Juno crosses Orbit of Mars as Checkouts continue
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December 19, 2011
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The Juno
Mission is progressing well as the Spacecraft continues its trek around the Sun
on a path that will take it back to Earth to swing around the Planet for a boost of its velocity and eventually head out to Jupiter.
Mission Controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are reporting that the spacecraft is in excellent health and operating normally.
To end the Month of November, Juno completed the High Voltage Checkout of the JADE Instrument and started HV Checkout of the JEDI Instrument. This series of tests has a duration of several weeks and involves multiple instruments as part of Spacecraft Commissioning and Health Evaluation. The JEDI HV Checkout Phase was complete during the first week of December. HV Checks continued on the UVS Detector. For that, a protective door covering the detector was deployed which was a one-time mission event critical for the UVS to meet its Objectives later in the Mission. Thermal Testing of the KaT – the Ka-Band Translator which is a part of the Gravity Science Experiment – was completed as well. KaT will receive radio signals from Earth, amplify them and send the signals right back to Earth so that Juno’s movement can be tracked precisely and Gravity Properties of Jupiter can be deduced.
On December 13, the Spacecraft crossed the Orbit of Mars. This was the first of three Mars Orbit Crossings that will occur as Juno spins around the Sun. It rossed the Planet’s semi-major axis on December 16. The next time Juno crosses the Orbit of Mars will be in April of 2013.
As of December 19, 2011, Juno was cruising at a distance of 105 Million Kilometers to Earth (65.24 Million Miles), 231 Million Kilometers to the Sun (143.54 Million Miles) and 550 Million Kilomters to Jupiter (341.75 Million Miles). Radio Signals travel 5 Minutes and 50 Seconds from Earth to Juno. The Spacecraft is moving at a relative velocity of 73,845 Kilomters per Hour (45,885mph) to Earth. Since Launch, it has traveled 361.96 Million Kilometers (225 Million Miles) relative to the sun. The current velocity rate is 88,821kph (55,190mph). Light Travel Time from the Sun to Juno is now at over 12 Minutes and 50 Seconds.
As of today, Juno is at a Mission Elapsed time of 136 Days. It is at Day 72 of its long Inner Cruise 2 Phase of more than 1.6 years. 525 Days are remaining in IC2 before IC3 begins in 2013. Juno’s Earth Flyby is now 94 weeks away.
Mission Controllers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory are reporting that the spacecraft is in excellent health and operating normally.
To end the Month of November, Juno completed the High Voltage Checkout of the JADE Instrument and started HV Checkout of the JEDI Instrument. This series of tests has a duration of several weeks and involves multiple instruments as part of Spacecraft Commissioning and Health Evaluation. The JEDI HV Checkout Phase was complete during the first week of December. HV Checks continued on the UVS Detector. For that, a protective door covering the detector was deployed which was a one-time mission event critical for the UVS to meet its Objectives later in the Mission. Thermal Testing of the KaT – the Ka-Band Translator which is a part of the Gravity Science Experiment – was completed as well. KaT will receive radio signals from Earth, amplify them and send the signals right back to Earth so that Juno’s movement can be tracked precisely and Gravity Properties of Jupiter can be deduced.
On December 13, the Spacecraft crossed the Orbit of Mars. This was the first of three Mars Orbit Crossings that will occur as Juno spins around the Sun. It rossed the Planet’s semi-major axis on December 16. The next time Juno crosses the Orbit of Mars will be in April of 2013.
As of December 19, 2011, Juno was cruising at a distance of 105 Million Kilometers to Earth (65.24 Million Miles), 231 Million Kilometers to the Sun (143.54 Million Miles) and 550 Million Kilomters to Jupiter (341.75 Million Miles). Radio Signals travel 5 Minutes and 50 Seconds from Earth to Juno. The Spacecraft is moving at a relative velocity of 73,845 Kilomters per Hour (45,885mph) to Earth. Since Launch, it has traveled 361.96 Million Kilometers (225 Million Miles) relative to the sun. The current velocity rate is 88,821kph (55,190mph). Light Travel Time from the Sun to Juno is now at over 12 Minutes and 50 Seconds.
