Wednesday, December 28, 2011

NASA Twin Spacecraft On Final Approach For Moon Orbit


GRAIL update from NASA Headquarters News Media Services.
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- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_11-426_GRAIL_Highlights.html 
NASA Twin Spacecraft On Final Approach For Moon Orbit
Dec. 28, 2011

Dwayne Brown
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1726
dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov

DC Agle
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
818-393-9011
agle@jpl.nasa.gov

Caroline McCall
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
617-253-1682
cmcall5@mit.edu

RELEASE: 11-426

NASA TWIN SPACECRAFT ON FINAL APPROACH FOR MOON ORBIT

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's twin spacecraft to study the moon from crust to core are nearing their New Year's Eve and New Year's Day main-engine burns to place the duo in lunar orbit.

Named Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL), the spacecraft are scheduled to be placed in orbit beginning at 1:21 p.m. PST (4:21 p.m. EST) for GRAIL-A on Dec. 31, and 2:05 p.m. PST (5:05 p.m. EST) on Jan. 1 for GRAIL-B.

"Our team may not get to partake in a traditional New Year's celebration, but I expect seeing our two spacecraft safely in lunar orbit should give us all the excitement and feeling of euphoria anyone in this line of work would ever need," said David Lehman, project manager for GRAIL at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif.

The distance from Earth to the moon is approximately 250,000 miles (402,336 kilometers). NASA's Apollo crews took about three days to travel to the moon. Launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Sept. 10, 2011, the GRAIL spacecraft are taking about 30 times that long and covering more than 2.5 million miles (4 million kilometers) to get there.

This low-energy, long-duration trajectory has given mission planners and controllers more time to assess the spacecraft's health. The path also allowed a vital component of the spacecraft's single science instrument, the Ultra Stable Oscillator, to be continuously powered for several months. This will allow it to reach a stable operating temperature long before it begins making science measurements in lunar orbit.

"This mission will rewrite the textbooks on the evolution of the moon," said Maria Zuber, GRAIL principal investigator from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge. "Our two spacecraft are operating so well during their journey that we have performed a full test of our science instrument and confirmed the performance required to meet our science objectives."

As of Dec. 28, GRAIL-A is 65,860 miles (106,000 kilometers) from the moon and closing at a speed of 745 mph (1,200 kph). GRAIL-B is 79,540 miles (128,000 kilometers) from the moon and closing at a speed of 763 mph (1,228 kph).

During their final approaches to the moon, both orbiters move toward it from the south, flying nearly over the lunar south pole. The lunar orbit insertion burn for GRAIL-A will take approximately 40 minutes and change the spacecraft's velocity by about 427 mph (688 kph).  GRAIL-B's insertion burn 25 hours later will last about 39 minutes and is expected to change the probe's velocity by 430 mph (691 kph).

The insertion maneuvers will place each orbiter into a near-polar, elliptical orbit with a period of 11.5 hours. Over the following weeks, the GRAIL team will execute a series of burns with each spacecraft to reduce their orbital period from 11.5 hours down to just under two hours. At the start of the science phase in March 2012, the two GRAILs will be in a near-polar, near-circular orbit with an altitude of about 34 miles (55 kilometers).

When science collection begins, the spacecraft will transmit radio signals precisely defining the distance between them as they orbit the moon. As they fly over areas of greater and lesser gravity, caused both by visible features such as mountains and craters and by masses hidden beneath the lunar surface. they will move slightly toward and away from each other. An instrument aboard each spacecraft will measure the changes in their relative velocity very precisely, and scientists will translate this information into a high-resolution map of the Moon's gravitational field. The data will allow mission scientists to understand what goes on below the surface. This information will increase our knowledge of how Earth and its rocky neighbors in the inner solar system developed into the diverse worlds we see today.

JPL manages the GRAIL mission. MIT is home to the mission's principal investigator, Maria Zuber. The GRAIL mission is part of the Discovery Program managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver built the spacecraft.

For more information about GRAIL, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/grail

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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
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Sunday, December 18, 2011

THE GRAVITY RECOVERY AND INTERIOR LABORATORY (GRAIL)

http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/home.cfm

I was asked if GRAIL launched and I must admit I had not followed in detail.
What I found and let me know if things change.
- LRK -

http://moon.mit.edu/
Says will but doesn't look current.

