Space Agency waiting lobby |
This was the second Near Space Launch on Thursday night May 2nd, 2013, with a goal to nighttime deploy and test the Tiny Space Telescope on stars and planets.
Massive craft engine |
Near Space flight was underway during the night after 7pm. Spacecraft buffeting occurred as the craft rose through the clouds and overcast following the launch. The ride became smooth when the craft was positioned on top of the weather front's ceiling. The telescope was started and the night sky was monitored all throughout the night flight.
Near Space Telescope's 1st photo |
Safety Ejection System |
At two miles altitude, the clouds and haze dissipated and the sky began to clear. At about mid-range at the seven mile altitude mark, stars and planets were visible in a very dark night sky. Unfortunately the cockpit lights would not turn off and the cockpit flooded the window with reflections and bright light. This was reduced as much as possible by make-shift shielding and real time monitoring through the pixel viewer and moving the telescope to least reflective field of view.
Space Transport to and from launch facilities |
Earth grid tracking to touchdown |
Space facilities structure |
The space program project concludes that it is possible to lock onto a star or planet for spacecraft celestial navigation, and a Tiny Near Space Telescope can conduct astronomy on star fields and planets during the mission.