As of today, Juno is at a Mission Elapsed time of 136 Days. It is at Day 72 of its long Inner Cruise 2 Phase of more than 1.6 years. 525 Days are remaining in IC2 before IC3 begins in 2013. Juno’s Earth Flyby is now 94 weeks away.
Image: NASA JPL Solar System Simulator
Juno's Position as is crossed the Orbit of Mars on December 13
Juno operating nominally as HV Checkouts continue
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November 28, 2011
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Now 115 Days into its Mission, Juno is still in the long Inner Cruise Two Phase of more than 1.6 years. The Spacecraft is in excellent health – all systems are working as expected and communications with Earth have been stable over the complete mission duration to date. The Spacecraft is currently approaching the Orbit of Planet Mars. As of November 28, 2011, Juno was cruising at 95,400 Kilometers per Hour relative to the Sun and ~51,000kph relative to Earth. Since Launch, the Vehicle has traveled more than 315 million Kilometers [relative to the Sun]. Radio Singals travel exactly 4 Minutes to the Spacecraft at this point in the Mission as Juno is just over 72 Million Kilometers from Earth. |
Image: NASA/JPL/Caltech - Eyes on the Solar System
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Currently,
Juno is still in the High Voltage Checkout Phase. The JADE instrument underwent
its HV Tests on November 14. JEDI and UVS will perform their HV Checks next month.
The HV-Checkout Phase extends until the end of the year (~ Day 355). Currently,
4 instruments are activated: MWR, JADE, Waves and the Magnetometer.
Juno IC2 is now at an elapsed time of 52 Days and will contiue for 78 more weeks (546 Days). At that point on May, 28, 2013, the Inner Cruise 3 Phase will start.
For additional Trajectory information, refer to the Juno Trajectory Page here on Spaceflight101.
Juno IC2 is now at an elapsed time of 52 Days and will contiue for 78 more weeks (546 Days). At that point on May, 28, 2013, the Inner Cruise 3 Phase will start.
For additional Trajectory information, refer to the Juno Trajectory Page here on Spaceflight101.
Low Voltage Checkouts complete
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November 15, 2011
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As of
November 15, 2011, Juno is operating normally and on track. Juno’s mission has
crossed the 100-Day mark on Sunday. Currently, the spacecraft is in its Inner
Cruise 2 Phase. The Mission is just over a month into that phase and more than
550 Days are left until the next Mission Phase Transition approaches and Juno
switches to Inner Cruise 3. The Vehicle is now more than 3-Light-Minutes from
Earth, it has traveled over 284 Million Kilometers [relative to the Sun] since
launch on August 5 of this year.
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A Low Voltage Checkout of of the JADE Instrument
was completed in late October. With that, all initial Low Voltage Checkouts of
the instruments are complete with no major anomalies. The three JEDI Detectors
successfully deployed their doors which is a major milestone since this a
one-time mission event. Between October 27 and November 2, Juno underwent more
calibrations concerned with High Gain Antenna Pointing. During these tests, the
HGA was used as primary communication link. HGA pointing will become more
important later in the mission; the long cruise phase of the mission gives
Mission Controllers the opportunity of testing HGA pointing and switching
capabilities. Juno is currently in its High Voltage Checkout Phase lasting a
total of 45 Days. About one month of activities are remaining in that series of
Checks and Calibrations. All in all, the mission is slightly behind the
timeline from a Checkout standpoint, this not a problem however since this
lengthy mission to Jupiter has a lot of downtime built into it, so that the team
will be able to catch up without issues before the next major mission Event
takes place [which will be in October 2013].
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Photo: NASA
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Juno on Track and operating normally
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November 3, 2011
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The Juno Mission is progressing according to plan and the Spacecraft is still in its long Inner Cruise 2 Phase. 571 Days are left in this Mission Phase before IC3 begins in May of 2013.
