NASA “Launches” Dishes, Launch Pad at White Sands
NASA’s been busy at the White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico. Just last week, they unveiled their new 18-meter Ka Band Antenna Network:
“Ka band” refers to a section within the microwave portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Much like how listeners can’t pick up FM waves on AM radios and vice-versa, Ka band signals require special equipment to receive them.
The three new dishes help meet the growing demand for ground stations to handle high volumes of science data generated by today’s new satellites. The Ka band system allows satellites to transmit more data to the ground than ever before, in the area of 45 terabytes a month. That’s about the equivalent of 1,152 fully loaded 40-gigabyte iPods!…
The network makes use of a two-part epoxy developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. Tests have shown the glue and the dishes will last for decades, according to Raymond Pages, chief of Goddard’s Ground System Development Office.
The first missions to use the network will be the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). SDO will study solar variations that affect life on Earth. LRO will focus on selecting landing sites, identifying lunar resources and studying how the moon’s environment will affect humans. Both probes are slated for launch in late 2008.
And today, NASA is breaking ground on a new Orion Test Pad at White Sands:
The pad will be the site of a series of tests of a launch abort system that will help ensure the safety of astronauts aboard the new Orion spacecraft.
NASA’s Constellation Program is developing Orion to carry astronauts to the International Space Station, the moon and beyond. Engineers will use the test results to help design Orion’s launch abort system.
The first of five planned abort tests is scheduled from the new pad on Sept. 23, 2008. Two of the tests will evaluate the performance of the launch abort system at ground level. Three more tests will evaluate its performance at different altitudes.
Although a strong advocate for the space industry in New Mexico, Governor Bill Richardson won’t be attending the groundbreaking today, as he’s having pizza with caucus-goers in Nevada as part of his bid for the presidency.
In addition to White Sands National Monument (pictured above), the area is home to the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missle Range. Unlike at the Monument, however, visitors to the Missle Range should learn about UXOs before wandering around this beautiful and stunning desert landscape.
