Astonomy Picture of the Day
2010 February 23
Exceptional Rocket Waves Destroy Sun Dog
Credit & Copyright: George C. Privon (U. Virginia)
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Showing posts with label launch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label launch. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
SDO Launch is the Astronomy Picture of the Day
2010 February 23
Exceptional Rocket Waves Destroy Sun Dog
Credit & Copyright: George C. Privon (U. Virginia)
read more
SDO Launch is the Astronomy Picture of the Day
The waves created by the SDO Launch are the Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 23, 2010. You can see the sundog on the right side of the picture and the rocket in the middle.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Friday, February 19, 2010
Science@Nasa - SDO Destroys a Sundog
February 18, 2010: Last week, on Feb. 11th, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) lifted off from Cape Canaveral on a five-year mission to study the sun. Researchers have called the advanced spacecraft the "crown jewel" of NASA's heliophysics fleet. SDO will beam back IMAX-quality images of solar explosions and peer beneath the stellar surface to see the sun's magnetic dynamo in action.SDO is designed to amaze—and it got off to a good start.
"The observatory did something amazing before it even left the atmosphere," says SDO project scientist Dean Pesnell of the Goddard Space Flight Center.
Moments after launch, SDO's Atlas V rocket flew past a sundog hanging suspended in the blue Florida sky and, with a rippling flurry of shock waves, destroyed it. Click on the image below to launch a video recorded by 13-year-old Anna Herbst at NASA's Banana River viewing site—and don't forget to turn up the volume to hear the reaction of the crowd.
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Thursday, February 18, 2010
A Successful Beginning for the Solar Dynamics Observatory
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:23:25 PM EST
Shortly after separation, the team confirmed the spacecraft's solar arrays deployed correctly and are generating power. All the crucial post-separation events "happened like clockwork," said NASA Launch Director Omar Baez.
This concludes live coverage of the countdown and liftoff of the Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Dynamics Observatory. For further mission information, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo . Thanks for joining us!
Shortly after separation, the team confirmed the spacecraft's solar arrays deployed correctly and are generating power. All the crucial post-separation events "happened like clockwork," said NASA Launch Director Omar Baez.
This concludes live coverage of the countdown and liftoff of the Atlas V rocket carrying the Solar Dynamics Observatory. For further mission information, please visit http://www.nasa.gov/sdo . Thanks for joining us!
Second Main Engine Cutoff
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:10:12 PM EST
Now one hour and 46 minutes into the flight of the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Centaur's main engine has completed its second and final burn. The vehicle is moving to spacecraft separation attitude. The spacecraft will separate from the Centaur momentarily.
Now one hour and 46 minutes into the flight of the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Centaur's main engine has completed its second and final burn. The vehicle is moving to spacecraft separation attitude. The spacecraft will separate from the Centaur momentarily.
Spacecraft Separation!
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:12:43 PM EST
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is on its own in Earth orbit after a perfect liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:23 a.m. The spacecraft separated from the Centaur upper stage right on time.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is on its own in Earth orbit after a perfect liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at 10:23 a.m. The spacecraft separated from the Centaur upper stage right on time.
Second Main Engine Up and Burning
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:06:08 PM EST
The Centaur's RL10 main engine reignited on time at 12:05 p.m. for a three-minute burn. The Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft will separate from the Centaur about three minutes after the second main engine cutoff.
The Centaur's RL10 main engine reignited on time at 12:05 p.m. for a three-minute burn. The Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft will separate from the Centaur about three minutes after the second main engine cutoff.
Centaur First Engine Burn Complete; Beginning Coast Phase
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:39:31 AM EST
The Centaur's main engine cut off on time, ending its first burn. Centaur and spacecraft are in a parking orbit, entering a coast phase scheduled to last about an hour and 27 minutes.
The Centaur's main engine cut off on time, ending its first burn. Centaur and spacecraft are in a parking orbit, entering a coast phase scheduled to last about an hour and 27 minutes.
Centaur, SDO Still in Coast Phase
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:30:34 AM EST
After a spectacular on-time liftoff at 10:23 a.m. and a flawless ride into space, the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft remains attached to the Centaur upper stage in a parking orbit. The Centaur's main engine will burn once more to position the spacecraft for separation. That second burn is expected at approximately 12:05 p.m.