In October, a coarse alignment of the spacecraft's high gain antenna with Juno's spin axis was completed. This calibration included fine-tuning of Juno’s Solar Array Positions to put the vehicle into a proper balance for HGA pointing along the spin axis. At Jupiter, Antenna alignment has to be correct in order to perform gravity science operations that require the HGA to be pointed at Earth for Radio Tracking.
As of November 3, 2011, the spacecraft was operating normally. It’s distance to Earth crossed the 2-Light-Minute-Mark late in October. Currently, the spacecraft is travelling at 104,000kph relative to the sun. Juno has travelled ~255 Million Kilometers since being launched 90 days ago.
Coming up for Juno and its Mission Team is a lengthy 45-day Checkout of the High Voltage System of the Spacecraft starting on Monday, November 7.
In October, a coarse alignment of the spacecraft's high gain antenna with Juno's spin axis was completed. This calibration included fine-tuning of Juno’s Solar Array Positions to put the vehicle into a proper balance for HGA pointing along the spin axis. At Jupiter, Antenna alignment has to be correct in order to perform gravity science operations that require the HGA to be pointed at Earth for Radio Tracking.
As of November 3, 2011, the spacecraft was operating normally. It’s distance to Earth crossed the 2-Light-Minute-Mark late in October. Currently, the spacecraft is travelling at 104,000kph relative to the sun. Juno has travelled ~255 Million Kilometers since being launched 90 days ago.
Coming up for Juno and its Mission Team is a lengthy 45-day Checkout of the High Voltage System of the Spacecraft starting on Monday, November 7.
Credit: NASA JPL Solar System Simulator
Inner Cruise 2 begins for Juno
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October 8, 2011
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NASA’s Juno Spacecraft has transitioned Mission Phases for the second time in its mission. The formal Mission Phase Transition took place yesterday at 8pm EDT (L+63d07h35m). Juno has now started the Inner Cruise 2 Phase. Inner Cruise 1 began 56 hours after Launch when Juno transitioned from the Launch Phase to Inner Cruise 1 which continued for ~61 days. Now, at L+63 Days, Juno has started the second longest mission phase. Inner Cruise 2 will be 598 Days in Duration (1.6 years) and transition to IC3 on May 28, 2013.
This long phase will be characterized by more spacecraft checkouts and instrument alignments that will occur throughout IC2. Also, calibrations and activations associated with the first use of the Spacecraft’s High Gain Antenna will be made. The two major Deep Space Maneuvers that are targeted for the end of September 2012 will be performed as part of Inner Cruise 2. Science Instruments will be continuously monitored and undergo periodic checks. In 2013, preparations for the Earth Flyby (in IC3) will begin on the Spacecraft and especially for the ground team that provides mission support.
As of October 8, Juno was 27.8 Million Kilometers from Earth. In total, Juno has traveled more than 186 Million Kilometers. It is currently ‘cruising’ at a speed of ~113,500kph relative to the sun. A radio singal from Earth travels a little over 1.5 Minutes until it arrives at Juno. The Spacecraft is in good health and continues to operate as expected.
Credit: NASA JPL Solar system Simulator
Mission Update: October 4
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October 4, 2011
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As of October 4, Juno was 26.1 Million Kilometers from Earth travelling at a speed of 115,000 Kilometers per hour (relative to the sun). The spacecraft is in excellent health.
60 Days into the mission, Juno is preparing for the next Mission Phase Transition to the Inner Cruise 2 Phase which will have a duration of 598 days. This Transition will take place in ~3 days.
More instruments were tested since the last mission update. A Low Voltage Checkout of the JIRAM Spectrometer was performed and revealed that the system is in good condition. A so called Tones Test was also conducted. For that, the spacecraft’s torodial antenna was used. This antenna will be in use when the spacecraft is unable to point its high gain antenna to Earth to ensure that communications with the vehicle are available to some extent even during these phases. Juno Tones includes more than 100 radio signals that are sent by the spacecraft to provide continuous status coverage when it is operating autonomously. Tones will be the only available data connection during the two major mission events JOI and PRD. (Jupiter Orbit Insertion & Period Reduction Maneuver) In mid September, Juno performed a reorientation maneuver using its small thrusters and switched communications to the Forward Low Gain Antenna. The Vehicle also completed a test of the main engine cover which was openend and closed to make all mechanisms work. This shield protects the engine from debris or micrometeoroid hits. It will be opened before Main Engine Burns are performed.
