted almost entirely to the execution of the spacewalk, known formally as an extra-vehicular activity, or EVA, is expected to help China master the technology for docking two orbiters to create China's first orbiting space station in the next few years.

The spacewalk could happen either Friday or Saturday depending on how well the astronauts adapt to weightlessness and other physical demands of their environment, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office.

The walk will take place in the afternoon local time, with the astronauts returning to Earth soon afterward, the office said.

The two astronauts who don spacesuits for the Shengzhou 7 spacewalk will be supported by Russian experts throughout the mission. Only one will actually leave the orbiter module to retrieve scientific experiments placed outside. One of the astronauts will wear China's homemade Feitian suit, while the other will wear a Russian-made suit.

Fighter pilot Zhai Zhigang, an unsuccessful candidate for the previous two manned missions, has been touted by the official Xinhua News Agency as the leading astronaut to carry out the spacewalk, expected to last about 40 minutes.

Zhai and fellow astronauts Jing Haipeng and Liu Boming — all three of them 42-year-old fighter pilots — were introduced to journalists at a late Wednesday news conference. A decade of training together ensured effective, smooth cooperation between the three, Liu said.

"The Shenzhou 7 mission marks a historic breakthrough in China's manned space program," Zhai said. "It is a great honor for all three of us to fly the mission, and we are fully prepared for the challenge."

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: GUEST,beardedbruce
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 08:28 AM

U.S. to rely on Russia for manned spaceflight
By John Schwartz Published: October 5, 2008



http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/05/america/gap.php

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Oct 08 - 08:40 AM

As Robert Heinlein wrote, I'm sure that mankind will go into space; I am no longer sure that the Americans will be there.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 08 Oct 08 - 05:40 AM

Well Rap, from the viewpoint of us NON-US citizens, that may not necessarily be a bad thing.... :-P

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 20 Oct 08 - 06:48 PM

ORBITAL SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES COMPANY-BUILT IBEX SATELLITE ABOARD PEGASUS ROCKET FOR NASA

-- Latest Mission Is 26th Consecutive Successful Launch for Pegasus --

-- Scientific Satellite to Study the Heliosphere is Performing as Expected
Early in its Mission --

(Dulles, VA 20 October 2008) -- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB) announced today that its Pegasus® rocket successfully launched the company-built Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) satellite for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) into its intended highly elliptical orbit. Early results indicate that the satellite is operating as expected at this stage of its mission. Orbital designed, manufactured and tested the IBEX satellite at its Dulles, VA satellite manufacturing facilities. Orbital is teamed with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) of San Antonio, TX, which is managing the IBEX scientific program, with mission funding provided by NASA. The successful launch by the Pegasus rocket was the 26th consecutive successful mission for the Pegasus program since 1997 and the 40th overall flight of the company's unique air-launched system since its introduction in 1990.

"We are very pleased to support NASA and Southwest Research Institute on this important scientific project," said Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "The IBEX program was another 'dual' mission for our satellite and launch vehicle engineering teams, building on our history of carrying out missions for which Orbital was responsible for the satellite design, development, manufacturing and testing, as well as the launch services with our Pegasus and Taurus rockets. Once the IBEX satellite completes its in-orbit testing and begins to deliver data to the scientific team, it will join a growing list of other Orbital-supported dual missions for NASA, including the AIM, GALEX, SORCE and ACRIMSAT science satellites built by Orbital and launched aboard our rockets."

The Pegasus/IBEX mission took place on Sunday, October 19, originating from the U.S. Army's Reagan Test Site, Kwajalein Atoll, which is a part of the Marshall Islands in the mid-Pacific Ocean. Following a one-hour preplanned positioning flight, the Pegasus rocket was released from Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft at approximately 1:47 p.m. (EDT). After an 8-minute and 15-second powered flight sequence by the Pegasus rocket, the IBEX satellite flight system, which weighed approximately 1,000 lbs. at launch and included the spacecraft and its associated propulsion system, was accurately deployed into its targeted initial orbit 125 miles above the Earth. Shortly after separation from Pegasus, the IBEX satellite's independent propulsion system burned for just over a minute to propel it into its initial elliptical orbit.

Over the next several weeks, the IBEX satellite's onboard hydrazine thrusters will fire to maneuver the spacecraft into its final highly elliptical final orbit of 200,000 by 4,400 miles. Upon completion of the orbit positioning process, the apogee of IBEX's orbit will extend 80% of the distance to the Moon from Earth.

About the IBEX Mission
For the IBEX program, Orbital is teamed with the SwRI's Principal Investigator Dr. David McComas. The IBEX mission is funded through NASA's Small Explorers (SMEX) science satellite program, which is managed by the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD.

