The Road Ahead for LRO & LCROSS

Relive LRO Launch

This link will take you to a ULA site with an excellent video of the launch.

http://www.ulalaunch.com/

LRO Mission Status 6/20/2009 11:45 EDT

Yesterday at 6:16pm, our mid-course correction burn was successfully
completed. The burn was 38 seconds long, changing the speed of the
spacecraft by 1.3 m/s (2.9 MPH)--less than 0.1%! The spacecraft
attitude control system performed beautifully, with minimal start-up
transient (about 0.5 degrees).

After MCC, we turned on the CRaTER and LEND instruments. Performance of
each instrument looks good. We adjusted the CRaTER thresholds based on
actual performance in the space environment, so we are all set to detect
high energy particles. Now we are stepping LEND through its different
configurations to optimize performance and characterize the background.

We have turned on decontamination heaters on the LRO Camera to drive out
moisture and any other volatiles before we turn on LROC.

And we have just finished powering on our Ka-band system and dumping
data at 25 Mbps (instead of 256 kbps on S-band--100 times faster). In
less than half an hour, we dumped 163 files from the spacecraft, while
we had only dumped 210 total on S-band since launch. This was the last
spacecraft component other than the instruments to get powered on.

LRO is 264,000 km (164,000 miles) from the earth traveling at 0.914 km/s
(2040 MPH). LRO has slowed down quite a bit, and we will continue to
slow down as we climb away from the earth on our ballistic trajectory.

LRO GNC's LroCam

Many thanks to Neerav Shah for this awesome image:
Here’s a cool screenshot of GNC’s in-house developed tool called LroCam. It’s during our current Gyro Cal slew. You’ll see a few different vectors – there are the (x,y,z) which represent the current attitude of the spacecraft. And there are the (x tgt, y tgt, z tgt) which represent the target attitude. For the –Y 30 degree slew you see that the ‘y’ and ‘y tgt’ match exactly while the x and z do not, indicating that the spacecraft is slewing.

LRO's orbit relative to Ground Stations

Many thanks to Jennifer Sager Cosgrove for these awesome displays!!
All data is based on actual real-time telemetry data – this is a 2-D window that shows LRO’s orbit relative to the ground stations (including DSN, GN and USN stations) on Earth.

LRO STK Display Post-MCC1

Many thanks to Jennifer Sager Cosgrove for these awesome displays!!
All STK data is based on actual real-time telemetry data and all windows displayed are 3-D
• This image represents the LRO spacecraft after MCC1.
• The yellow cone pointed at Earth represents the HGA S-band pointed at DSS24 ground station on Earth.
• The blue and purple cones represent ST1 and ST2 (Star Trackers 1 and 2).
• The large LRO ICR Axes view is a close up to the LRO spacecraft showing the SA pointed to the Sun, the HGA pointed at Earth, and various vectors (velocity, Moon, Earth and Sun vectors)
• The two smaller windows are showing where LRO is located relative to the Earth Moon system. The Earth Inertial Axes view shows LRO is about half way to the moon and shows the moons orbit around the Earth and LRO’s orbit relative to the lunar orbit including LRO’s lunar orbit insertion.

LRO Status at 171 04:40 GMT

Today at 6:16pm, our mid-course correction (MCC-1) burn was successfully completed. The burn was 38 seconds long. All systems operated nominally throughout the burn. FDF is collecting tracking data and preparing for LOI maneuver planning.

We have just completed LEND and CRaTER turn-on activities. 1st science files for CRaTER have been sent to the SOC for processing. 1st science files for LEND have been sent to the SOCs for processing. Transfer courtesy of DMS.

Later this evening we will be performing a mini-gyro calibration in preparation for LOI.

Special thanks to Laurie Leshin for stopping by this evening to feed the troops....we truly enjoyed the delicious pizzas!!

LRO is now 224,324 km from the Earth.

LRO Status

It is going very well. The rocket gave us a great ride--total energy is nearly exact. We are planning a 38 second mid-course correction burn--very short--mostly to correct inclination.

Attitude control system is working great, we acquired the sun within just a few minutes of separation. Solar array is deployed, power looks good, although a bit lower (5%-10%) than expected (not a problem, but we are investigating). High-gain antenna is deployed and we are using it for communication. Received signal within 1 dB of predicted. C&DH running without incident; recorders formatted and running without error.

Propulsion one-shots went well last evening--propulsion is in good shape. We did a delta H and unloaded the 20 N-m-s of momentum we got from the launch vehicle tip-off (fairly low rate)--closed-loop thruster mode worked well. Thermal is generally good; dampers on the solar array are hotter than expected but OK; we have off-pointed the spacecraft 30 degrees to reduce current through the solar array gimbal to keep the temperature down (this was planned).