60 Days into the mission, Juno is preparing for the next Mission Phase Transition to the Inner Cruise 2 Phase which will have a duration of 598 days. This Transition will take place in ~3 days.
More instruments were tested since the last mission update. A Low Voltage Checkout of the JIRAM Spectrometer was performed and revealed that the system is in good condition. A so called Tones Test was also conducted. For that, the spacecraft’s torodial antenna was used. This antenna will be in use when the spacecraft is unable to point its high gain antenna to Earth to ensure that communications with the vehicle are available to some extent even during these phases. Juno Tones includes more than 100 radio signals that are sent by the spacecraft to provide continuous status coverage when it is operating autonomously. Tones will be the only available data connection during the two major mission events JOI and PRD. (Jupiter Orbit Insertion & Period Reduction Maneuver) In mid September, Juno performed a reorientation maneuver using its small thrusters and switched communications to the Forward Low Gain Antenna. The Vehicle also completed a test of the main engine cover which was openend and closed to make all mechanisms work. This shield protects the engine from debris or micrometeoroid hits. It will be opened before Main Engine Burns are performed.
Mission Update |
September 12, 2011 |
Juno continues its trek that is carrying it away from Earth at this point in the mission. The spacecraft is more than halfway through its first major mission phase – Inner Cruise 1 – with Inner Cruise 2 beginning on October 8.
Mission Personnel is reporting that the Spacecraft is in excellent health. Juno already completed extensive health checks, initial calibrations, tones test and LV Checkout. All instruments have been deployed and most have been checked.
As of September 12, the Jupiter-bound Spacecraft is traveling at a distance of 17.3 million Kilometers to Earth and 619.8 Million Kilometers to Jupiter. It is cruising at a speed of ~10,500mph relative to Earth and ~75,600mph relative to the Sun. In total, Juno has already completed a trip of 114 Million Kilometers. A command sent from Earth needs 58 seconds to travel to Juno at its current location.
Mission Personnel is reporting that the Spacecraft is in excellent health. Juno already completed extensive health checks, initial calibrations, tones test and LV Checkout. All instruments have been deployed and most have been checked.
As of September 12, the Jupiter-bound Spacecraft is traveling at a distance of 17.3 million Kilometers to Earth and 619.8 Million Kilometers to Jupiter. It is cruising at a speed of ~10,500mph relative to Earth and ~75,600mph relative to the Sun. In total, Juno has already completed a trip of 114 Million Kilometers. A command sent from Earth needs 58 seconds to travel to Juno at its current location.
Credit: JPL Solar System Simulator
Juno sends first Photo from Space
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August 31, 2011; 6am EDT
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Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech
The first Image taken by the Juno Spacecraft was published yesterday by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
This Photo of Earth and Moon in one frame was taken on August 26 when the spacecraft was approximately 6 million miles from Earth. JunoCam is Juno’s single full color camera that will be used as part of its Education and Public Outreach Campaign. The camera will be taking pictures of Jupiter and its Cloud Tops once Juno arrives at the Gas Giant. As part of systems checks, JunoCam was tested and returned this remarkable image of our home planet and moon. More images like this might be taken when Juno swings by Earth in 2013 to boost its velocity. For that, the spacecraft will approach Earth to as close as 500 miles.
Juno is still in its Inner Cruise 1 Phase. This portion of the missioon will continue for about 37 more days before IC2 begins. The ground team is still checking the spacecraft’s systems and subsystems. No problems have been reported up to this point. As of August 31, Juno was more than 12 million Km from Earth.
