Atlas Launch Vehicle Integration of the New Horizons/Pluto Mission
- Paper number
IAC-06-D2.1.07
- Author
Mr. Dirk Schreier, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Steve Vernon, The John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. Antonio Soto, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
The paper will cover significant aspects of the payload to launch vehicle integration, processing and the launch of the NASA nuclear-powered New Horizons/Pluto mission on Atlas AV-010. The purpose of presenting this publication to the IAF conference is to succinctly brief the IAF community on the organizational and system engineering challenges as well as the launch vehicle hardware development efforts achieved on this complex mission. The mission system integration challenges are discussed with regard to the APL spacecraft, the DOE-provided nuclear power source, the Boeing Delta II spun upper stage, and the Lockheed Martin Atlas V 551 vehicle. The Atlas launch vehicle first flight items and new technologies developed for this mission by Lockheed Martin are presented. The relatively aggressive schedule for the mission and technology development, vehicle certification, and significant program milestones are discussed. The launch vehicle and payload flight (trajectory and planned targets vs. achieved results) are presented. Launch operations, unexpected delays and other relevant topics relating to the actual launch flow are shown. A brief summary of lessons learned is included for reference.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-D2.1.07.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.