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TOPIC: Mars Reconnaissance orbiter
Blobrana


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RE: Mars Reconnaissance orbiter
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T+plus 57 minutes
The Centaur's Pratt & Whitney RL10 engine has shut down as expected and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been released from the Centaur!

There will be 5 navigation correction points on its trajectory to Mars.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will arrive at Mars around March 2006 and will then gradually adjust the shape of its orbit by aerobraking, a technique that uses the friction of careful dips into the planet's upper atmosphere, and be ready for observational work by November 2006 after many loops of aero braking.

"It lays the groundwork for the landing of the Phoenix mission in 2008 and the Mars Science Laboratory (nuclear-powered rover) in 2010. It will provide data relay for both of those spacecraft as well as the rovers (now on Mars) and future missions."

Currently it’s located near Mu Andromeda about 3 degrees from M31, if anyone is interested in taking a snapshot...

Next update, when it arrives at Mars!


Windows media player movie of launch:
(BBC)

-- Edited by Blobrana at 19:46, 2005-08-12

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Blobrana


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Centaur has completed its reorientation burn and the single RL10 engine has reignited for a five-and-a-half minute burn to accelerate Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter out of Earth orbit and on to the Red Planet.



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Blobrana


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T+plus 29 minutes.
And no problems are being reported with systems aboard the Centaur.

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Blobrana


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-- Edited by Blobrana at 19:00, 2005-08-12

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Lift off at 1143 GMT






Windows media player movie of launch (tnx to the BBC)

-- Edited by Blobrana at 14:02, 2005-08-12

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Blobrana


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T minus 4 minutes and holding
The fuel-fill sequence for the first stage main engine is commencing.



Final configuration checks weather briefing will commence shortly.



-- Edited by Blobrana at 12:49, 2005-08-12

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T minus 22 minute
The Centaur liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks are ready.



At the T-minus 4 minute mark the countdown clocks will stop for a planned 10-minute hold.



Delta launch control room




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Blobrana


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T minus 30 minutes
On schedule for launch at 11:43 GMT


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Realplayer feed

Other Webcast links:



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Blobrana


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Collision Avoidance blackout periods ( COLAs).

The launch window from 11:43 to 13:43 GMT includes two brief periods in which lift-off cannot take place; lift-off during 11:57 - 12:02. and 13:33 - 13:38 GMT would take the rockets trajectory too close to another already orbiting satellite.

Final phase has begun at T minus 2 hours.
Weather forecast is good.



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