This Photo of Earth and Moon in one frame was taken on August 26 when the spacecraft was approximately 6 million miles from Earth. JunoCam is Juno’s single full color camera that will be used as part of its Education and Public Outreach Campaign. The camera will be taking pictures of Jupiter and its Cloud Tops once Juno arrives at the Gas Giant. As part of systems checks, JunoCam was tested and returned this remarkable image of our home planet and moon. More images like this might be taken when Juno swings by Earth in 2013 to boost its velocity. For that, the spacecraft will approach Earth to as close as 500 miles.
Juno is still in its Inner Cruise 1 Phase. This portion of the missioon will continue for about 37 more days before IC2 begins. The ground team is still checking the spacecraft’s systems and subsystems. No problems have been reported up to this point. As of August 31, Juno was more than 12 million Km from Earth.
TCM-1 canceled, System Checks continue
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August 27, 2011; 9am EDT
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Juno is still in the middle of the Inner Cruise Phase 1. The team has been performing many calibrations and tests over the past days and weeks. A low voltage checkout of Juno’s two Flux Gate Magnetometers was performed and the Waves instrument antenna was deployed and tested. This V-shaped electric dipole antenna will be studying Jupiter’s radiation belts. All systems that were checked out are in perfect shape and continue to perform very well.
Juno also made its first reorientation maneuver to stay within thermal limits and ensure good communications with Earth. The first bigger maneuver – Trajectory Control Maneuver 1 – was canceled. The team determined that Juno is on a proper trajectory and that a correction was not necessary. It was put into this particular trajectory by its launch vehicle and the Centaur Upper Stage of the Atlas V Rocket. The TCM would have taken place on August 25 (L+20 Days). Innter Cruise 1 will continue until October 8 when another Mission Phase Transition is planned to switch Juno two a longer Phase – Inner Cruise 2.
Juno also made its first reorientation maneuver to stay within thermal limits and ensure good communications with Earth. The first bigger maneuver – Trajectory Control Maneuver 1 – was canceled. The team determined that Juno is on a proper trajectory and that a correction was not necessary. It was put into this particular trajectory by its launch vehicle and the Centaur Upper Stage of the Atlas V Rocket. The TCM would have taken place on August 25 (L+20 Days). Innter Cruise 1 will continue until October 8 when another Mission Phase Transition is planned to switch Juno two a longer Phase – Inner Cruise 2.
Juno changes Mission Phases for the first Time
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August 8, 2011; 2pm EDT
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At 55 Hours and 12 Minutes into the Mission (Sunday, August 7, 2011 at 7:37pm EDT), Juno officially transitioned from the Launch Phase to Inner Cruise 1 Mode.
The Launch Phase began 45 Minutes prior to launch and obviously involved powered ascent, solar array deployment and the first vehicle status poll. Later in the Mission Segment, more thorough vehicle testing was performed and verifications were made.
The new phase is the first Cruise Phase of the Mission. All in all, Juno will be cruising for more than 1500 days. IC1 will be 60 days in duration. It is characterized by more spacecraft checkouts and the deployment of the Waves Instrument Antenna. Juno will also perform its first trajectory correction maneuver should it be necessary. Mission Controllers are still looking at the current trajectory to determine if it is good enough to scrub this engine burn. The high gain antenna will serve two purposes during IC1. At times it will be pointed to the sun to work as a heat shield and protect the vehicle's intruments. When Juno is far away from the sun, it will be pointed to earth for high data rate communications.
The Launch Phase began 45 Minutes prior to launch and obviously involved powered ascent, solar array deployment and the first vehicle status poll. Later in the Mission Segment, more thorough vehicle testing was performed and verifications were made.
The new phase is the first Cruise Phase of the Mission. All in all, Juno will be cruising for more than 1500 days. IC1 will be 60 days in duration. It is characterized by more spacecraft checkouts and the deployment of the Waves Instrument Antenna. Juno will also perform its first trajectory correction maneuver should it be necessary. Mission Controllers are still looking at the current trajectory to determine if it is good enough to scrub this engine burn. The high gain antenna will serve two purposes during IC1. At times it will be pointed to the sun to work as a heat shield and protect the vehicle's intruments. When Juno is far away from the sun, it will be pointed to earth for high data rate communications.
