Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012  (Read 88617 times)

Offline robertross

  • Canadian Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17939
  • Westphal, Nova Scotia
  • Liked: 659
  • Likes Given: 7691
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #20 on: 05/25/2012 12:49 am »

Offline jkumpire

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 206
  • Liked: 18
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #21 on: 06/03/2012 12:57 am »
A quick question:

For the first time in my life I might be able to see a launch live at the Cape. this one! I've wanted to do this since ah, 1962.

Any updates on the launch? Is it still a go?

Are the usual Shuttle viewing sites the best ones for a Pad 41 launch (assuming I have the right number)?
« Last Edit: 06/03/2012 12:58 am by jkumpire »

Offline Rocket Guy

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1349
  • Liked: 7
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #22 on: 06/03/2012 04:41 am »
The best place to go is Playalinda Beach if it is in the daytime (or alternatively combine a KSC tour with viewing at the Saturn V Center if they offer that at the visitors complex) but I would choose Playalinda.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html

Offline KSC Engineer

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 147
  • Liked: 0
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #23 on: 06/04/2012 02:43 am »
A quick question:

For the first time in my life I might be able to see a launch live at the Cape. this one! I've wanted to do this since ah, 1962.

Any updates on the launch? Is it still a go?

Are the usual Shuttle viewing sites the best ones for a Pad 41 launch (assuming I have the right number)?


I think they are selling launch pass tickets at the KSCVC which would put you closer than Playlinda...at the Press Site just south of the VAB.   

Offline jkumpire

  • Member
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 206
  • Liked: 18
  • Likes Given: 7
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #24 on: 06/04/2012 11:10 am »
Thanks for the help Engineer and KSC!

I was on the VC site Saturday and saw no mention of it. I will look again.

I know that launch times are not made public until more or less the morning of the launch, but does anyone have an idea when that is information is made public?

 

Online AnalogMan

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3430
  • Cambridge, UK
  • Liked: 1599
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #25 on: 06/04/2012 01:48 pm »
I know that launch times are not made public until more or less the morning of the launch, but does anyone have an idea when that is information is made public? 

Recent information from Spaceport News (June 1, 2012)

Targeted for June 18
Launch/CCAFS (SLC-41): Atlas V (AV-203), NROL-38
Launch window:               4:07 to 4:27 am EDT

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/pdf/655407main_jun1-2012.pdf

Offline 00rs250

  • Where Space Is Golden!
  • Member
  • Posts: 48
  • Winter Park, FL
  • Liked: 34
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #26 on: 06/04/2012 09:36 pm »
From Saturday’s family day and my iPhone.
Half hour away from the best place to leave earth!

Offline Rocket Guy

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1349
  • Liked: 7
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #27 on: 06/04/2012 09:43 pm »
That's the window for RBSP in August. Don't go by Spaceport News.

Online AnalogMan

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3430
  • Cambridge, UK
  • Liked: 1599
  • Likes Given: 50
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #28 on: 06/04/2012 10:50 pm »
That's the window for RBSP in August. Don't go by Spaceport News.

Well spotted!

Offline William Graham

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4183
  • Liked: 236
  • Likes Given: 109
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #29 on: 06/05/2012 12:35 am »
From Saturday’s family day and my iPhone.

Confirmation that it is a white Centaur. This is starting to look more like NOSS than SDS.

Offline Rocket Guy

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1349
  • Liked: 7
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #30 on: 06/05/2012 12:51 am »
Or perhaps they may all be white from now on. I don't quite think the paint has anything to do with the satellite...

Offline FinalFrontier

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4490
  • Space Watcher
  • Liked: 1332
  • Likes Given: 173
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #31 on: 06/05/2012 12:59 am »
From e-bay: Anubis






So, who wants to speculate that the bird is actually an ancient weapon to keep the Goa'uld away?  ;D  ;D  ;D
3-30-2017: The start of a great future
"Live Long and Prosper"

Offline Skyrocket

  • Extreme Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2631
  • Frankfurt am Main, Germany
  • Liked: 940
  • Likes Given: 172
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #32 on: 06/05/2012 06:32 am »
Or perhaps they may all be white from now on. I don't quite think the paint has anything to do with the satellite...

Unlikely: The white paint is only used on 4xx version  for thermal reasons on missions with longer coast periods.

Until now, three 401 missions sported this paint:
* AV-009: NROL-30 (NOSS-3)
* AV-018: PAN
* AV-021: SDO

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21450
  • Likes Given: 428
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #33 on: 06/05/2012 12:37 pm »
RBSP

Offline Rocket Guy

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1349
  • Liked: 7
  • Likes Given: 1
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #34 on: 06/05/2012 02:51 pm »
LRO and ASTRA 1KR as well.

