Author: Stephanie Martin

InSight Teams Proceed Toward Launch May 5

 

NASA's Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) Mars Lander is transported to Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The InSight mission and launch teams today concluded a successful Launch Readiness Review. There are no technical issues being worked at this time. Teams are proceeding for liftoff on Saturday, May 5, at 4:05 a.m. PDT/7:05 a.m. EDT on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with NASA’s InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) spacecraft. The launch will be the first interplanetary launch from the West Coast.

A marine layer fog is expected over the launch pad and will reduce visibility on launch day to 3/4 – 1 1/2 miles. This Range Safety constraint of launch visibility is the only area of concern. The 30th Space Wing weather officer indicated the launch visibility requirement may be waived by Range Safety pending confirmation that all ground telemetry systems are operational during the countdown.

All other range safety constraints have a zero probability of violation.

Launch Weather 20 Percent ‘Go’ For Saturday

Meteorologists with the U.S. Air Force 30th Space Wing predict a 20 percent chance of favorable weather for liftoff of United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket with NASA’s Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) spacecraft. The overall probability of violation will be 80 percent with the Range Safety constraint of launch visibility being the only area of concern.

The InSight launch is scheduled for Saturday, May 5, at 4:05 a.m. PDT/7:05 a.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in Central California.