** The Official Space Flight Thread - The Space Station and Beyond **

[Cosimo]

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[Cosimo]

Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) is set to launch at 09:07 BST. Live coverage is on here.

The press kit is here.

 

[Cosimo]

The Atlas-Centaur is now fueled and ready to go.

 

[Cosimo]

There is a range problem, countdown on hold.

 

[Cosimo]

New launch time of 09:25 BST subject to range beacon problem being resolved.

 

[Cosimo]

Launch has been scrubbed until tomorrow.

 

[Cosimo]

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[Cosimo]

Making Tracks on Mars

This image shows the tracks left by NASA's Curiosity rover on Aug. 22, 2012, as it completed its first test drive on Mars. The rover went forward 15 feet (4.5 meters), rotated 120 degrees and then reversed 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). Curiosity is now 20 feet (6 meters) from its landing site, named Bradbury Landing.

This image was taken by a front Hazard-Avoidance camera, which has a fisheye lens.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

 

[Cosimo]

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[Cosimo]

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[Cosimo]

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[Cosimo]

The second launch attempt for RBSP is set for 09:07 BST. All looking good and fuelling is almost complete.

 

[Cosimo]

The weather this morning is 60% favourable for launch.

 

[Cosimo]

Weather has now gone red.

 

[Cosimo]

No Go for weather.

 

[Cosimo]

Launch set to end of window at 09:27. Fingers crossed for weather!

 

[Cosimo]

Most probably the best picture we will have today.

 

[Cosimo]

Launch is scrubbed.

Third attempt is tomorrow morning.

 

[Cosimo]

This makes up for the two scrubbed launches:

The weather is not looking too promising for the next few days as tropical storm Isaac is developing in eastern Caribbean. I expect that the launch will be postponed for a few days.

 

[Cosimo]

What time is the attempt tomorrow (sunday)?

The launch window is 09:07 to 09:27 BST. It is quite likely that this will be put back for a few days. They are meeting to discuss it now.