God Speed Juno

         The mission is to Jupiter.

         ``Beyond Moon and Mars (BMM)'' spent the last two hours watching the launch of Nasa's Juno mission to Jupiter on Nasa TV.

          According to Nasa, Juno will look deep beneath the planet's swirling curtain of clouds to find out what lies beneath. The answer might confirm theories about how the solar system was formed/.

          The four-tonne Juno spacecraft is solar powered and will reach Jupiter in 2016. The rocket which carried Juno is United Launch Alliance's Atlas V with five solid-fuelled boosters. The spacecraft carries seven payloads. The lift off was from Cape Canaveral.

          A very interesting this about this mission is that carries three 1.5 inch size mini statues of Galileo Galiilei, the Roman God Jupiter and his wife, Juno. Nasa says that this inclusion is a part of a joint outreach and educational programme developed as a part of the partnership between Nasa and the Lego group to inspire children to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

         In addition the spacecraft also carries a plaque dedicated to Galileo.

          The lift off of the mighty Atlas rocket from Cape Canaveral got delayed by nearly an hour because of some technical anomolies, but fortunately they got resolved.

           Range was initially a `no go,'' because of some boats which strayed into the area, but it also gave the `go.'

          At T-4 minutes all stations switched to Channel 1 which was the launch director's channel. There was an announcement which said that the switches were in a proceed position. There was an in-built hold at this point.

          9.25 p.m. (IST) ``T-4 minutes and holding.  This is Atlas launch control,'' came the announcement..


          9.30 p.m. The launch time is extended to sort out technical issues.

          9.43 p.m. Some stations give the `go' for launch.

          The issues get resolved and rocket is authorised for launch.

          9.45 p.m.  The spacecraft goes on internal power.  Permission is given for launch.
   
          9.52 p.m.  The launch sequence is started and launch is enabled.

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          9.54 p.m. ``We have lift off of Atlas V with Juno spacecraft,'' the announcement said.

          God Speed Juno,

          We will follow you on the Nasa website and Nasa TV..  

    
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