Planetary Society Blog for Thursday 4 December 2014

Planetary Society Blog

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The New Horizons science mission to the Pluto-Charon system is about to
begin

Posted: 03 Dec 2014 05:40 PM PST
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily...s-science.html

It's been a long journey, but it's nearly over: New Horizons is just about
ready to begin its science mission to Pluto, Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos,
and Hydra. I'll remind you of New Horizons' capabilities and simulate how
Pluto will appear in optical navigation images.

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Orion L-1 Report: Go for Launch

Posted: 03 Dec 2014 12:53 PM PST
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason...l1-report.html

The stage is set for NASA’s Orion spacecraft to launch on a two-orbit,
four-hour shakedown cruise tomorrow morning. Patrick Air Force Base’s 45th
Weather Squadron changed their forecast of an on-time launch to 70
percent—up from the 40 percent chances that marked the start of the week.

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Hayabusa 2 launches toward asteroid rendezvous

Posted: 03 Dec 2014 10:48 AM PST
http://www.planetary.org/blogs/emily...-launches.html

Hayabusa 2 successfully launched on December 3, 2014 at 04:22 UTC, and
embarked on its interplanetary journey about two hours later. During the
launch, cameras captured video of the spacecraft fairing separation.

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Mars Exploration Rovers Update: Opportunity Roves from Wdowiak Ridge into
Network of Fractures

Posted: 03 Dec 2014 10:13 AM PST
http://www.planetary.org/explore/spa...iak-ridge.html

Last month, the Earth's longest-lived and most traveled robot on another
planet drove into a network of fractures the likes of which the scientists
had never seen before on Mars and wound up working there through the end of
the month – and then something not completely unexpected happened.