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10-week launch delay adds two years to Mercury journey BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: March 25, 2004 The already-long voyage from Earth to Mercury for the MESSENGER spacecraft got even longer this week when NASA delayed the probe's launch to a time that will require a more circuitous route.
Launch from Cape Canaveral atop a Boeing Delta 2 rocket had been slated for a 12-day window opening May 11. Unable to meet that schedule, the mission will use its backup window that begins July 30 and extends 15 days. "Several factors led to NASA's decision to move the launch from its original May 11 date, including a desire to include more testing of MESSENGER's fault-protection system software. This allows the spacecraft to check its own health and, when necessary, switch between alternative backup systems," the space agency said in a statement announcing the postponement. "This (delay) will also create some additional time for the test team to complete final assembly and checkout affording a more comfortable spacecraft processing schedule." MESSENGER was shipped to Florida earlier this month to begin its launch campaign at the Astrotech satellite processing facilities in Titusville. The probe was built for NASA by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. On-pad assembly of the Boeing Delta 2 rocket that will launch the spacecraft, originally set to begin March 31, has been pushed back to mid-June. Launch on July 30 will occur during a 12-second window opening at 2:17:44 a.m. EDT (0617:44 GMT) from pad 17B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. MESSENGER's trek to Mercury beginning in May would have included three flybys of Venus in November 2004, August 2005 and October 2006 to use the planet's gravity to sling the spacecraft toward Mercury's orbit. Two flybys of Mercury in October 2007 and July 2008 would "fine-tune" the flight path before the craft settled into a year-long orbital study of Mercury starting in July 2009. But this week's decision to delay the launch to late-July will significantly impact the trajectory and postpone by two years MESSENGER's arrival in its science orbit around Mercury. The new plan calls for MESSENGER to make an Earth flyby a year after launch to receive a gravity-assisted boost, two swings past Venus in October 2006 and June 2007, then three flybys of Mercury in January and October 2008 and September 2009 before starting a year-long orbit in March 2011. "MESSENGER's science plans -- to provide the first images of the entire planet and collect detailed information on the composition and structure of Mercury's crust, its geologic history, the nature of its thin atmosphere and active magnetosphere, and the makeup of its core and polar materials -- remain intact," officials said.
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Apollo patches The Apollo Patch Collection: Includes all 12 Apollo mission patches plus the Apollo Program Patch. Save over 20% off the Individual price. U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Expedition 20 The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 20 crew is now available from our stores.Current Shuttle Mission Patch The official embroidered patch for shuttle Atlantis' flight to deliver critical spare equipment to the space station.![]() Ares Patch The Ares Project will develop two new rockets to launch astronauts back to the Moon under NASA's Vision for Exploration. The Ares 1 will employ a single space shuttle solid rocket booster to loft the Orion crew capsule. The gigantic Ares 5 will haul the equipment and cargo needed for such lunar voyages. This is the Ares emblem.One Giant Leap
Hosted by Corbin Bernsen, this award winning documentary marks the 50th anniversary of the U.S. space agency and features exclusive interviews with veteran astronauts.Expedition 21 The official embroidered patch for the International Space Station Expedition 21 crew is now available from our stores.Soviet Space For the first time ever available in the West. Rocket & Space Corporation Energia: a complete pictorial history of the Soviet/Russian Space Program from 1946 to the present day all in full color. Available from our store.U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Viking patch This embroidered mission patch celebrates NASA's Viking Project which reached the Red Planet in 1976.U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Apollo 7 DVD For 11 days the crew of Apollo 7 fought colds while they put the Apollo spacecraft through a workout, establishing confidence in the machine what would lead directly to the bold decision to send Apollo 8 to the moon just 2 months later.U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Gemini 12 Gemini 12: The NASA Mission Reports covers the voyage of James Lovell and Buzz Aldrin that capped the Gemini program's efforts to prove the technologies and techniques that would be needed for the Apollo Moon landings. Includes CD-ROM.U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Apollo 12 tribute DVD set ![]() New! Featuring the jovial crew of Pete Conrad, Dick Gordon and Alan Bean, the Apollo 12 mission was struck by lightning shortly after liftoff but proceeded on the second successful exploration voyage to the lunar surface. This three-disc DVD brings the mission to life with extraordinary detail. U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Fallen Heroes special patch This special 12-inch embroidered patch commemorates the U.S. astronauts who made the ultimate sacrifice, honoring the crews of Apollo 1, Challenger and Columbia.U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Women in Space Women of Space: Cool Careers on the Final Frontier is for girls, young women, and anyone else interested in learning about exciting careers in space exploration. Includes CD-ROM.U.S. - U.K. - E.U. - Worldwide Mars rover poster This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.U.S. Get e-mail updates Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest news in astronomy and space e-mailed direct to your desktop (privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose). |
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