New Horizons (NASA Pluto/KB Mission) To go up today

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:55 am

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newho ... index.html

Watch it live on their webcameras. Countdown starts at 11am EST.

If this thing blows up, I will be terribly upset. All my life I've wanted to see Pluto and this will be the only realistic chance of it, albeit in 2015.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:14 am

The moon is named Charon? That's a little foreboding.

We should name our moon.

Black Sparrow · Post by **Black Sparrow** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:28 am

Well, the planet is named Pluto. Don't you see a theme?

That said, AWESOME! *Nerds it up*

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:41 am

PeppermintAfterlife wrote:The moon is named Charon? That's a little foreboding.

We should name our moon.

Our moon is named Moon.

Yeah, not so inspiring. But technically accurate.

Once upon a time we didn't think anything else had a moon... and the people at the time named this object in the sky Luna. But we found other moons around other planets and the name Luna became the designation luna and these other objects became lunae. And they were given names. In more modern times, Luna was translated into Moon. The other objects became moons, and retained their names, while the Moon retained the original name, as well as it's designation.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:42 am

Black Sparrow wrote:Well, the planet is named Pluto. Don't you see a theme?

Yes.

Doesn't make it any less creepy.

RemusShepherd · Post by **RemusShepherd** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 7:47 am

I've always called our moon Cynthia. It's one of her greek names -- the moon goddess's name was alternately Artemis, Diana, Selene, or Cynthia.

'Luna' is good, too. She looks more like a Luna when she's only a sliver full. Cynthia is the name of a big round girl.

I'm more excited about the propulsion system on New horizons than anything else. I don't think there's going to be a lot to see on Pluto.

Dutch! · Post by **Dutch!** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:15 am

I always refer to the moon as the 'old feller'...

War · Post by **War** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:28 am

The thrusters aren't the most interesting part in my opinion, just hydrazine thrusters. The fact they're using 33kg of plutonium and it only garnered 30 protestors is more interesting. Hopefully this is a sign that we can start to see more use of nuclear in space development.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:31 am

War wrote:The thrusters aren't the most interesting part in my opinion, just hydrazine thrusters. The fact they're using 33kg of plutonium and it only garnered 30 protestors is more interesting. Hopefully this is a sign that we can start to see more use of nuclear in space development.

Kind of my thinking. It was supposed to be more though - they're only generating 200 watts of power. They wanted 220. :/ Stupid 9/11 shut down production for a while so security could be upgraded, and they didn't get their full shipment in time.

With that fuel source, the device could last as long as the voyager systems have, realistically giving us a chance to look at KBOs (Kuiper Belt Objects).

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 8:59 am

T-minus 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Oxygen at 20% and filling.

*excited*

Ekolter · Post by **Ekolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:07 am

rkolter wrote:T-minus 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Oxygen at 20% and filling.

*excited*

You're such a geek

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:30 am

T-minus 45 minutes!

Hydrogen load 90% in Centaur stage (100% oxygen)

100% oxygen in Atlas stage.

Just about ready...

Winds are pretty high though. :/ Better not get over the maximum 33 knots.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:33 am

mrs_rkolter wrote:
rkolter wrote:T-minus 1 hour, 15 minutes.

Oxygen at 20% and filling.

*excited*
You're such a geek

you answered the mating call.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:51 am

T-minus 25 minutes! It's all fueled!

... small issue with a fill/drain valve. I hope it won't delay things.

There's a 20 minute pause coming up in 5 minutes.

*hates the pause*

Czar · Post by **Czar** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:06 am

Color me interested.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:23 am

T-minus 4 minutes and holding (scheduled hold - 20 minutes remaining)

1:45pm est is estimate for T-0.

fill and drain valve failed but is now working after several tests.

winds are high - at limits. Being monitored. New flightpath being plotted.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:41 am

Pushed back to 2:10pm EST due to winds.

The window goes to 3:23 EST

Risky · Post by **Risky** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:41 am

Doesn't look good.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:00 am

Now new T-0 is at 2:30pm EST due to wind speed.

If we don't launch today, there are windows in the following days through part of febuary.

dang it. Launch!

launch launch launch launch launch!

*kicks the wind*

Col · Post by **Col** » Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:10 am

rkolter wrote:*kicks the wind*

Heh, there's a funny mental image.