New Horizons: Third Time's the Charm

[mabfan]

NASA is going to try to launch New Horizons again today. This would be the third attempt, and today's launch window lasts from 1:08 PM to 3:07 PM EST. As I said yesterday, I'll create a blog entry around 1 PM EST for open commenting as we watch and wait for what we all hope is a succesful launch.

The launch window does last until February 14; however, I saw in the New York Times this morning that if we don't launch until after January 28, the probe's arrival at Pluto will be delayed by five years, to 2020. (Current plan is for it to arrive in July 2015, because launching in January will allow for a gravity assist from Jupiter.)

Links:

• New Horizons Main Page
  
• Virtual Launch Control Center
  
• NASA TV
  

Comments

[sorek.livejournal.com]

4 planet into the 7 planet, corner black hole, leaving an easy shot of the 5th planet. All these slingshot orbits make me think of pool.

Or certain episodes of Star Trek.

Or "2001".

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

In this case, it's probe from the third planet to the fifth planet, to hit the ninth.

[arib.livejournal.com]

Or Red Dwarf

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

Do you know the Reisers in Washington Heights?

They mentioned that they knew a science fiction writer and I think it was you, but if not, sorry.

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's me.

[marlowe1.livejournal.com]

Cool.