[meteorite-list] Mars Science Laboratory Launch Milestones

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2011 22:22:19 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201111240622.pAO6MJ3Y029506_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2011-361

Mars Science Laboratory Launch Milestones
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
November 23, 2011

PASADENA, Calif. -- NASA's Mars Science Laboratory is tucked inside its
Atlas V rocket, ready for launch on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011 from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The Nov. 26 launch window
extends from 7:02 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. PST (10:02 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. EST).
The launch period for the mission extends through Dec. 18.

The spacecraft, which will arrive at Mars in August 2012, is equipped
with the most advanced rover ever to land on another planet. Named
Curiosity, the rover will investigate whether the landing region has had
environmental conditions favorable for supporting microbial life, and
favorable for preserving clues about whether life existed.

On Nov. 26, NASA Television coverage of the launch will begin at 4:30
a.m. PST (7:30 a.m. EST). Live launch coverage will be carried on all
NASA Television channels. For NASA Television downlink information,
schedule information and streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv .
The launch coverage will also be streamed live on Ustream at
http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl .

If the spacecraft lifts off at the start of the launch window on Nov.
26, the following milestones are anticipated. Times would vary for other
launch times and dates.

Launch

--The rocket's first-stage common core booster, and the four solid
rocket boosters, will ignite before liftoff. Launch, or "T Zero",
actually occurs before the rocket leaves the ground. The four solid
rocket boosters jettison at launch plus one minute and 52 seconds.

Fairing Separation

--The nose cone, or fairing, carrying Mars Science Laboratory will open
like a clamshell and fall away at about three minutes and 25 seconds
after launch. After this, the rocket's first stage will cut off and then
drop into the Atlantic Ocean.

Parking Orbit

--The rocket's second stage, a Centaur engine, is started for the first
time at about four minutes and 38 seconds after launch. After it
completes its first burn of about 7 minutes, the rocket will be in a
parking orbit around Earth at an altitude that varies from 102 miles
(165 kilometers) to 201 miles (324 kilometers). It will remain there
from 14 to 30 minutes, depending on the launch date and time. If launch
occurs at the beginning of the launch Nov. 26 launch window, this stage
will last about 21 minutes.

On the Way to Mars

-- The second Centaur burn, continuing for nearly 8 minutes (for a
launch at the opening of the Nov. 26 launch window), lofts the
spacecraft out of Earth orbit and sends it toward Mars.

Spacecraft Separation

--Mars Science Laboratory will separate from the rocket that boosted it
toward Mars at about 44 minutes after launch, if launch occurs at the
opening of the Nov. 26 window. Shortly after that, the separated Centaur
performs its last task, an avoidance maneuver taking itself out of the
spacecraft's flight path to avoid hitting either the spacecraft or Mars.

Sending a Message of Good Health

--Once the spacecraft is in its cruise stage toward Mars, it can begin
communicating with Earth via an antenna station in Canberra, Australia,
part of NASA's Deep Space Network. Engineers expect to hear first
contact from the spacecraft at about 55 minutes after launch and assess
the spacecraft's health during the subsequent 30 minutes. The spacecraft
will arrive at the Red Planet Aug. 6, 2012, Universal Time (evening of
Aug. 5, 2012, PDT).

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., a division of the
California Institute of Technology, manages the Mars Science Laboratory
mission. Launch management is the responsibility of NASA's Launch
Services Program at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Atlas V
launch service is provided by United Launch Alliance, Denver.

Whitney Clavin 818-354-4673
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
whitney.clavin at jpl.nasa.gov

2011-361
Received on Thu 24 Nov 2011 01:22:19 AM PST