Photo: NASA/JPL/Caltech
Solar Array Deployment
Juno launched after turbulent Countdown
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August 5, 2011; 3:00pm EDT
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NASA's Juno Spacecraft launched today at 12:25pm EDT after a turbulent final phase of the Launch Countdown. Initial Vehicle Health Checks are looking good.
Full Story: Click Here
Weather Situation Overview
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August 5, 2011; 10:15am EDT
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At this time, all Launch Weather Criteria are GREEN - Go for Launch. Forecasters are giving a 70% chance that this will still be the case at launch time. Rule 3 - Cumulus Clouds - will be the main focus of the day.
Meteorologists are concerned that Cumulus Clouds will roll in at or a little before noon today. Launch rules state that an Atlas V can not be launched if the flight path carries it within 10NM of cumulus clouds with tops higher than the -20°C level and/or within 5NM of cumulus clouds with tops higher than the -10°C level.
Showers and lightning within 5NM of the launch site will also prohibit a launch. Right now, radar images show no isolated showers that are present in the area.
Showers and lightning within 5NM of the launch site will also prohibit a launch. Right now, radar images show no isolated showers that are present in the area.
Today's launch window opens at 11:34am EDT and extends for 69 minutes. The vehicle can be launched at any time during this window should the weather rules not allow a launch at window open time. If Juno can not launch today, there are launch window of similar or longer duration on each day through August 26.
For tomorrow's launch attempt, forecasters are also issuing a 70% chance of favorable weather at launch time.
For tomorrow's launch attempt, forecasters are also issuing a 70% chance of favorable weather at launch time.
GO for Tanking
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August 5, 2011; 9:24am EDT
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The Countdown for the Launch of an Atlas V 551 with the Juno Spacecraft began this morning at 4:34am EDT.
Initial Countdown operations went very smoothly. The vehicle was powered up and all systems were checked out. Communications were established and S-Band as well as C-Band Communication Checks were conducted. At 8am EDT, the Centaur’s guidance system was tested and the water deluge system has been configured to blast off. Launch Complex 41 was then cleared of all personnel just before 9am EDT this morning.
The Countdown entered a 30-minute hold at the 2-hour mark at 8:54am EDT. During the hold, a weather briefing was performed and the launch team was polled to give a GO for tanking. That GO was given at 9:22am EDT. The Pretask briefing for tanking was conducted at 9:20am EDT.
Cryogenics tanking should get underway momentarily. the RP-1 Fuel that has already been tanked will be pressurizen in 2 minutes.
The Vehicle is working no issues and weather remains at 70% GO.
Initial Countdown operations went very smoothly. The vehicle was powered up and all systems were checked out. Communications were established and S-Band as well as C-Band Communication Checks were conducted. At 8am EDT, the Centaur’s guidance system was tested and the water deluge system has been configured to blast off. Launch Complex 41 was then cleared of all personnel just before 9am EDT this morning.
The Countdown entered a 30-minute hold at the 2-hour mark at 8:54am EDT. During the hold, a weather briefing was performed and the launch team was polled to give a GO for tanking. That GO was given at 9:22am EDT. The Pretask briefing for tanking was conducted at 9:20am EDT.
Cryogenics tanking should get underway momentarily. the RP-1 Fuel that has already been tanked will be pressurizen in 2 minutes.
The Vehicle is working no issues and weather remains at 70% GO.
Atlas V rolled out to Launch Pad
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August 4, 2011; 9am EDT
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The Atlas V 551 rocket that will carry the Juno Spacecraft into space has been rolled to its Launch Pad this morning at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Mission Personnel met at 6:45am EDT to discuss the weather that was the main focus today. Tropical Storm Emily has been closely tracked over the past days to verify it’s safe to roll the vehicle to the launch pad for a launch on Friday.
Latest predictions show Emily’s Center passing the Cape at a distance of 120 miles at 2am EDT on Sunday morning.
For Friday, weather looks favorable at 70% GO. The Cape area will most likely experience the first traces of the tropical storm on Saturday, so that forecasters are not optimistic for this launch opportunity.