The mission of the IBEX satellite program is to make the first comprehensive image map of the boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space, where hot solar winds collide with the cold expanse of space. Measuring this interstellar interaction is important for understanding man's protection from galactic cosmic rays, which are energetic particles from beyond the Solar System that could pose health risks to future astronauts exploring deep space. The satellite will employ two narrow-band image sensors (IBEX-Hi and IBEX-Low) to detect neutral atoms, enabling Dr. McComas and his scientific team to map the boundary between the Solar System and interstellar space.   
About the Pegasus Rocket
Pegasus is the world's leading launch system for the deployment of small satellites into low-Earth orbit. Its patented air-launch system, in which the rocket is launched from beneath Orbital's "Stargazer" L-1011 carrier aircraft over the ocean, reduces cost and provides customers with unparalleled flexibility to operate from virtually anywhere on Earth with minimal ground support requirements.

About Orbital
Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company's primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; and missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 01:17 AM

"Regardless, YOU are putting blame on McCain that HAS to be shared with Obama, if you consider the policy to be wrong. Blaming ONLY McCain is bigotry."

To me - they're BOTH 'Bloody Yanks' - and Uncle Sam is perhaps the most aggressive modern nation in history. they are BOTH front men apologists for the US Military Industrial Complex. Kennedy's idea was to distract them by going into space, but they fixed that - (and him!) - you see war consume far more resources than space flight - where you EXPECT to TRY and get out alive, and reuse the equipment.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: Peace
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 02:03 AM

I was attracted by the thread title. What's happenin' man?

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 07:35 AM

Well, I'm currently rerunning my entire set of "Babylon 5" dvds. It's the safest way to do space travel, imho!.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 21 Oct 08 - 06:54 PM

Will only be on occasionally- somewhat busy with this one...



        
New Launch: 2008 October 19, 1747 UTC        
Site: US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA)
Launcher: Pegasus
International Designators(s): 2008-051A

SSC        Name        Owner
33401        IBEX        US

"Sunday's launch of a small eight-sided satellite marked the start of a two-year mission of long-distance exploration to study the little-known boundary between the solar system and the galaxy beyond.

"The Interstellar Boundary Explorer, or IBEX, rode into space Sunday aboard a Pegasus XL rocket dropped from the belly of an airplane above the Pacific Ocean.

"The L-1011 carrier aircraft, nicknamed Stargazer, deployed the 50,000-pound [22,700-kg] rocket at 1:47 p.m. EDT Sunday. The plane was flying about 100 miles [160 km] north of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

"The winged launcher boosted IBEX and a Star 27 kick motor into a temporary parking orbit in the first eight minutes of the mission. The solid-fueled Star 27 fired a few minutes later to boost IBEX to an arcing high-altitude orbit.

"The satellite was targeting an orbit with a high point of about 127,000 miles [204,000 km] and an inclination of 11 degrees."

"IBEX will begin using its own hydrazine fuel to climb higher, eventually reaching an orbit with a low point of 4,400 miles and a high point of 200,000 miles [322,000 km], about 80 percent of the distance to the moon.

"Science activities are expected to begin in about five weeks, officials said.

"The mission requires that the spacecraft fly outside of the influence of Earth's magnetic field to capture energetic particles from the edge of the solar system.

"IBEX will observe material from the outer solar system called energetic neutral atoms. These atoms are created by a process called charge exchange, in which charged particles are neutralized by nearby atoms to form the energetic neutral atoms."

"IBEX data will produce an all-sky map of the heliopause every six months. Officials expect to create up to four maps during the mission."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "New satellite to study solar system's distant frontier"

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 06:23 AM

Don't reverse your signs!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 03:24 PM

""The satellite was targeting an orbit with a high point of about 127,000 miles [204,000 km] and an inclination of 11 degrees."

"IBEX will begin using its own hydrazine fuel to climb higher, eventually reaching an orbit with a low point of 4,400 miles and a high point of 200,000 miles [322,000 km], about 80 percent of the distance to the moon. "


First raising burn completed- Perigee now about 2,000km.

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: beardedbruce
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 01:09 PM

IBEX in science orbit!

"The next apogee is on 13 Nov 2008 07:33 with an altitude of 46.995  Re (and a radius of  47.995 Re).
The next perigee is 17 Nov 2008 02:03   with an altitude of 12415.9 km (and a radius of 18793.2 km)."

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: Amos
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 01:41 PM

COngratulations, Bruce!! A thrilling accomplishment on the Great Trail outward.



