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Space observatory gets new launch date after hurricanes BY JUSTIN RAY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: October 7, 2004 Its launch delayed by Florida's seemingly magnetic attraction to hurricanes this year, NASA's Swift observatory has a new target liftoff date to the delight of eager scientists around the world.
The one-hour launch window opens at 12:04 p.m. EST (1704 GMT) that day. The mission was delayed from its original launch date of October 7 in the wake of Hurricane Frances. Then Hurricane Jeanne impacted a planned October 26 liftoff attempt. But on-pad assembly is finally underway for the Boeing Delta 2 rocket that will carry Swift into orbit, bringing launch much closer to reality. "I've been working on this since the early 1990s," said Neil Gehrels, Swift principal investigator from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "I'm extremely excited!"
Several theories have been proposed to explain what triggers these mysterious blasts and all involve incredible cosmic explosions. "The best way people can think of involves a star converting to a black hole in the scale of a few seconds," Gehrels explained this week during a news media tour of the Cape Canaveral cleanroom facility where Swift is being prepared for launch. Swift's Burst Alert Telescope will detect and locate the flashes, prompting the satellite to reorient itself within moments to point the onboard X-ray Telescope and the Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope for more intensive observations. What's more, Swift will transmit an announcement of the burst detection to Earth-based telescopes scattered around the globe. The ground observatories will focus their capabilities on the gamma-ray burst locations for additional research. Read our earlier science preview story for more information on Swift's goals. A two-stage Boeing Delta 2 rocket will deliver the spacecraft into a 375-mile high orbit inclined 22 degrees to Earth's equator.
A forward-facing video camera mounted on the second stage is expected to provide live coverage of Swift's deployment from the Delta rocket. Just minutes after separation, Swift automatically switches on its control system and deploys the two power-generating solar arrays that spring upward from stowed positions on the satellite's sides and then unfold. Over the next 30 days, the satellite systems are checked out via the mission control center located at Penn State University, Edison said. The science instruments are activated and data begins flowing after the first month. The science commissioning phase could last through the mission's initial four months. "We expect to be fully operational by Launch + 4 months," Gehrels said. Swift is designed to operate two years, but Joseph Dezio, the mission project manager at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, says a five-year life is possible. Because the satellite has no steering thrusters or onboard propellant, the two key consumables dictating the mission duration will be Swift's battery and funding by NASA.
The three strap-on solid rocket boosters were added October 2. Given Swift's relatively light weight and orbit requirements, the Delta 2 will use three solids instead of the usual nine. The two halves of the 10-foot diameter payload fairing nose cone was lifted into pad's mobile service tower cleanroom for storage on October 4. Mounting of the second stage atop the Delta rocket's first stage has been delayed this week due to gusty winds. Final work on Swift will be finished in the Hangar AE cleanroom in the next two weeks, allowing the craft to be packaged in the transport canister and driven a few miles to pad 17A for mating to the Delta rocket.
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The first stage of Boeing's Delta 2 rocket that will launch NASA's Swift gamma-ray burst detection observatory in November is erected on pad 17A at Cape Canaveral, Florida. (4min 52sec file)
The three solid-fueled rocket boosters for the Boeing Delta 2 vehicle that will launch the Swift satellite are hoisted into the pad 17A mobile service tower. (4min 55sec file)
The mobile service tower carries the solid boosters into position for attachment to the Delta 2 rocket's first stage. (3min 08sec file)
The two halves of the 10-foot diameter rocket nose cone that will enclose NASA's Swift satellite during launch aboard a Boeing Delta 2 vehicle are lifted into the pad 17A tower. (4min 26sec file)
This amazing panorama of the martian surface at Columbia Hills was taken by the Spirit rover. Expert narration is provided by camera scientist Jim Bell. (2min 12sec file)
Mars Exploration Rover project manager Jim Erickson and panoramic camera lead scientist Jim Bell offer comments on the status of the Spirit and Opportunity missions (1min 33sec file)
The International Space Station crew holds an educational event to answers questions live with students at the Maryland Science Center. (24min 01sec file)
The solar wind samples retrieved by NASA's Genesis spacecraft finally arrive at Johnson Space Center facilities from the Utah landing site. (2min 51sec file)
SpaceShipOne pilots and Burt Rutan call the International Space Station for an informal chat with Expedition 9 commander Gennady Padalka and flight engineer Mike Fincke the day after winning the X Prize. (13min 07sec file)
SpaceShipOne with pilot Brian Binnie rocket into space on the second of two flights needed to win the $10 million X Prize. (2min 32sec file)
This longer length clip of SpaceShipOne's second X Prize launch following the ascent, feathering of the wings and the start of re-entry. (5min 56sec file)
Brian Binnie, the world's second private astronaut, brings SpaceShipOne to a safe landing at Mojave airport to capture the X Prize. (5min 55sec file)
Watch the hair-raising flight of SpaceShipOne during the first of two launches needed to win the $10 million X Prize. The craft experienced a major rolling motion and early engine shutdown. (3min 40sec file)
This high bandwidth clip focuses on the unplanned rolling motion that SpaceShipOne saw during its engine firing. (1min 25sec file)
SpaceShipOne feathers its wings for a "care-free" reentry into Earth's atmosphere that doesn't require a precise angle of attack. (2min 59sec file)
SpaceShipOne glides to landing on the runway at Mojave airport under the control of astronaut Mike Melvill. (1min 41sec file)
A truck tows SpaceShipOne from the runway to the spectator viewing spot where Mike Melvill climbs out for welcoming by Burt Rutan and others. (2min 01sec file)
Hear from Mike Melvill, Burt Rutan and others during post-flight speeches on the runway at Mojave airport. (6min 40sec file)
