AKATSUKI (PLANET-C) about to launch

I am glad someone is not just saying been there, done that. Japan to visit Venus with PLANET-C

I enjoyed Pioneer 12's visit to Venus.
Yours truly, standing in for a controller in Fig 2-12.  :-)
Pioneering Venus NASA SP-518
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19960026995_1996055001.pdf
373 p. 176.41 MB
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/ames/missions/archive/pioneer.html
- LRK -

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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/status.html
Mission Status Center
By Stephen Clark

Welcome to Spaceflight Now's live coverage of the launch of Japan's H-2A rocket with the Akatsuki probe bound for Venus. Text updates will appear automatically; there is no need to reload the page. Follow us on Twitter. http://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/

1659 GMT (12:59 p.m. EDT)
We have posted a preview of the Ikaros solar sail that is launching as a secondary payload aboard the H-2A rocket. 

1555 GMT (11:55 a.m. EDT)
The rocket is now fully fueled for launch. Launch controllers just finished loading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into both stages of the H-2A rocket.

The first stage LE-7A engine consumes hydrogen during its six-and-a-half minute firing. The second stage's LE-5B powerplant will ignite twice to place the Akatsuki orbiter on track for Venus.

The H-2A's two solid rocket boosters burn solid propellant, which has already been packed inside the motors.
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What is scheduled to take place.
- LRK -

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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/100516timeline.html
H-2A/Akatsuki launch timeline
SPACEFLIGHT NOW
Posted: May 16, 2010
Updated: May 19, 2010

NOTE: Launch sequence data assumes liftoff on May 20, 2010.
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Always nice to have some company.
May you have fair winds on your sailing venture.
- LRK -

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http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/planet_c/index_e.html
May 18, 2010 Updated
AKATSUKI/IKAROS Launch rescheduled to 6:58 a.m. on the 21st (Fri) The launch of the Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI" and the Small Solar Power Demonstrator "IKAROS" by the H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 17 was rescheduled at 6:58:22 a.m. on May 21 (Fri. Japan Standard Time, JST) after carefully studying the weather conditions.

Accordingly, the live launch report will begin at 6:30 a.m. on May 21(Fri., JST.) The report will be broadcast not only through the Internet, but also at JAXA i, Sagamihara Campus and other public viewing locations including some universities. You can also watch it through some CATV and cell phone providers.

   * Press Release
     http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2010/05/20100518_h2af17_2_e.html
   * AKATSUKI Special Site
     http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/index_e.html
   * Live Broadcast
      http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f17/live/index_e.html

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AKATSUKI (PLANET-C) is the next planetary exploration project for the Martian orbiter NOZOMI. This project’s main purpose is to elucidate the mysteries of the Venusian atmosphere. Though often referred to as Earth’s sister planet in terms of size and mass, Venus is actually very different. It is veiled in carbon dioxide, with a high temperature and thick sulfuric-acid clouds. Clarification of the causes for this environment will provide us with clues to the understanding of the birth of Earth and of its climate changes.  Therefore, Venus is a very important subject for exploration.

AKATSUKI will usher in a new era of Venusian exploration. The probe vehicle is scheduled to be launched in FY 2010 and is expected to reach Venus orbit.
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Good pictures.
- LRK -

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http://www.spaceflightnow.com/h2a/akatsuki/100520gallery/
H-2A rolls out to launch pad for second time

The 174-foot-tall H-2A rocket moved from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad No. 1 at Japan's island spaceport around midday Thursday, local time. It was the second time the rocket has rolled to the pad. The first launch attempt Monday was scrubbed by thick clouds.
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Thanks for looking up with me.
- LRK -

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
Comments accepted here - http://lunar-update.blogspot.com/
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Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
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http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/h2a/index_e.html
Leading edge, efficient and economical technology Japanese main large-scale launch vehicle, H-IIA

H-IIA, Japan’s primary large-scale launch vehicle, is designed to meet diverse launch demands, at lower cost and with a high degree of reliability, by making the best use of the H-II launch-vehicle technology. The simplified design and improved efficiency of the manufacturing and launch processes of H-IIA have achieved one of the highest performance to cost ratio of launch system in the world, reducing the cost of launches by a half or more.