A

Subject: RE: BS: Space news
From: Amos
Date: 18 Nov 08 - 08:31 PM

KEO is a space time capsule which will be launched in 2010 or 2011[1] carrying messages from the citizens of present Earth to humanity 50,000 years from now, when it will reenter Earth's atmosphere.

The KEO project is supported by UNESCO (who voted it "Project of the 21st century"), Hutchison Whampoa and the European Space Agency, among other institutions. Its name is supposed to represent the three most frequently used sounds common to the most widely spoken languages today, [k], [e] and [o],[2] though this is in fact mistaken, as the most common sound is [a].[3]
Contents

    * 1 Personal messages
    * 2 Other contents
    * 3 Technical aspects
    * 4 Project history
    * 5 Similar Projects
    * 6 See also
    * 7 Notes
    * 8 References
    * 9 External links
Personal messages

Every person is invited to write a message addressed to the future inhabitants—the deadline is December 31, 2009. Messages can be posted via the the project's website, or sent by postal mail. The organizers encourage everybody to gather messages from children, senior citizens and the illiterate so that every culture and demographic on Earth is represented. The satellite has enough capacity to carry a four-page message from each of the more than six billion inhabitants on the planet. Once the satellite is launched, the messages (with personal names removed) will be made freely available on the web.

Other contents

KEO will also carry a diamond that encases a drop of human blood chosen at random and samples of air, sea water and earth.[4] The DNA of the human genome will be engraved on one of the faces. The satellite will also carry an astronomical clock that shows the current rotation rates of several pulsars; photographs of people of all cultures; and "the contemporary Library of Alexandria", an encyclopaedic compendium of current human knowledge.

Technical aspects

The messages and library will be encoded in glass-made radiation-resistant DVDs. Symbolic instructions in several formats will show the future finders how to build a DVD reader.

The satellite itself is a hollow sphere 80 cm in diameter. The sphere is engraved with a map of Earth and surrounded by an aluminium layer, a thermal layer and several layers of titanium and other heavy materials intertwined with vacuum. The sphere is resistant to cosmic radiation, atmosphere re-entry, space junk impacts and so on. For its first few years in orbit, KEO will sport an artful pair of wings 10 meters across that will aid in its spotting from Earth. As the satellite enters the atmosphere, the thermal layer will produce an artificial aurora to give a signal of the satellite's re-entry. The passive satellite will not carry any communications or propulsion systems. It will be launched by an Ariane 5 rocket into an orbit 1,800 km high, an altitude that will bring it back to Earth in 500 centuries, the same amount of time that has elapsed since early humans started to draw in cavern walls.

The satellite has not been built and no contract has been tendered for its construction.

Project history

The KEO project was conceived in 1994 by French artist-scientist Jean-Marc Philippe, a pioneer of space art. Messages began to be collected, and an initial launch date was set for 2001. Technical feasibility demonstration and other various delays have moved the launch date to 2010 or 2011.

Similar Projects

Several previous spacecraft have included time capsules for humans (or aliens) in the far future. The Apollo 11 Lunar Module (now on the moon) includes a plaque showing the arrangement of the Earth's continents in 1969. The LAGEOS satellite (which will re-enter the atmosphere in 8.4 million years) contains a plaque showing the arrangement of the Earth's continents in the past, present, and future. Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 both contain plaques that give pictorial information about their time and place of origin. Most famously, the two Voyager spacecraft each contain a golden record that contains pictures and sounds of Earth, along with symbolic directions for playing the record and data detailing the location of Earth. The Pioneers and Voyagers have left the solar system for interstellar space.

...



References

    * Bridges, Andrew (Jul. 31, 2000). KEO: The 50,000-Year Mission to Earth Space.com
    * Stenger, Richard (Aug. 29, 2000). KEO time capsule could remain in orbit until 52001 AD CNN.com
    * HowStuffWorks.com (Sept. 5, 2000). Time Capsule to Orbit Earth for 50,000 Years HowStuffWorks.com
    * The Hindu Business Line (Aug. 29, 2002). Hutch brings space-time capsule project to India The Hindu Business Line
    * ChennaiOnline.com (Sept. 4, 2002). KEO, a time capsule in space! ChennaiOnline.com
    * The Digital Skyline (August 2003). A Message to the Future The Digital Skyline
    * Ashraf, Syed Firdaus (Oct. 15, 2003). Once upon a time, 50,000 years ago... Rediff.com
    * EUROPA (May. 28, 2004). New satellite carries hopes and dreams of humanity EUROPA
From
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KEO.


A