Jacques van Oene
August 16th 05, 08:17 PM
ATLAS V GIVES MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER SMOOTH SEND-OFF INTO SPACE
LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT MRO SPACECRAFT AND ATLAS V LAUNCH VEHICLE COMBINE
SUCCESSFULLY FOR NASA'S NEXT MISSION TO MARS
DENVER, CO, August 16, 2005
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory and Lockheed Martin are heading to Mars again -- this time armed
with the most powerful suite of science instruments, cameras and
unprecedented data relay capability yet sent to the red planet aboard NASA's
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). In a spectacular morning launch Aug. 12
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., an Atlas V launch vehicle
roared off the launch pad from Launch Complex 41 and provided the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter a great boost on what will be a seven-month journey
to Mars for arrival in March 2006.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company designed and built both the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Atlas V launch vehicle for NASA and the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. The mission, valued at about $720 million, includes
the spacecraft development and science instruments, the Atlas V launch
service, mission operations, science processing and relay support. NASA
selected Lockheed Martin and International Launch Services for the Atlas V
launch service as well as the design, assembly and integration of the
spacecraft, launch support and mission operations.
"The Atlas team is thrilled to have successfully launched the MRO spacecraft
to Mars for NASA," said Jim Sponnick, vice president of the Atlas Program
for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "The countdown was very smooth
right up to liftoff at the opening of the launch window at 7:43 a.m., and
the Atlas V performed very well. The MRO spacecraft was placed precisely
into its earth escape trajectory to Mars, which allowed for rapid
acquisition of the spacecraft and also enabled the conservation of
spacecraft propellants for use later in the mission. The Atlas, NASA, and
JPL teams have worked closely together over the last few years to make this
launch and the beginning of the MRO journey a resounding success."
Although Atlas has done its job, the journey has just begun for the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter's team of engineers and scientists.
"All of us are excited to be heading back to Mars, and I'm pleased to report
that NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is in perfect health and is
operating under its own power," said Jim Crocker, vice president of Civil
Space at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "We acquired the signal
from the spacecraft just over a minute after it separated from the launch
vehicle, and shortly after that, telemetry confirmed that the solar arrays
and the High Gain Antenna deployed right on schedule. The entire series of
spacecraft events went like clockwork; it just doesn't get any better.
We're extremely proud to be partnered with NASA on this next mission to Mars
and we're excited to be on our way. I couldn't be more proud of the team of
women and men whose hard work and tremendous dedication are helping make
NASA's new vision for space exploration a reality."
Cheers erupted in the Atlas V Spaceflight Operations Control Center when the
MRO spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle's Centaur upper stage 58
minutes after liftoff. Just over a minute later, engineers acquired the
spacecraft signal with telemetry confirming MRO was in the proper earth
escape trajectory. Ten minutes later, the solar arrays were deployed,
extending MRO's wingspan to 13.6 meters (45 feet), so that the spacecraft
could begin using its solar panels to generate power. Shortly afterwards,
telemetry data confirmed that the spacecraft's large 3-meter-diameter
(10-foot) high gain antenna had been successfully deployed.
During the next few weeks, engineers from Lockheed Martin, JPL and NASA will
perform checkout and calibrations on the spacecraft, and make the first of
several trajectory control maneuvers to maintain a course to Mars.
Throughout MRO's seven-month cruise, the team will perform round the clock
monitoring of the spacecraft, and will maintain command and control of the
spacecraft during its entire mission.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will join the Mars Global Surveyor and 2001
Mars Odyssey spacecraft already in orbit around Mars, also designed and
built by Lockheed Martin for NASA. MRO will continue NASA's scientific
reconnaissance of the planet's surface at a scale nearly five times greater
than any previous mission, provide global maps of the planet and its
climate, look for future landing sites, and provide communications support
and data relay for missions planned for 2007 and beyond.
Engineers at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company near Denver, in concert
with a team from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will continue to operate MRO
from Lockheed Martin's Mission Support Area, providing the spaceflight
operations throughout its multi-year mission. That same team is providing
spaceflight operations for Mars Global Surveyor, 2001 Mars Odyssey, Stardust
and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered near Denver, Colo., is
one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space
Systems Company designs, develops, tests and manufactures a variety of
advanced technology systems for space and defense. Chief products include
space launch systems, defense systems, interplanetary and science
spacecraft, spacecraft for commercial and government customers, fleet
ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.
