Posted on 10/25/2006 1:25:47 PM PDT by BritExPatInFla
Two NASA probes designed to take a continuous three-dimensional look at the Sun are poised to ride a Delta 2 rocket spaceward Wednesday.
NASA's 1,364-pound (620ikilogram) STEREO spacecraft are slated to launch during a 15-minute window that opens at 8:38 p.m. EDT. The planned space shot has weathered a series of various delays, including a spacecraft fuel leak in August, and the need for future leak checks and other concerns on the Boeing-built Delta 2 rocket.
One STEREO (short for Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) spacecraft will take up an orbital position just ahead of Earth while the other is bound for a spot trailing Earth. The Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory built the golf cart-sized STEREO probes, each of which carry four instrument suites, for NASA.
STEREO A and B are expected to return a detailed look at coronal mass ejections (CMEs), the largest eruptions spewed from the Sun, providing near real-time 3-D imaging of the events. The planned two-year mission carries a cost of about $550 million, including delays, NASA officials said.
These scientists are so smart that they have no common sense. I knew better at the age of 3 to not stare at the sun.
I know that I've had stereos in the past that I would have liked to send to the sun.
Florida night launch ping request
Thanks, I'll go outside and watch.
Wow, that was a really weird effect as it neared the horizon ... looked like it had several smoke trails but long after the srb's were gone. Trouble with staging?
Went out and it didn't go off at 8:38 so I came back in an checked the link. They launched at 8:51 and it flew in an east southeast trajectory. Came towards me and I'm about 100 miles south.
Not as impressive as an appollo mission nor a shuttle launch( nothing is as impressive as a shuttle launch) but a very nice show.
GO n.a.s.a boys.
Not sure, maybe jettisoning boosters and then also high moisture seemed to glow the whole thing. I know it is cold tonight and there is high altitude moisture. But no real clouds.
Still way cool.
I can't wait for that Viewmaster Viewer that can burn out my retinas.
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