Thursday, August 30, 2012

LAUNCH!!!!!!

Well, after three times trying, we finally launch the RBSP mission this morning, at 4:05 am. We attempted to launch twice last week; we failed once because of a rocket sensor issue, and once because of weather. Then because of Hurricane Isaac, we rolled back into the VIF to wait it out, then back out again on Tuesday. 


Rolling back out (this view from the top of the VIF, you can see how close we are to the ocean):


Awaiting launch in the daytime:


And the night:


And finally this!


So far we have had our first few contacts on both spacecraft, solar arrays deployed successfully and various other activities are being performed. 

Thanks for everyone's support!!!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Launch on Friday!!!

So, we are getting ready to launch Friday morning!! (It was supposed to be Thursday but it got delayed a day for a rocket mechanical test).

August 24th, 2012
4:07 am

It's only a 20 minute launch window, so it either goes, or it doesn't. Then they try again the next day.

Some information about our mission, if you want to listen to a NPR recording, or you can just read the article.
http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155719933/twin-probes-to-investigate-mysteries-of-space-weather

Here is a picture from a few weeks ago, before the fairing was closed and moved over to Kennedy Space Center. I'm not in this picture, I was already back in Maryland.


Some really cool pictures of ULA stacking the rocket inside the VIF (Vertical Integration Facility):

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av032/stacking/

And here's fairing moving past the VAB out to the VIF.


Then the important part; hoisting the nose cone on top of the rocket:

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av032/hoisting/

So I will send more information out tomorrow about how you can view the launch. But basically it will be streaming live online and if you have DirecTV there is a NASA channel that should have it.

Please send me an e-mail if you have any questions (sbucior@gmail.com). I'm in Florida right now, got to see the rocket rolled out to the pad this morning, and we are taking pictures tomorrow morning. Then I'm flying home so I can support the launch in the Mission Operations Center Friday morning.

Can't wait!!