pic: Orion is Go for Launch

[Sparkyshires]

Thanks! So from a very elementary stand point, could you explain why there is a time window so small? It's not rendezvous-ing with any thing or interacting with any spatial bodies, so I would think it could just launch whenever. Why is this not the case?

[Rosiebotboss]

Launch and recovery during daylight, for one. Tracking space junk that might be in the way, for another. And I'm sure someone else way smarter than me can chime in here with some orbital mechanics reasons.

[Pjohn1959]

My guess is the onboard batteries. Even though they run on external power during the holds, there is still a drain on them. And I think we all know what happens with low powered batteries.

[Rosiebotboss]

Great job to the folks who built EFT-1 and the entire Launch crew for the perfect launch this morning.


Thanks, Dave.

[JesseK]

the NASA feed cut out right before main chutes
Good thing we have Twitter.

[Sparkyshires]

https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/ has been giving really good updates for me, especially cause I'm at school and can check up quick about whats happened if I missed it.

[75vs1885]

That's awesome!
Do you know any places where I can read about missions similar to this? I've been becoming more and more interested recently.

[dellagd]

I got my Spanish teacher to let us watch the splashdown live! WIN.

Anyway, congratulations on the big success! I heard the announcer repeatedly talking about how all the systems were functioning well and how re-entry was a bulls-eye! Awesome.

And also yes, of course the feed would hiccup literally RIGHT AS the main chutes were about to come out with an absolutely fabulous camera angle.

[Sparkyshires]

does anyone know where I can get video of the feed? I was in classes all day that would'nt let me watch :/

[Tim Sharp]

One of our mechanical mentors is an inspector for ULA. The Delta IV rockets used in the mission don't leave the factory floor without his approval.

He sent me the following info to distribute. I hope you find it helpful.



This week, a Delta IV Heavy rocket will launch the Exploration Flight Test (EFT-1) mission for NASA, the first flight of the Orion Spacecraft. The launch is targeted for 7:05 a.m. EST this Thursday, December 4th, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.



The Delta IV Heavy rocket was built at the United Launch Alliance Decatur, Alabama factory. With over 800 employees from North Alabama, Southern Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, there are hundreds of students with a direct connection to this flight through parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or other relatives and friends.



Please take the opportunity to help all of your students learn about this historic flight of the Orion capsule, which will travel to an altitude of 3,600 miles, more than 15 times farther than the International Space Station’s orbit! NASA is testing Orion’s performance in deep space and its return through Earth’s atmosphere.



The ULA website is a good starting point for information about the launch – www.ulalaunch.com



There is a wonderful animated video explaining the purpose of the mission at - http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/11/08...t-1-animation/



After the launch, look for the launch video on the Space Vids channel on youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/SpaceVidsNet



The NASA website should continue to add multimedia as well - http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/index.html



ULA will post launch updates on https://www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, and retweet the launch broadcast on Twitter; hashtags #Orion and #DeltaIV.



Thank you for teaching our children about this mission and the next steps to human exploration in space!