Confined Combustion: The crew performed the final sample burn, removed the Confined Combustion hardware from MSG and stowed it. The final sample was an acrylic (aka poly methyl methacrylate or plexiglass) sample installed with black baffles. This project aims to study flame spread in confined spaces—specifically the interactions between spreading flames and surrounding walls. Flame …
Crew Studies DNA and Space Flames Before Cargo Ship Launch
The three-member Expedition 62 crew is getting ready for a resupply mission scheduled to launch to the International Space Station no earlier than Thursday, Feb. 13, at 4:06 p.m. EST due to an unfavorable weather forecast in the next few days and the time required to address a ground support issue. The crewmates from the …
Solar Orbiter Embarks on Ambitious Mission to Face the Sun
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft is heading toward the Sun after a late-night launch from Florida’s Space Coast aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The vehicle lifted off from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 11:03 p.m. EST on Sunday, Feb. 9. After a nominal ascent, the spacecraft …
Solar Arrays Deployed
Solar Orbiter’s solar arrays have deployed and the spacecraft is power-positive. Solar Orbiter launched atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket at 11:03 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Solar Orbiter is an international collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. The spacecraft …
Solar Orbiter Update
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft team from the European Space Agency has been communicating with the spacecraft, which is confirmed to be in the right position. Deployment of the solar arrays is the next major milestone.
Signal Acquired
The team has received the signal from the Solar Orbiter spacecraft. Solar Orbiter is an international collaborative mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA. The spacecraft will observe the Sun with high spatial resolution telescopes and capture observations in the environment directly surrounding the spacecraft to create a one-of-a-kind picture of how the …
Spacecraft Separation: Solar Orbiter Flying Solo
The Solar Orbiter spacecraft is flying on its own now after a successful liftoff and ascent aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket and Centaur upper stage. The next critical milestone is the acquisition of signal from the spacecraft.
Centaur’s Final Burn Complete; Spacecraft Separation Coming Up
The Centaur’s main engine has completed its second and final burn, positioning the Solar Orbiter spacecraft for the transfer orbit it needs in order to head toward the Sun and begin its mission. Standing by for separation of Solar Orbiter from the vehicle in about three minutes. Following separation, the team will wait to hear …
Centaur Begins Second, Final Burn
The Centaur’s engine is firing once more in its second, and final, burn in tonight’s ascent. This is an approximately seven-minute burn.
Coast Phase Continues
As the Centaur upper stage continues its coast phase, its onboard reaction control thrusters are firing periodically to keep propellants settled in the bottom of their tanks in anticipation of the start of the Centaur’s second and final burn.