Contact:
Joan Underwood, 303-971-7398, email,
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
LOCKHEED MARTIN-BUILT MRO SPACECRAFT AND ATLAS V LAUNCH VEHICLE COMBINE
SUCCESSFULLY FOR NASA'S NEXT MISSION TO MARS
DENVER, CO, August 16, 2005
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory and Lockheed Martin are heading to Mars again -- this time armed
with the most powerful suite of science instruments, cameras and
unprecedented data relay capability yet sent to the red planet aboard NASA's
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). In a spectacular morning launch Aug. 12
from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., an Atlas V launch vehicle
roared off the launch pad from Launch Complex 41 and provided the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter a great boost on what will be a seven-month journey
to Mars for arrival in March 2006.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company designed and built both the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Atlas V launch vehicle for NASA and the Jet
Propulsion Laboratory. The mission, valued at about $720 million, includes
the spacecraft development and science instruments, the Atlas V launch
service, mission operations, science processing and relay support. NASA
selected Lockheed Martin and International Launch Services for the Atlas V
launch service as well as the design, assembly and integration of the
spacecraft, launch support and mission operations.
"The Atlas team is thrilled to have successfully launched the MRO spacecraft
to Mars for NASA," said Jim Sponnick, vice president of the Atlas Program
for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "The countdown was very smooth
right up to liftoff at the opening of the launch window at 7:43 a.m., and
the Atlas V performed very well. The MRO spacecraft was placed precisely
into its earth escape trajectory to Mars, which allowed for rapid
acquisition of the spacecraft and also enabled the conservation of
spacecraft propellants for use later in the mission. The Atlas, NASA, and
JPL teams have worked closely together over the last few years to make this
launch and the beginning of the MRO journey a resounding success."
Although Atlas has done its job, the journey has just begun for the Mars
Reconnaissance Orbiter's team of engineers and scientists.
"All of us are excited to be heading back to Mars, and I'm pleased to report
that NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is in perfect health and is
operating under its own power," said Jim Crocker, vice president of Civil
Space at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "We acquired the signal
from the spacecraft just over a minute after it separated from the launch
vehicle, and shortly after that, telemetry confirmed that the solar arrays
and the High Gain Antenna deployed right on schedule. The entire series of
spacecraft events went like clockwork; it just doesn't get any better.
We're extremely proud to be partnered with NASA on this next mission to Mars
and we're excited to be on our way. I couldn't be more proud of the team of
women and men whose hard work and tremendous dedication are helping make
NASA's new vision for space exploration a reality."
Cheers erupted in the Atlas V Spaceflight Operations Control Center when the
MRO spacecraft separated from the launch vehicle's Centaur upper stage 58
minutes after liftoff. Just over a minute later, engineers acquired the
spacecraft signal with telemetry confirming MRO was in the proper earth
escape trajectory. Ten minutes later, the solar arrays were deployed,
extending MRO's wingspan to 13.6 meters (45 feet), so that the spacecraft
could begin using its solar panels to generate power. Shortly afterwards,
telemetry data confirmed that the spacecraft's large 3-meter-diameter
(10-foot) high gain antenna had been successfully deployed.
During the next few weeks, engineers from Lockheed Martin, JPL and NASA will
perform checkout and calibrations on the spacecraft, and make the first of
several trajectory control maneuvers to maintain a course to Mars.
Throughout MRO's seven-month cruise, the team will perform round the clock
monitoring of the spacecraft, and will maintain command and control of the
spacecraft during its entire mission.
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will join the Mars Global Surveyor and 2001
Mars Odyssey spacecraft already in orbit around Mars, also designed and
built by Lockheed Martin for NASA. MRO will continue NASA's scientific
reconnaissance of the planet's surface at a scale nearly five times greater
than any previous mission, provide global maps of the planet and its
climate, look for future landing sites, and provide communications support
and data relay for missions planned for 2007 and beyond.
Engineers at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company near Denver, in concert
with a team from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, will continue to operate MRO
from Lockheed Martin's Mission Support Area, providing the spaceflight
operations throughout its multi-year mission. That same team is providing
spaceflight operations for Mars Global Surveyor, 2001 Mars Odyssey, Stardust
and the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, headquartered near Denver, Colo., is
one of the major operating units of Lockheed Martin Corporation. Space
Systems Company designs, develops, tests and manufactures a variety of
advanced technology systems for space and defense. Chief products include
space launch systems, defense systems, interplanetary and science
spacecraft, spacecraft for commercial and government customers, fleet
ballistic missiles and missile defense systems.
Contact:
Joan Underwood, 303-971-7398, email,
--
--------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info