MAVEN Launch Thread: Launch Currently Scheduled for November 18th @ 1:28 PM

[B787_300]

So this is going to be the MAVEN Launch thread

What is MAVEN?

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) is a planned space probe designed to study the Martian atmosphere while orbiting Mars. One of the stated mission goals is to possibly determine what caused atmospheric Martian water to be lost to space over time.

What will it be launched on?

MAVEN will be Launched on an Atlas V 401. So an Atlas V with NO SRBs

When will it get to Mars?

If launched at the beginning of the launch window, it will get to Mars on September 22 2014. So in the grand scheme of mars transfers, long but not the longest.

When will it be launched?

Hopefully on November 18th 2013 at 1:28pm EST (6:28pm GMT/UTC) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Base

Where can I watch the launch?

NASA will be streaming, along with the ULA (United Launch Alliance) (links will come on Monday morning once they are finalized)

And anywhere along the Florida Space Coast. I will try to get some pictures of the launch from Daytona Beach where I am an post them.

Images (prelaunch)

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Edited November 16, 2013 by B787_300
Adding photos

[KvickFlygarn87]

Could you provide timezones please, maybe times in UTC?

Also, hooray for NASA.

[B787_300]

Could you provide timezones please, maybe times in UTC?

Done, added the GMT/UTC time

[Kerbal01]

And CST time too.

[B787_300]

Darth, really? CST is one hour behind EST so do the math... and if you really have trouble use a converter on a website

[3_bit]

Thanks for the heads-up! Too bad I won't be able to see it...

[dharak1]

If it launched 2 minutes later I could probably get a stream or something on a computer at school.

[B787_300]

Dharak1, still try to get it, remember it takes about 8 min to orbit, and more than likely they are going to be a bit late

[dharak1]

That's what I was thinking, at least I could still get parts of the ascent.

[B787_300]

Current Weather forecast for monday is 40% change of weather delay, but it is a 4 day and its Florida... weather can change from no go to go in 5 min flat

[Tech Support]

I was waiting for this thread ! can we have some photos please ?

[B787_300]

Sure anyone know how to add an IMGUR gallery?

[B787_300]

Prelaunch Activity photos have been added

[Meithan]

Here's MAVEN being put in place atop the Atlas V rocket (click for full resolution):

Edit: ninja'd!

[B787_300]

i was surprised how easy that was, an imgur album is [noparse]

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[Meithan]

Yep. What I couldn't do just now is resize an image on the fly using BB codes. Is it possible on this forum? i.e., using something like [ img = 400x400 ] ... [ /img ].

[Meithan]

I find that it's usually difficult to get a good feeling of the size of spacecraft from photos. Here's a diagram that puts MAVEN's size in perspective:

[czokletmuss]

MAVEN Rolls to the Launch Pad

[B787_300]

They rolled MAVEN out this morning right? as in the 16th of November

[Tech Support]

what is that cone shaped object on the probe ? is it for aerobraking or is it a decent module ?

[B787_300]

neither, that is part of the Science sensors, dont know what it specifically does though, could also house a radar sensor.

[czokletmuss]

dont know what it specifically does though

It gives you science points, of course!

[Meithan]

That's MAVEN's High Gain Antenna. Here's a shot before the conical dome was installed. The dome protects the antenna and stabilizes its temperature. From NASA:

"For optimal performance, it’s important for the high-gain antenna to maintain a consistent temperature while the spacecraft experiences large temperature swings from being exposed to the Sun or in the eclipse behind Mars. To maintain a consistent temperature range, a radome blanket covers the large antenna. Similar to the blanketing material that covers the spacecraft, the radome is made from very thin germanium-coated black Kapton film."

[B787_300]

Saturdays Forecast

The weather forecast from the Air Force's 45th Weather Squardon calls for 40 percent chance of violating launch constraints.

The outlook predicts scattered, broken and overcast cloud decks at 2,500, 10,000 and 24,000 feet with showers and isolated rainshower activity. Winds will be out of the southwest at 10 to 15 knots with a temperature of approximately 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

The primary concerns for Wednesday morning are violating the thick cloud, disturbed weather and the cumulus cloud rules.

If the launch gets pushed back to Tuesday or Wednesday, a cold front pushes into the area, bringing a chance for thunderstorms and windier conditions. The chance of violating weather rules Tuesday and Wednesday is 60 percent and 70 percent, respectively.

[Tech Support]

how many more attempts do they have ? if they miss today I mean.