Says launched 10 September but will take some time getting to the Moon.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Recovery_and_Interior_Laboratory
The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) is an American lunar science mission in NASA's Discovery Program, which will use high-quality gravitational field mapping of the Moon to determine its interior structure. The two small spacecraft GRAIL A and GRAIL B were launched on 10 September 2011 aboard a single launch vehicle: the most-powerful configuration of a Delta II, the 7920H-10.[1][3][4] GRAIL A separated from the rocket about nine minutes after launch, GRAIL B followed about eight minutes later. They will arrive at their orbits around the Moon 24 hours apart.[5]

The science phase of the mission will last for 90 days. Following the science phase (or extended mission phase), a five-day decommissioning period is planned, after which the spacecraft will impact the lunar surface in about 40 days.[6] The gravity mapping technique is similar to that used by Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), and the spacecraft design is based on XSS-11.[7]

Unlike the Apollo program missions, which took three days to reach the Moon, GRAIL will make use of a three- to four-month low-energy trans-lunar cruise via the Sun-Earth Lagrange point L1 to reduce fuel requirements, protect instruments and reduce the velocity of the two spacecraft at lunar arrival to help achieve the extremely low 50 km (31 mi) orbits with separation between the spacecraft (arriving 24 hours apart) of 175 to 225 km (109 to 140 mi).[8][9] The very tight tolerances in the flight plan leaves little room for error correction leading to a launch window lasting one second and providing only two launch opportunities per day.[10]

Maria Zuber of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is GRAIL's principal investigator. The mission's team of expert scientists and engineers also includes former NASA astronaut Sally Ride, who will lead the mission's public outreach efforts. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the project. As of August 5, 2011, the program has cost US$496 million.[11]
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Aaah, the NASA GRAIL site with mission elapsed clock.
- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/main/index.html
 http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/grail/launch/index.html
Spacecraft: GRAIL
Launch Vehicle: United Launch Alliance Delta II Heavy
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 17B
Launch Date: Sept. 10, 2011
Launch Time: 9:08:52 a.m. EDT

snip
Twin GRAIL Spacecraft Begin Journey to the Moon Aboard Delta II Rocket

A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket successfully sent NASA's twin moon-bound GRAIL spacecraft on their way at 9:08 a.m. EDT on Sept. 10, 2011. The launch came during the second window of the day when upper-level winds proved out of limits during the day's first opportunity, just as they had during the first launch attempt on Sept. 8.

The twin spacecraft will study the moon in unprecedented detail. GRAIL-A is scheduled to reach the moon on New Year's Eve 2011, while GRAIL-B will arrive New Year's Day 2012. The two solar-powered spacecraft will fly in tandem orbits around the moon to measure its gravity field. GRAIL will answer longstanding questions about the moon and give scientists a better understanding of how Earth and other rocky planets in the solar system formed.

› GRAIL/Delta II Summary (PDF 650KB)
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/583711main_GRAIL%20508%20(2).pdf
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lunar insertion to be in January 2012
- LRK -

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http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/grail/home.cfm
snip
Welcome
The Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) mission will create the most accurate gravitational map of the moon to date, Improving our knowledge of near-side gravity by 100 times and of far-side gravity by 1000 times. The high-resolution gravitational field, especially when combined with a comparable- resolution topographical field, will enable scientists to deduce the moon's interior structure and composition... More >


Key Dates:
Launched: Sept. 10, 2011
Lunar Orbit Insertion: January 2012
Science Mission: March - May 2012
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==========================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
==========================================

Friday, December 16, 2011

Fourth Status Report on Commercial Partners Progress Released

This notice received.  The report is only a 3 page PDF file.
- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-253_CCP_60-day_Report.html
Dec. 16, 2011

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov / j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-253

FOURTH STATUS REPORT ON COMMERCIAL PARTNERS PROGRESS RELEASED

WASHINGTON - NASA released the fourth in a series of 60-day reports today showing that commercial spaceflight development programs are moving forward. The agency's U.S. industry partners continue to make progress in developing a transportation system to ferry cargo and U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station. The development of industry systems will allow NASA to concentrate its resources on deep space exploration.

The latest status report highlights the progress and accomplishments for the agency's commercial spaceflight development efforts. The bi-monthly report is targeted toward non-technical stakeholders and the American public, to inform them of NASA's achievements in maintaining spaceflight leadership.

NASA's Commercial Spaceflight Development programs are investing financial and technical resources to stimulate efforts within the private sector to develop and demonstrate safe, reliable, and
cost-effective space transportation capabilities.