We are planning the mid-course correction burn at 6:16 this afternoon.

Checkout of the load is underway at FlatSat right now. CRaTER and LEND will be powered on later this evening (after MCC).

At present we are traveling 3600 mph, having slowed down from the initial 24000 mph at Centaur separation. LRO is about halfway to the moon having traveled 103000 miles from the earth.

Communicating to/from our HGA

We are now in HGA communications with our spacecraft.

LRO Flight Status

We has performed the propulsion thruster one-shot test which checks out the rocket engines. The Orbiter is performing beautifully. The flight thus far has been essentially flawless. We have confirmed a very accurate injection vector from the Atlas and very low tip-off. Many thanks to Atlas!

After this post the LRO PM will go off line and head to the plane back to GSFC.

LRO Flight Status

High Gain Antenna deployed and Star Trackers up and running. Preparing to go to Observing Mode.

Solar Arrays being Deployed

We are deploying our solar arrays, all looks good.

Solar Array Deployed

Solar Array has been successfully deployed and parked in Index Position. Spacecraft is healthy with no issues.

LRO Launch Photo

LRO Flight Status 6:28pm EDT

Based on telemetry we've seen in ASOC looks like we're stable with only modest tip-off which our reaction wheels absorbed and we have acquired LRO from the ground stations.

LRO HAS SEPERATED!

Telemetry being picked up by TDRSS. We're Alive!

LRO Update

Centaur has begun its 2nd main engine burn. LRO looks good.

LRO HAS LAUNCHED!!!

Spacecraft telemetry looks good. Next event for LRO is separation from Centaur at 22:15:40 GMT.

We are spaceborne!!! Leading mankind back into deep space!

LRO is GO for Launch

Final Poll complete. we are go

Go LRO Go LCROSS Go Atlas Go Centaur

LRO Launch Update 5:17pm

Weather is green for 5:32pm launch

LRO Launch Update 5:01pm

We are now targeting 3rd launch op in this window at 5:32pm. New data has been released to the ground stations for this launch time. LRO is now on internal power. Weather still red. Countdown will run down to L-60 seconds before a weather scrub.

LRO Launch Status 4:27pm

LRO has been switched to 2kbps EELV Telemetry. This was our last telecommand to the spacecraft prior to launch. All systems are green. We continue to watch the weather in hopes the RED condition clears for launch. The countdown continues and we are at L - 00:42:20. We transition to internal (battery) at L-11 min.

LRO Launch Status 4:01pm

Weather is RED now due to lighting. We may just get Green in time though.

LRO Launch Status 3:25pm

LRO is go for launch. Atlas is go but it looks like we might have to thread the needle with respect to the weather today. It is predicted to go RED, then GREEN, the RED again. But our window may be in the GREEN window. L - 1:44:40

UAT & MJT -->NO RAIN DANCES!

LRO Launch Status 2:58pm

LRO is go for launch and Atlas is loading cryogenic propellants. There is some threatening weather but thus far we are green weather wise. LRO continues to loop thru the automated program that checks spacecraft status. We will switch to 2kbps ELV telemetry at L-55min. This is our last command to spacecraft before launch. Switch to internal battery power will occur at L-11 min and is configured from our ground GSE and not via command.

GO LRO!

LRO Status 2:45pm

LRO reported GO for Atlas Cyro Tanking. L-2:22:45. No issues

LRO Status 1:43pm

PVAN being evacuated for launch. We are at L - 3:37:30. All green.

LRO Status 1:26pm

LRO Aliveness Checks complete, all go. Proceeding to configure for launch. MOC reports all ground assets and the MOC are go.

LRO Status 1:07pm

Aliveness tests continue. We are at L-4:04:00 with no LRO issues.

LRO Status 12:47pm

Proceeding thru Instrument power-up and checkouts.

LRO Status 12:12pm

Starting LRO aliveness tests, on schedule. L-4:48:30

LRO Status 11:49am

commanding recovered, Launch Configuration Proc proceeding

LRO Status 11:17AM

Troubleshooting commanding problem, commands not getting to spacecraft from ASO via AE via PVAN, troubleshooting in progress.

LRO Launch Day 10:45am EDT

Power up of LRO spacecraft in progress.

Launch Day 9:30 EDT

MOC is completing voice checks and working checkout of Ground Station connections. LRO SMD (Project Manager) on-console in ASOC (launch control center).

LRO 1st Launch Attempt at 5:12pm EDT Tomorrow!

