Coundown to ASTRO-E Launch: Kevin's Journal (2)

ASTRO-E mounted on 3rd stage

1/25

Start traveling back to the launch site.

1/27

Back in Kagoshima! When we told the people at the hotel that we would be eating dinner there last night, they looked worried and asked if we could eat raw fish. Dey don't know us vewy well, do dey?

I have always thought of ASTRO-E as a large item, but mounted on the third stage it seems much smaller. Every night SHI¹ people connect the cryo GSE² and turn on the liquid level detector to cool the vapor-cooled shield. Then every morning they remove the GSE and rocket people come in to do various rocket things. Today we'll do the first short functional test, then tomorrow or the day after the nose fairing goes on. It will cover the entire 3rd stage as well as the spacecraft. ASTRO-E in nose faring

1/29

Trying to get the launch carried on NASA Select TV, but it's looking grim. I haven't given up hope entirely, but I'm starting to look to internet streaming, as a backup plan.

As of yesterday, ASTRO-E is enclosed in the nose fairing. We now have to service the Dewar through a small hole about a foot in diameter.

ASTRO-E in launch tower

1/31

We moved the spacecraft to the launch tower. That is, we watched the rocket guys move it. They used the amusingly named "Goliath Crane" as an enormous tow-truck (pushing rather than pulling).

Today is also the day to move the GSE, which, according to Fujimoto-san will happen Soon. About 5 minutes? Maybe a little later. I don't know. Much later. And the final answer.... after the hotel restaurant closes. But they brought dinner to us in our rooms.

Footnotes:
¹Sumitomo Heavy Industries, a Japanese company that worked on the ASTRO-E mission.

²Ground Support Equipment.

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