For the report and more information visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial

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The report link.
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/610831main_Dec_2011_60_Day_Report-508.pdf

The Commercial Space Transportation page.
- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/
snip
   Commercial space transportation is a vital component to the future of human space exploration. As NASA charts a new course to send humans deeper into space than ever before, we are stimulating efforts within the private sector to develop and operate safe, reliable and affordable commercial space transportation systems. Once the capabilities are matured and available to the government and other customers, NASA could purchase commercial services to transport crew and cargo to the International Space Station (ISS) and low Earth orbit.

   This approach will provide assured access to the ISS, strengthen America's space industry and provide a catalyst for future business ventures to capitalize on affordable access for space.

snip
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And if you are part of the media.
- LRK -

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http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/dec/HQ_M11-252_SpaceX_Media.html
Dec. 16, 2011

Michael Braukus/J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979/5241
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov/j.d.harrington@nasa.gov

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY: M11-252

MEDIA ACCREDITATION NOW OPEN FOR NASA/SPACEX LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., -- Media accreditation for NASA's second Commercial Orbital Transportation Services demonstration flight is open. Liftoff of a Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex-40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., is targeted for Feb. 7, 2012.

During the flight, the Dragon spacecraft will conduct a series of check-out procedures to test and prove its systems in advance of a rendezvous with the International Space Station. The primary
objectives for the flight include a fly-by of the space station at a distance of approximately two miles to validate the operation of sensors and a flight system necessary for a safe rendezvous and approach. The spacecraft also will demonstrate the capability to abort the rendezvous.

International news media representatives without U.S. citizenship must apply for credentials to cover the prelaunch and launch activities by Jan. 5. The early accreditation deadline is needed because the U.S. Air Force requires 30 days to process international media credentials.
For U.S. news media, the deadline to apply is Jan. 30.

All media accreditation requests need to be submitted online at:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov

For questions about accreditation or additional information, contact
NASA Kennedy Space Center's Press Site at 321-867-2468.

For more information on NASA's COTS program, visit
http://www.nasa.gov/cots

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snip
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
WordPress: http://lrkellogg.wordpress.com/
Newsletter: https://mailman1.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
============================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK -
============================================

Thursday, December 15, 2011

[history] Passing of Boris Chertok

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/chertok_obit.html
Russian rocket designer Boris Yevseyevich Chertok,
one of the founding fathers of the Russian space program,
passed away on Dec.14 at the age of 99.
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Russian rocket designer Boris Yevseyevich Chertok
Image Credit: NASA

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I received an e-mail from Steve Garber for the NASA History Program Office about the death of Boris Chertok.
He provided some information about his four volume memoir, "Rockets and People" and its availability on-line.
A check of Amazon . com showed that even used books are quite pricy so maybe you won't mind reading a PDF version before buying.
http://www.amazon.com/Rockets-People-V-Boris-Chertok/dp/0160732395

On NASA Technical Reports Server the whole volume 1 can be down loaded but you might want it in three parts as listed by Steve Garber.
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20050010181_2005010059.pdf (3.4 MB PDF)
- LRK -

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Readers:
        With great sadness, our office announces the recent death of Boris Chertok, a towering figure in Soviet and Russian space history.  Chertok’s four-volume memoir, Rockets and People, has received wide acclaim.  The first three volumes of this series, edited by Dr. Asif Siddiqi, are available electronically from the links below and hard copies may be obtained through http://history.nasa.gov/series95.html#order online.  The fourth and final volume, subtitled The Moon Race, will be published early next year.  For more information on Chertok’s tremendous life story, see http://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/chertok_obit.html online. In sympathy,
        Steve Garber
 
 
 
 
Stephen Garber
NASA History Program Office
Mail Suite CO72, Room 5N11
NASA Headquarters
Washington, DC 20546
202-358-0385
202-358-2866 fax
http://history.nasa.gov
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history mailing list
history@lists.hq.nasa.gov
https://lists.hq.nasa.gov/mailman/listinfo/history
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There are a lot of books available on line or that can be ordered from NASA.
- LRK -

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http://history.nasa.gov/series95.html

Management Histories, (SP-4100 Series):

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Much to learn from those that have gone on before.
We stand on their shoulders as we reach for the stars.
- LRK -

Thanks for looking up with me.
===========================================
WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK 
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