A GO for Rollout was given this morning at 7:30am EDT and the Platform was moved to the launch Pad at 8am EDT. It reached its final position at about 8.40am EDT and pad securing is in progress now. Electrical, Data and conditioned air connections will be made shortly. The undercarriages that were used to move the mobile platform will be moved away from the pad soon. Umbilicals that will transfer cryogenic propellants to the vehicle will be hooked up as well.
Meteorologists will track the weather closely over the next 24 hours to be ready to make recommendations in case tomorrow’s launch attempt will be scrubbed for weather or technical reasons.
The current predicted storm track from the National Hurricane Center:
Mission Personnel met at 6:45am EDT to discuss the weather that was the main focus today. Tropical Storm Emily has been closely tracked over the past days to verify it’s safe to roll the vehicle to the launch pad for a launch on Friday.
Latest predictions show Emily’s Center passing the Cape at a distance of 120 miles at 2am EDT on Sunday morning.
For Friday, weather looks favorable at 70% GO. The Cape area will most likely experience the first traces of the tropical storm on Saturday, so that forecasters are not optimistic for this launch opportunity.
A GO for Rollout was given this morning at 7:30am EDT and the Platform was moved to the launch Pad at 8am EDT. It reached its final position at about 8.40am EDT and pad securing is in progress now. Electrical, Data and conditioned air connections will be made shortly. The undercarriages that were used to move the mobile platform will be moved away from the pad soon. Umbilicals that will transfer cryogenic propellants to the vehicle will be hooked up as well.
Meteorologists will track the weather closely over the next 24 hours to be ready to make recommendations in case tomorrow’s launch attempt will be scrubbed for weather or technical reasons.
The current predicted storm track from the National Hurricane Center:
Source: NHC.NOAA.gov
 Photo: NASA Kennedy |
 Photo: NASA Kennedy |
Launch Rehearsal completed
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August 1, 2011; 4pm EDT
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The team that will launch the Atlas V 551 rocket that carries the Juno Spacecraft completed a crucial milestone prior to launch countdown. All engineers and technicians went through a countdown rehearsal to practice all the delicate steps that will be required to sucessfully launch the vehicle. Those practice countdowns are a standard procedure that is done just a few days before the launch window opens.
The test revealed that both vehicles and all ground systems are functioning well and are ready to support the mission.
The test revealed that both vehicles and all ground systems are functioning well and are ready to support the mission.
Flight Readiness Review complete
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July 29, 2011; 6pm EDT
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Mission Managers of United Launch Alliance and NASA gathered this morning to review conditions of Juno and its Atlas V launch vehicle. System performance was reviewed and each system branch gave presentations and recommendations before the formal launch date was set.
Managers determined that both vehicles are ready for an on-time launch on August 5. The launch window on that day extends from 11:34am EDT to 12:43pm EDT.
Managers determined that both vehicles are ready for an on-time launch on August 5. The launch window on that day extends from 11:34am EDT to 12:43pm EDT.
Spacecraft attached to Atlas V
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July 27, 2011; 4pm EDT
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The Juno Spacecraft inside its 5.4m-diameter payload fairing was attached to the Atlas V 551 launch vehicle that will carry it into space today.
juno made its 15-mile trip from Astrotech's processing facility in Titusville, Florida to Launch Complex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and was raised to be secured on top of its launcher. At 10:42am EDT confirmation was given that Juno was secured in place.
That set the stage for more tests of spacecraft and rocket that will be performed over the next few days. Juno will be powered up for a final test to make sure it was not damaged during fueling, transport to the launch site and installation.
juno made its 15-mile trip from Astrotech's processing facility in Titusville, Florida to Launch Complex 41 of the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and was raised to be secured on top of its launcher. At 10:42am EDT confirmation was given that Juno was secured in place.
That set the stage for more tests of spacecraft and rocket that will be performed over the next few days. Juno will be powered up for a final test to make sure it was not damaged during fueling, transport to the launch site and installation.
 Photo: NASA Kennedy More Photos: Click Here
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 Photo: NASA Kennedy |
