Quote from: TrueGrit on 06/18/2012 10:34 pmQuote from: edkyle99 on 06/17/2012 11:49 pmWhat is different now is that the U.S. civilian space program has largely disappeared, leaving mostly only the once-ignored black side. We used to have the civilian program to observe, and it used to be laid out in fine detail for observation. Now it is largely gone, and the bits that remain are themselves partially masked due to ITAR and proprietary considerations. That leaves us with NRO launches that disappear after first stage shutdown. I understand why, but unless one is on the program itself, it is painfully frustrating and even boring!First off let me point out that outside of Saturn the so called military side has always exceeded the number and size than the civilian side. And they have a different job, and one that in many ways is incompatible with the the public outreach objectives of the civilian side. You wouldn't be asking to be fully aware of when, what, and where a Seal Team is doing would you? Just because the civilian side flopped on its face doesn't change the military's job.Sir,Respectfully, the civilian program has been starved to death since the days of Saturn, and if it got the same funding as the military side things would be much better than they are. BTW, last time I checked the Atlas V and Delta IV had a lot of civilian uses and development that assisted them to become the excellent platforms they are now. They did not magically become these great machines purely from MX-774 and Thor. NASA did have more than a little to do with their evolution. That's not to claim NASA is perfect, but you take your point way too far IMO.
Quote from: edkyle99 on 06/17/2012 11:49 pmWhat is different now is that the U.S. civilian space program has largely disappeared, leaving mostly only the once-ignored black side. We used to have the civilian program to observe, and it used to be laid out in fine detail for observation. Now it is largely gone, and the bits that remain are themselves partially masked due to ITAR and proprietary considerations. That leaves us with NRO launches that disappear after first stage shutdown. I understand why, but unless one is on the program itself, it is painfully frustrating and even boring!First off let me point out that outside of Saturn the so called military side has always exceeded the number and size than the civilian side. And they have a different job, and one that in many ways is incompatible with the the public outreach objectives of the civilian side. You wouldn't be asking to be fully aware of when, what, and where a Seal Team is doing would you? Just because the civilian side flopped on its face doesn't change the military's job.
What is different now is that the U.S. civilian space program has largely disappeared, leaving mostly only the once-ignored black side. We used to have the civilian program to observe, and it used to be laid out in fine detail for observation. Now it is largely gone, and the bits that remain are themselves partially masked due to ITAR and proprietary considerations. That leaves us with NRO launches that disappear after first stage shutdown. I understand why, but unless one is on the program itself, it is painfully frustrating and even boring!
Launch is set for 8:28 am EDT
Live broadcast - http://www.livestream.com/spaceflightnow .
William Graham's superb overview:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/06/live-ula-atlas-v-50th-eelv-launch-nrol-38/
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 06/20/2012 10:04 amWilliam Graham's superb overview:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/06/live-ula-atlas-v-50th-eelv-launch-nrol-38/"Seven first-generation SDS satellites were launched into Molniya orbits between June 1976 and February 1987. These spacecraft were constructed by Hughes, based around the HS-312 bus, and carried twelve UHF transponders. Why would they carry 12 UHF transponders?