IRIS Launched Successfully
NASA Launches Satellite to Study How Sun’s Atmosphere is Energized [Watch],NASA
The IRIS launch was successful after a 13-minute ride into orbit aboard a Pegasus XL rocket. The launch was at 7:27:44 p.m. PDT. Although there were a few tense moments at launch time with the fins, the problem was quickly resolved. A loss signal due to a problem on the DC 8 plane was also experienced but NASA’s in orbit TDRS satellite picked up telemetry and commands were sent to IRIS successful. At this time everything looks nominal.
“NASA Launch Manager Tim Dunn reports that the mission team has made initial contact with the IRIS spacecraft through the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System and received good data in return. The telescope is right on track and its solar arrays are deploying. “We’ve got a very happy spacecraft on orbit and a thrilled launch team on the ground,” Dunn said.”
NASA’s IRIS mission will focus a precise telescope on the sun to find out how energy moves and changes from the surface to the corona.
Well done to all the team at OSC at a job well done. I was genuinely surprised to see that Pegasus could handle a launch like that!
Where was the DC-8? I assume the launch was from the OSC L-1011.
The DC-8 was out of Dryden to provide telemetry support. The L-1011 was the launch vehicle.
Every time something like this is launched, no matter what hardware is used, I’m reminded of how dependent we are on TDRS and how many programs would come to a screaming permanent halt if we lost it. I wonder if there’s ever been any thought given to creating a backup system. It would be easier to develop it before it’s suddenly needed than on an emergency basis if we lost it. This is even more of a risk issue when one considers the HSF mission proposals being kicked around.