ONE WEEK FROM TODAY, the Akatsuki spacecraft and IKAROS solar sail are scheduled to launch on a 6-month journey to the planet Venus from the Tanegashima Space Center (TNSC) in Japan. As of right now, the two space probes are quietly sitting atop the giant H-IIA rocket that will send them off into space.
On May 4, Japan Time, the payload fairing that will protect Akatsuki and IKAROS during launch was encapsulated around the two spacecraft inside the Spacecraft Fairing and Assembly building (shown in the photos above). On May 9, Japan Time, the fairing and its precious cargo were then transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building at TNSC to be mated with the H-IIA vehicle (shown in the pics below). The next couple of days will be devoted to conducting final work on the rocket before it is then rolled out to the launch pad. The lift-off time is still scheduled for 6:44:14 AM, Japan Time—or 2:44:14 PM, Pacific Daylight Time—next Tuesday (or Monday here in the U.S.). Here’s hoping the weather in southern Japan will cooperate that morning.
All images courtesy of JAXA
No comments:
Post a Comment