NASA is targeting March, 2006 for the next shuttle launch.
(more…)

NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter — known simply as MRO — successfully lifted off from Cape Canaveral this morning following two separate 24-hour delays.

The spacecraft launched aboard NASA’s first Atlas V rocket and liftoff comes with the space agency enjoying renewed public interest. MRO’s journey begins the same week that Discovery completed its return-to-flight mission.

The MRO spacecraft now begins its journey to Mars. Its “cruise phase” to the planet takes 7 months, followed by 6 months spent refining its orbit using a technique known as “aerobraking.” During the initial cruise phase, controllers plan to test the satellite’s instruments and begin preparations to slow it using the atmosphere of Mars.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s mission is to see if long-standing bodies of water ever existed on the planet. While missions like the Mars Exploration Rovers have shown that water once flowed across the planet’s surface, scientists are yet to determine if it was around long enough to provide a habitat for life.

How familiar does this sound: a fuel-sensor problem has delayed today’s launch?

Liftoff of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has been postponed due to an issue with a fuel level sensor on the Centaur upper stage aboard the Atlas V rocket, according to NASA.

While loading liquid hydrogen into the Centaur, fuel-level sensors inside the stage sent back erroneous readings. At this time engineers are determining whether the problem is with the sensor system or the computer software used with it, the agency said.

The next launch attempt is currently slated to take place in approximately 24 hours.

Discovery’s return-to-flight launch was also delayed by a fuel-level sensor sending a faulty reading.

The launch vehicle for NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has been cleared for flight. The launch is scheduled for this morning, with a launch window extending from 7:50 a.m. to 9:35 a.m. (Eastern).

The launch was postponed for 24 hours due to a failure of a Redundant Rate Gryo Unit (RRGU) at the manufacturer. The decision to go ahead with Thursday’s launch was made today by launch vehicle engineers following test and evaluation of the failed RRGUs at the manufacturer. Similar units on the Atlas V at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Complex 41 were deemed acceptable for MRO’s launch.

“We have a big spacecraft loaded with advanced instruments for inspecting Mars in greater detail than any previous orbiter, and we have the first Atlas V launch vehicle to carry an interplanetary mission. A very potent and exciting combination,” said NASA’s Mars Exploration Program Director Doug McCuistion.
(more…)

Shuttle Discovery landed safely this morning at Edwards Air Force Base, dropping out of a pitch black sky to end a 14-day mission which returned NASA to human space flight following a 30-month absence in the wake of the Columbia disaster.

Discovery touched down in California at 5:12 a.m. (Pacific) on the first landing opportunity, returning to the location where shuttle landings began. It is the 50th time a shuttle has returned to Edwards.

For the second consecutive day, two potential landings at the Kennedy Space Center were scuttled, this time by rain and lightening in the landing area. Weather concerns gave the seven-member crew an extra day in orbit when mission controllers waived off two landing attempts on Monday morning. An extra day in space wasn’t going to happen this time, with both Edwards Air Force Base in California and the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on standby.

Mission STS-114 answered many questions for the space agency. Among them, could repairs be made to shuttles while in orbit and could the agency develop the technology to determine if such repairs were necessary? The apparent answer to both was a resounding “yes.”

However, the mission also raised new concerns about the shuttle system’s ability to fly safely.
(more…)

Discovery’s home!

Rain and thunderstorms do in Florida landing opportunities.

[UPDATE 6:45 a.m. (Eastern)] Go for de-orbit burn issued. Landing is set for Edwards at 7:12 a.m. (Eastern).

[UPDATE 8:00 a.m. (Eastern)] The communications blackout caused by passing through the atmosphere has now passed.

[UPDATE 8:08 a.m. (Eastern)] Boom! Boom! Discovery is now subsonic.

…But lightening is still in the area. The crew has been ordered to prepare for a Florida landing — for now.

The forecast for a landing on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base in California is looking perfect, mission Capcom Ken Hamm told Commander Eileen Collins.

That’s good news to Discovery’s commander, who has just been told that rain and lightning were causing mission managers to pass on the first landing opportunity at the Kennedy Space Center. Conditions for a 6:43 a.m. (Eastern) landing at KSC aren’t looking much brighter, but NASA is continuing to hold out hope for a landing in Florida on the second and final landing opportunity today at KSC.

The first landing opportunity at Edwards is at 8:12 a.m. (Eastern).

Considering those facts, it appears the agency is ruling out considering either landing opportunity at White Sands New Mexico. A second opportunity at Edwards is also looking unnecessary.

For the second consecutive day, mission managers are observing their optimism diminish as a potential landing opportunity approaches at Kennedy Space Center.

Currently, there are concerns of rain and lightning within a 30-mile radius of the shuttle’s Florida destination.