Delta 2 to Loft Mercury Probe (mission Update)

MISSION UPDATE

Delta 2 to Loft Mercury Probe
For 6:17 p.m. EDT Monday July 19:

NASA's first spacecraft bound for the planet Mercury is being readied for launch.

The MESSENGER probe, short for MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry, and Ranging, is set to launch from Florida's Cape Canveral Air Force Station in the early morning hours of Aug. 2 at 2:16 a.m. EDT (0616 GMT). Launch officials have a 13-day window to loft the planetary probe.

A Boeing Delta 2 rocket will launch MESSENGER on a trajectory that will make a series of flybys of the Earth and Venus before finally sliding ino orbit around Mercury. The spacecraft is expected to be the first to visit the planet since Mariner 10 swung by it in 1974 and 1975.

Among MESSENGER's multiple goals are the detailed mapping of most of Mercury's surface, chemical studies to probe its make up, as well as experiments to understand the planet's magnetic field and rocky, metallic core.

Mission researchers said MESSENGER should reach Mercury in March 2011.

Tariq Malik, Staff Writer for SPACE.com.

1 posted on 08/01/2004 4:12:44 PM PDT by NonValueAdded

2 posted on 08/01/2004 4:14:54 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("I actually was going to throw like a man before I threw like a girl." JFK 7/25/2004)

To: NonValueAdded

From Spaceflight Now

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2004
2157 GMT (5:57 p.m. EDT)

The mobile service tower is currently being wheeled away from the Delta 2 rocket at pad 17B as countdown activities continue for tonight's launch of NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft to the planet Mercury.

The tower rollback was delayed a bit this afternoon due to concerns about bad weather in the local area.

Over the next couple of hours, workers will get the tower locked into its launch position, reconfigure the pad deck and exhaust ducts and then clear the hazard area. The Terminal Countdown is scheduled to begin at 11:16 p.m. EDT tonight for liftoff exactly three hours later.

3 posted on 08/01/2004 4:47:50 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("I actually was going to throw like a man before I threw like a girl." JFK 7/25/2004)

To: NonValueAdded

0316 GMT (11:16 p.m. EDT Sun.)

T-minus 150 minutes and counting. The Terminal Countdown is now underway tonight's launch of the Boeing-built Delta 2-Heavy rocket and NASA's Mercury orbiter known as MESSENGER.

4 posted on 08/01/2004 8:17:51 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("I actually was going to throw like a man before I threw like a girl." JFK 7/25/2004)

5 posted on 08/01/2004 8:19:22 PM PDT by NonValueAdded ("I actually was going to throw like a man before I threw like a girl." JFK 7/25/2004)

To: NonValueAdded

WEATHER DELAY -- RETRY EARLY TUESDAY AM

MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2004
0705 GMT (3:05 a.m. EDT)

The outer fringes of Tropical Storm Alex, the year's first named system in the Atlantic Ocean that is swirling off the southeast United States, thwarted this morning's attempt to launch NASA's MESSENGER space probe on its seven-year journey to the planet Mercury.

o o o

Another shot at launch will be made in 24 hours. The weather outlook for early Tuesday calls for improving conditions.

6 posted on 08/02/2004 6:37:09 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("I actually was going to throw like a man before I threw like a girl." JFK 7/25/2004)

To: NonValueAdded

John Kerry offers his services after disappointing post-convention polling:

7 posted on 08/02/2004 8:20:41 AM PDT by Stallone (We who stand on the other side of the line must be equally clear and certain of our convictions. ~ W)

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