Rocket! Launched from near where you (may) live! Man!
April 16, 2013 12:00 PM Subscribe
In August 2013 a Minotaur V rocket (Lunar!) is being launched from Wallops Flight Facility, to deliver a Lunar Orbiter.
Tomorrow, Antares (Orbital). Between tomorrow and August, other (sub-orbital) launches (PDF).
Tomorrow, Antares (Orbital). Between tomorrow and August, other (sub-orbital) launches (PDF).
A little more detail on launch visibility on the east coast. I saw one pretty clearly from Baltimore last year. Definitely neato.
posted by HumanComplex at 12:21 PM on April 16, 2013
posted by HumanComplex at 12:21 PM on April 16, 2013
The Wallops Flight Facility [is] located on the Eastern Shore of the U.S. state of Virginia.
posted by alms at 12:31 PM on April 16, 2013
posted by alms at 12:31 PM on April 16, 2013
Oh, how interesting! I talked with one of the engineers on a related project for an article I wrote a little while back. Some details here (and a great diagram). More NASA here. Unless this is an unrelated laser-based Lunar communications array, which I guess is a possibility.
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:46 PM on April 16, 2013
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:46 PM on April 16, 2013
The LADEE orbiter is super interesting!
There's the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration, which will be the first time they'll be able to test an optical comm system at such great distance. (An earlier test was supposed to hitch a ride on the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, but that was scrapped in 2005) There's the primary science goal of examining the Lunar exosphere, which it'll do in two parts -- an initial phase in high orbit, and then another 100 days at about 50km altitude. And then there's the fact that this is the first practical test of a modular bus system that NASA's hoping will make these satellites cheaper in the future -- a basic framework with standardized parts which can be swapped in and out depending on the needs of a given mission.
Also, you know, testing a brand new class of Minotaur rocket.
I actually did a write up about this mission for Tor a little while back -- I'm really excited about the launch this summer!
posted by Narrative Priorities at 12:51 PM on April 16, 2013
There's the Lunar Laser Communications Demonstration, which will be the first time they'll be able to test an optical comm system at such great distance. (An earlier test was supposed to hitch a ride on the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, but that was scrapped in 2005) There's the primary science goal of examining the Lunar exosphere, which it'll do in two parts -- an initial phase in high orbit, and then another 100 days at about 50km altitude. And then there's the fact that this is the first practical test of a modular bus system that NASA's hoping will make these satellites cheaper in the future -- a basic framework with standardized parts which can be swapped in and out depending on the needs of a given mission.
Also, you know, testing a brand new class of Minotaur rocket.
I actually did a write up about this mission for Tor a little while back -- I'm really excited about the launch this summer!
posted by Narrative Priorities at 12:51 PM on April 16, 2013
So, LADEE. Prounounced "laddie?" "Lady?"
NASA WHERE IS YOUR VIDEO SPOKESMAN TO HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 2:05 PM on April 16, 2013
NASA WHERE IS YOUR VIDEO SPOKESMAN TO HELP ME FIGURE THIS OUT.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 2:05 PM on April 16, 2013
OOOOooooOOOOOOOooOO I'm going to be in Chincoteauge in August! Ok psyched city now.
posted by capnsue at 2:06 PM on April 16, 2013
posted by capnsue at 2:06 PM on April 16, 2013
I saw "Wallops Flight Facility" and thought, huh, wonder why I haven't heard of the Australian space program before.
posted by echo target at 3:12 PM on April 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by echo target at 3:12 PM on April 16, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's "laddie," like something you'd call a boy.
Orbital Sciences is scheduled to launch the first test flight of their new Antares rocket this afternoon (4/17) at 5:00pm. It should be visible from much of the mid-Atlantic, including Washington, DC.
It will be the biggest rocket launched out of Wallops yet. Rocket launches: not just for retirees in Florida anymore!
posted by zap rowsdower at 7:10 AM on April 17, 2013
Orbital Sciences is scheduled to launch the first test flight of their new Antares rocket this afternoon (4/17) at 5:00pm. It should be visible from much of the mid-Atlantic, including Washington, DC.
It will be the biggest rocket launched out of Wallops yet. Rocket launches: not just for retirees in Florida anymore!
posted by zap rowsdower at 7:10 AM on April 17, 2013
I'm just excited that my home state is a location for rocket launches. The history of space exploration and Virginia goes back to NASA's earliest years, and if it weren't for that darn Johnson, probably would have been more entwined with the space race. Avast!
posted by Atreides at 2:20 PM on April 17, 2013
posted by Atreides at 2:20 PM on April 17, 2013
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Yay, astronauts will be able to use Netflix!
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:10 PM on April 16, 2013