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Stardust Reminder
"During the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, January 15th, the Stardust sample
return capsule's entry will occur at approximately 2:57 am Mountain time. Peak re-entry heating is expected to occur at an altitude of 61 km, (200,000 ft or 38 statute miles). The main heating-phase occurs over northern central Nevada, somewhat west & south of the corresponding Genesis re-entry phase (Figures 1 & 2). ....." Complete info http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news104.html I hope someone is able to get some good video and pics of the 30 seconds re-entry, for us who can't be there. Thanks. |
#2
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Stardust Reminder
Bruce Inkster wrote:
"During the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, January 15th, the Stardust sample return capsule's entry will occur at approximately 2:57 am Mountain time. Peak re-entry heating is expected to occur at an altitude of 61 km, (200,000 ft or 38 statute miles). The main heating-phase occurs over northern central Nevada, somewhat west & south of the corresponding Genesis re-entry phase (Figures 1 & 2). ....." Complete info http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news104.html I hope someone is able to get some good video and pics of the 30 seconds re-entry, for us who can't be there. Thanks. Furthermore, the approach trajectory the evening before (early UT hours of the 15th) is surprisingly close to radial for observers in eastern North America, so the chances of picking the bus+capsule out telescopically without very fast tracking seem pretty good. I'll be having some students try it with a 16" telescope and CCD. If we get anything, it will be linked from www.astr.ua.edu/Press.html. The JPL Horizons ephemeris generator will, I've been told, update the predictions after each of the final correction maneuvers. Bill Keel |
#3
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Stardust Reminder
"William C. Keel" wrote:
Bruce Inkster wrote: "During the pre-dawn hours of Sunday, January 15th, the Stardust sample return capsule's entry will occur at approximately 2:57 am Mountain time. Peak re-entry heating is expected to occur at an altitude of 61 km, (200,000 ft or 38 statute miles). The main heating-phase occurs over northern central Nevada, somewhat west & south of the corresponding Genesis re-entry phase (Figures 1 & 2). ....." Complete info http://stardust.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news104.html Furthermore, the approach trajectory the evening before (early UT hours of the 15th) is surprisingly close to radial for observers in eastern North America, so the chances of picking the bus+capsule out telescopically without very fast tracking seem pretty good. I'll be having some students try it with a 16" telescope and CCD. If we get anything, it will be linked from www.astr.ua.edu/Press.html. The JPL Horizons ephemeris generator will, I've been told, update the predictions after each of the final correction maneuvers. This site http://reentry.arc.nasa.gov/viewingforum.html will generate an ephemeris table for spotting the capsule and main bus on the nights before the landing, along with other information about visibility. Does anyone know if the spacecraft bus will re-enter or continue in solar orbit? --Bill Thompson |
#4
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Stardust Reminder
Now I know why I saw a DC-8 on final to Moffett Field a couple of
nights ago. It was the Stardust entry observing team returning from a test flight. Observing conditions for the reentry are not likely to be good here in Sunnyvale; the spacecraft will only be about 10-15 degs. elevation, and anyway, it's probably going to be cloudy this weekend. But I may stay up late Saturday night and watch the festivities on NASA TV. Patty |
#5
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Stardust Reminder
"William R Thompson" wrote in message ink.net... Does anyone know if the spacecraft bus will re-enter or continue in solar orbit? This was just posted to sci.space.news by Ron Baalke: "On Jan. 15 at 12:56 am EST the Stardust spacecraft will complete the sequence by severing the umbilical cables between spacecraft and capsule. One minute later, springs aboard the spacecraft will literally push the capsule away. Fifteen minutes after release - while the sample return capsule continues its trajectory towards the Utah Test and Training Range, the Stardust spacecraft will perform a maneuver to place it in orbit around the Sun." People in the eastern US might ave a chance to spot the carrier in the pre-dawn skies. --Bill Thompson |
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