Propellant-loading work is going smoothly this morning with the launch team reporting the LO2 level on the Centaur upper stage at 80 percent. Launch remains on track for 1:28 p.m. EST.
Atlas V Oxygen Loading Begins
The launch teams are starting the steps to load about 50,000 gallons of liquid oxygen into the first stage of the Atlas V. The lines and tanks have been chilled to accept the minus-297 degree propellant. About 26,000 gallons of refined kerosene, or RP-1, flowed into the first stage fuel tanks during the wet dress rehearsal a …
Our Console in Hangar AE
NASA's MAVEN Launch Blog originates today inside Hangar AE at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida just down the beach from Space Launch Complex 41 where the Mars-bound spacecraft stands ready for launch. AE, as NASA folks call it, traces its history back to before astronauts flew. It was built in 1959 and has …
Where to See a Launch in Person
For those folks near Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, there is a list of good viewing locations here.
Centaur Oxygen Loading to Begin
Liquid oxygen will start flowing into the Centaur upper stage tank momentarily. The Centaur will take about 4,000 gallons of the super-cold liquid oxygen. After the Atlas V booster stage completes the first phase of launch, the Centaur's single RL-10 engine will ignite, mixing the oxygen with liquid hydrogen to generate 22,300 pounds of thrust to …
Chilldown Complete
The pipes leading from propellant storage tanks to the Atlas V rocket have been chilled to handle the cryogenic chemicals that will begin moving through them shortly. The chilldown is handled remotely by launch team controllers who basically set a very slow flow of cold materials through the lines to condition them.
What Do All Those Letters Mean, Anyway?
MAVEN is NASA's way of saying the "Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution" mission. It takes a lot less time to just say MAVEN. Considering that the word maven means an expert in a particular field that is looking to share that knowledge with others, the acronym works. NASA's MAVEN mission is equipped to investigate the …
Countdown Resumes at T-2 hours
The launch team picked up the count to today's launch again at the T-2 hour mark after a planned hold. The next step is to begin loading cryogenic – or super-cold – propellants into the Atlas V first stage and Centaur upper stage. Liquid oxygen with a temperature of minus-297 degrees will be pumped into …
Launch Teams Ready for Cryogenic Propellants Loading
The countdown is on schedule to day to resume at 11:18 a.m. EST after launch teams confirmed they are ready to begin filling the Atlas V booster and Centaur upper stage with cryogenic – super-cold – propellants.