Offline William Graham

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4183
  • Liked: 236
  • Likes Given: 109
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #35 on: 06/05/2012 04:00 pm »
From quickly looking at launch photos:

Unpainted
AV-001 - 401 - Hot Bird 6
AV-002 - 401 - HellasSat-2
AV-004 - 431 - Inmarsat-4F1
AV-006 - 401 - MRO
AV-013 - 401 - STP-1 et al
AV-011 - 421 - WGS-1
AV-015 - 401 - NROL-24 (SDS)
AV-006 - 411 - NROL-28 (Imp. Trumpet)
AV-014 - 421 - ICO-G1
AV-016 - 421 - WGS-2
AV-027 - 411 - NROL-34 (NOSS)
AV-022 - 401 - SBIRS-GEO 1

Painted for thermal control:
AV-008 - 411 - Astra-1KR
AV-009 - 401 - NROL-30 (NOSS)
AV-020 - 401 - LRO/LCROSS*
AV-018 - 401 - PAN
AV-017 - 401 - DMSP-5D3 F18
AV-024 - 431 - Intelsat 14
AV-021 - 401 - SDO

*Probably more to do with its role in the LCROSS mission than the launch

Painted to reduce contamination (enclosed)
AV-003 - 521 - Rainbow 1
AV-005 - 521 - AMC-16
AV-010 - 551 - New Horizons
AV-012 - 501 - OTV-1
AV-019 - 531 - AEHF 1
AV-025 - 501 - NROL-41 (FIA)
AV-026 - 501 - OTV-2
AV-029 - 551 - Juno
AV-028 - 541 - MSL
AV-030 - 551 - MUOS-1
AV-031 - 531 - AEHF-2



Interestingly, the last Atlas III (which carried two NOSS satellites) also had a white Centaur. I'm not sure about earlier launches.
« Last Edit: 06/05/2012 04:03 pm by William Graham »

Offline Ben the Space Brit

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7206
  • A spaceflight fan
  • London, UK
  • Liked: 806
  • Likes Given: 900
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #36 on: 06/06/2012 01:06 pm »
From e-bay: Anubis


So, who wants to speculate that the bird is actually an ancient weapon to keep the Goa'uld away?  ;D  ;D  ;D

If so, I'd evacuate Moscow, especially if a geeky archeologist/lingust is inexplicably the first FLIGHT for the mission. :P
"Oops! I left the silly thing in reverse!" - Duck Dodgers

~*~*~*~

The Space Shuttle Program - 1981-2011

The time for words has passed; The time has come to put up or shut up!
DON'T PROPAGANDISE, FLY!!!

Offline fringe_dweller

  • Member
  • Posts: 26
  • Liked: 2
  • Likes Given: 0

Offline William Graham

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4183
  • Liked: 236
  • Likes Given: 109
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #38 on: 06/12/2012 07:34 pm »
See to the launch reservation zone:

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120406-075.pdf
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-120406-076.pdf

Low inclination.

Hmm, there goes my theory that this is NOSS. This is obviously a GTO launch.

On closer inspection, and I don't know how I missed it, the last GEO SDS (NROL-27 on a Delta IV) was placed into a transfer orbit with a much higher perigee than that of its predecessors. If NROL-38 were to deploy to a similar orbit it would explain the need for an extended coast.

Jonathan McDowell gives the orbits of upper stages from GEO SDS launches as:
NROL-10/USA-155 -  266 km x 37378 km x 26.5o (Atlas IIAS in 2000)
NROL-12/USA-162 -  274 km x 37538 km x 26.5o (Atlas IIAS in 2001)
NROL-27/USA-227 - 6599 km x 35200 km x 13.0o (Delta IVM+(4,2) in 2011)


That does leave the question of whether the change to a high-perigee GTO is simply taking advantage of the increased payload capacity that the EELVs offer, or whether L-27 and L-38 are fourth-generation satellites. It will be interesting to see if there is any change in the deployment orbits for HEO launches.
« Last Edit: 06/12/2012 07:44 pm by William Graham »

Offline jcm

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3622
  • Jonathan McDowell
  • Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
    • Jonathan's Space Report
  • Liked: 1290
  • Likes Given: 775
Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 18, 2012
« Reply #39 on: 06/14/2012 04:35 am »


That does leave the question of whether the change to a high-perigee GTO is simply taking advantage of the increased payload capacity that the EELVs offer, or whether L-27 and L-38 are fourth-generation satellites. It will be interesting to see if there is any change in the deployment orbits for HEO launches.

My impression is that the high perigee is indeed principally the more powerful EELV - seems to be pretty common that the MECO-1 orbit has a fairly high perigee.  Doesn't mean these aren't a new generation, but I don't think the orbit is evidence for it.
-----------------------------

Jonathan McDowell
http://planet4589.org

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1