After a spectacular on-time liftoff at 10:23 a.m. and a flawless ride into space, the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft remains attached to the Centaur upper stage in a parking orbit. The Centaur's main engine will burn once more to position the spacecraft for separation. That second burn is expected at approximately 12:05 p.m.
Centaur's Second Burn Coming Up
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 11:50:05 AM EST
At the time of the Centaur main engine's second burn, known as MES2, the vehicle and spacecraft will be high above the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia. The burn is expected one hour and 42 minutes into the flight. Data picked up by the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System indicates a healthy SDO spacecraft and a healthy Centaur.
At the time of the Centaur main engine's second burn, known as MES2, the vehicle and spacecraft will be high above the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia. The burn is expected one hour and 42 minutes into the flight. Data picked up by the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System indicates a healthy SDO spacecraft and a healthy Centaur.
Centaur Positioning for Second Burn
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 12:03:11 PM EST
The Centaur has stopped its slow thermal-control roll in advance of its second main engine burn, now about three minutes away.
The Centaur has stopped its slow thermal-control roll in advance of its second main engine burn, now about three minutes away.
Atlas V Rattles the Space Coast
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:25:11 AM EST
The Atlas V carrying the SDO spacecraft is shaking the Space Coast as it goes supersonic, passing the area of maximum aerodynamic pressure known as Max Q. Everything looks good on the vehicle.
The Atlas V carrying the SDO spacecraft is shaking the Space Coast as it goes supersonic, passing the area of maximum aerodynamic pressure known as Max Q. Everything looks good on the vehicle.
Centaur First Main Engine Start
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:28:21 AM EST
The Atlas V booster has completed its burn and separated from the Centaur upper stage. The Centaur main engine is burning now at 22,300 pounds of thrust; it will propel the SDO spacecraft through the rest of its flight into space. At the top of the rocket, the payload fairing has opened and fallen free, exposing the spacecraft to the space environment. The flight is going very smoothly.
The Atlas V booster has completed its burn and separated from the Centaur upper stage. The Centaur main engine is burning now at 22,300 pounds of thrust; it will propel the SDO spacecraft through the rest of its flight into space. At the top of the rocket, the payload fairing has opened and fallen free, exposing the spacecraft to the space environment. The flight is going very smoothly.
Flight Perfect So Far
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:30:28 AM EST
Data is coming in from the Antigua tracking station and so far the flight is going very well, exactly as expected.
Data is coming in from the Antigua tracking station and so far the flight is going very well, exactly as expected.
TDRS System Tracking Flight
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:35:04 AM EST
Antigua has lost tracking data as the vehicle and spacecraft travel out of range. All the vehicle's systems continue to perform as expected as the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System tracks the flight.
Antigua has lost tracking data as the vehicle and spacecraft travel out of range. All the vehicle's systems continue to perform as expected as the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System tracks the flight.
T-3 Minutes and Counting
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:20:42 AM EST
The Atlas propellant tanks are being brought up to flight pressure and the flight termination system is on internal power.
The Atlas propellant tanks are being brought up to flight pressure and the flight termination system is on internal power.
Liftoff of NASA's Newest Solar Observatory!
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:23:10 AM EST
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is on its way into space, seeking a vantage point in orbit where it will examine our sun in more detail than ever before. The Atlas V carrying the SDO spacecraft is thundering into the Florida sky on 863,000 pounds of thrust. The booster's RD-180 engine will burn for about four minutes before the booster burns out and separates from the Centaur upper stage.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory is on its way into space, seeking a vantage point in orbit where it will examine our sun in more detail than ever before. The Atlas V carrying the SDO spacecraft is thundering into the Florida sky on 863,000 pounds of thrust. The booster's RD-180 engine will burn for about four minutes before the booster burns out and separates from the Centaur upper stage.
SDO Spacecraft Switching to Internal Power
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:14:47 AM EST
The Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft is switching to internal power, signaling that launch is on schedule for 10:23 a.m.
The Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft is switching to internal power, signaling that launch is on schedule for 10:23 a.m.
NASA Ready to Proceed
Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:12:27 AM EST
NASA Launch Director Omar Baez has polled his team and everyone reports they're ready to proceed with the countdown.
NASA Launch Director Omar Baez has polled his team and everyone reports they're ready to proceed with the countdown.
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