H-IIA launch service operations have been transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, LTD. ahead of the launch of H-IIA Flight 13. JAXA is in charge of launch safety management (including ground safety confirmation, flight safety assurance, and overall countdown control and supervision.)

For more information http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/h2a/design_e.html
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http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/ikaros/index_e.html
Space yacht accelerated by radiation of the Sun

A Solar Sail gathers sunlight as propulsion by means of a large membrane while a Solar "Power" Sail gets electricity from thin film solar cells on the membrane in addition to acceleration by solar radiation. What's more, if the ion-propulsion engines with high specific impulse are driven by such solar cells, it can become a "hybrid" engine that is combined with photon acceleration to realize fuel-effective and flexible missions.

JAXA is studying two missions to evaluate the performance of the solar power sails. The project name for the first mission is IKAROS (Interplanetary Kite-craft Accelerated by Radiation Of the Sun). This craft will be launched with the Venus Climate Orbiter "AKATSUKI", using an H-IIA launch vehicle. This will be the world's first solar powered sail craft employing both photon propulsion and thin film solar power generation during its interplanetary cruise.
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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK

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New Launch Day of the KAGUYA (SELENE) by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 13

Thanks to Larry Klaes for passing the below post from "JAXA Press
Release Mail Service".
- LRK -

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:55:53 +0900
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                   ***  JAXA MAIL SERVICE  ***
               Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
----------------------------------------------------------------------
              New Launch Day of the KAGUYA (SELENE)
                 by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 13

                                               August 15, 2007 (JST)
                                   Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
                           Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. and the Japan Aerospace Exploration
Agency would like to announce that the launch of the Lunar Orbit
Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE) by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 13 (H-IIA F13)
was rescheduled as follows.

Scheduled date of launch :
September 13 (Thursday), 2007 (Japan Standard Time, JST)

Launch time :
10:35:47 a.m. (JST)

Launch windows :
September 14 (Fri) through September 21 (Fri) 2007 (JST)
(Launch time will be set for each day.)

The original launch date was postponed due to the replacement work of
parts in the two onboard baby satellites of the "KAGUYA" as announced
on July 20, 2007. The replacement was successfully completed thus the
new launch date was set.

This page URL:
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/08/20070815_kaguya_e.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Publisher : Public Affairs Department
          Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
          Marunouchi Kitaguchi Building,
          1-6-5, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8260
          Japan
          TEL:+81-3-6266-6400

JAXA WEB SITE :
http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html

About This Mail Service :
To change registered e-mail address, or to cancel this service,
please access to
http://www.jaxa.jp/pr/mail/index_e.html
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

September is just around the corner.
Here is to looking up.
- LRK -


Larry Kellogg

Web Site: http://lkellogg.vttoth.com/LarryRussellKellogg/
BlogSpot: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/
RSS link: http://kelloggserialreports.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Newsletter: https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/lunar-update
==============================================================
http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/08/20070815_kaguya_e.html


  New Launch Day of the KAGUYA (SELENE)
  by H-IIA Launch Vehicle No. 13

Scheduled date of launch: September 13 (Thursday), 2007 (Japan
Standard Time, JST)
Launch time: 10:35:47 a.m. (JST)
Launch windows: September 14 (Fri) through September 21 (Fri)
2007 (JST)
(Launch time will be set for each day.)

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Mission website:

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) H-IIA Launch Services
<http://www.h2a.jp/index.html>
SELenological and ENgineering Explorer "KAGUYA" (SELENE)
<http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/sat/selene/index_e.html>
H-IIA Launch Vehicle <http://www.jaxa.jp/projects/rockets/h2a/index_e.html>
Launch of KAGUYA/H-IIAF13 Special Site
<http://www.jaxa.jp/countdown/f13/index_e.html>

Index for 2007/8 <http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/08/index_e.html>

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WHAT THE MIND CAN CONCEIVE, AND BELIEVE, IT WILL ACHIEVE - LRK
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