LRO Team,

The day is upon us! Almost exactly 24 hours from now we launch. Please take a deep breath and prepare yourselves for tomorrow. Our spacecraft is in perfect health and we have powered her OFF for probably the last time just moments ago. Please be on console at 10am EDT. Earlier today both the Atlas Launch Countdown (RevB) and the LRO Ground Countdowns were sent out as updates to your L&EM Handbooks. This really govern our countdown through liftoff. Tomorrow morning we'll distribute a LRO Early Mission Timeline for a 6/18/2009 launch. We're just finishing practicing the day-slip recycle of a timeline although this hit us before we published the 6/17 version.

Godspeed LRO!

LRO Last Power Down (Hopefully)

We powered on the spacecraft to verify the communication to the spacecraft. The orbiter appears to be operating nominally. We had a problem with one of the backup lines in the comm rack but we have a working configuration now.

We just powered down the spacecraft for hopefully, our last time. Just ponder that one!

All launch support personnel should be on station at 10am for tomorrow's launch.

GO LRO!

The View from above

Mike Golob got some spectacular pics today from the rollout to the pad. Check out this one - note that you can still see Endeavor on the pad from last night's Shuttle scrub. The Atlas AV-020 and LRO/LCROSS is absolutely gorgeous.

LRO AT THE LAUNCH PAD!

Power-up of spacecraft at 1pm.

LRO\LCROSS GO FOR JUNE 18th Launch!

After a long night first watching the Shuttle count end in a scrub and then a late night push (past the official deadline) by the Launch range to reconfigure for LRO\LCROSS the Range came through and we are GO for 6/18. 6/19&20 are now our back-up days.

Roll out to pad begins in 10 min. Stay tuned and be ready!

Roll Out Today at 10am

Word on the street is that we are going to roll out this morning. We will perform a power on at 1pm after rollout complete.

So much for the 12mid deadline....

LRO\LCROSS Launch Day Update

LRO Team,

Late this afternoon it was established that the only scenario in which 6/18 would be a LRO\LCROSS available launch day was one in which the Shuttle scrubbed their launch at about L-4hr or earlier. That translates into an answer about 12:45 am Wednesday morning (just past midnight Tuesday night). We all hope the Shuttle will be successful and I think odds are it will be so it is probable our launch days will be June 19 and June 20. I will update you, and the BLOG, in the wee hours tomorrow night. Plan for June 18,19,20 until informed differently but let's all hope the Shuttle is a successful and we are left with June 19 and 20th.

LRO is go for launch and we have no open issues! Be Ready!

"Endurance is nobler than strength, and patience than beauty."
John Ruskin

Launch Readiness Review (LRR) Completed & COFR Signed

This morning the LRO\LCROSS\AV-20 LRR was successfully completed. There are no open issues with LRO, LCROSS, or Atlas. Go LRO! Go LCROSS! Go Atlas! Go Centaur!

We will learn about 12 noon today whether the Shuttle will attempt to launch on 6/17 and push us to 6/18-20. Watch for updates

L-3 Days, Maybe!

We completed our Mission Dress Rehearsal for launch with Atlas and LCROSS on June 11 and are waiting to roll out to the pad. But the scrub of the Shuttle Launch has complicated things a bit. See my recent email below:

LRO Team,

Here's the outcome of today's events. Please read it carefully as the path forward is a bit convoluted:

• Up until Monday 6/15 about noon: Both Shuttle and LRO/LCROSS are on for 6/17-20. There will be a Monday 6am Shuttle status, and a Monday ~12noon Range configuration call. From there we have two scenarios, one with a additional variation:

1. If Shuttle has no processing issues by this time, then LRO/LCROSS gives up the 17th for a Shuttle attempt on the 17th., we have 18-20th with a lien on the 18th. Up until about Shuttle L-6 hours (midnight Tuesday), LRO/LCROSS has 6/18-20. Should Shuttle continue their count past this point (midnight Tuesday) even if they do not launch, we give up the 18th and have only 6/19-20.

2. If the Shuttle declares at noon Monday they cannot make the 17th LRO\LCROSS gets the 17th only and the Shuttle will plan for the 20th. Inside this path is the possibility the Shuttle would decline the 20th later in the window in which case LRO\LCROSS would recoup some or all of the 17-20 window.

Implications of the situation:

• We must plan for the 17th until at least noon tomorrow.
• If we lose the 17th at noon tomorrow it is gone for good no matter what.
• If we get the 17th tomorrow it is very likely all we have in this block, making a 6/30-7/3 launch more probable.
• If we lose the 17th Atlas roll out will slip at least a day.
• LRR and Press Events do not change