wrong, not even remotely close to what reality is. That is not how launch vehicle trajectories are designed nor is it applicable to rendezvous mission design.
They may also be trying to tie up Kodiak like Orbital has tied up Wallops.
Quote from: GClark on 03/06/2012 08:55 pmThey may also be trying to tie up Kodiak like Orbital has tied up Wallops. Kodiak isn't set up for liquid fueled LVs. AFAIK only solid motor LVs have launch from Kodiak.Some pad in VAFB is the most likely Antares West coast facility. Maybe refurbishing one of the old Delta II pad.
Quote from: kevin-rf on 03/06/2012 12:31 pmQuote from: edkyle99 on 03/06/2012 11:41 amI just noticed, on reading about X-37B, that Athena 3 could lift that spacecraft mass to orbit from an East Coast pad.- Ed KyleWith or without a fairing?There is about 1 tonne payload mass margin if a 1.3 tonne fairing is assumed, but that is about 3 tonnes short of the Atlas 5 X-37B payload fairing mass. So, this is likely iffy on that basis. But close! - Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 03/06/2012 11:41 amI just noticed, on reading about X-37B, that Athena 3 could lift that spacecraft mass to orbit from an East Coast pad.- Ed KyleWith or without a fairing?
I just noticed, on reading about X-37B, that Athena 3 could lift that spacecraft mass to orbit from an East Coast pad.- Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 03/06/2012 09:49 pmQuote from: kevin-rf on 03/06/2012 12:31 pmQuote from: edkyle99 on 03/06/2012 11:41 amI just noticed, on reading about X-37B, that Athena 3 could lift that spacecraft mass to orbit from an East Coast pad.- Ed KyleWith or without a fairing?There is about 1 tonne payload mass margin if a 1.3 tonne fairing is assumed, but that is about 3 tonnes short of the Atlas 5 X-37B payload fairing mass. So, this is likely iffy on that basis. But close! - Ed KyleWould an X-37B gain anything from a launch from Kodiak?
QuoteWould an X-37B gain anything from a launch from Kodiak?No
Would an X-37B gain anything from a launch from Kodiak?
the need to do a dogleg out of Vandenberg.
Quote from: kevin-rf on 03/08/2012 03:07 pm the need to do a dogleg out of Vandenberg. That depends on the launch pad.
For Polar Orbits using the same rocket compared to Vandenberg, the rocket would gain some payload due to having less of penalty from the earths rotation, and the need to do a dogleg out of Vandenberg.
Honestly, the part that falls apart with all this is dragging the rocket out to Kodiak, for an insignificant paper gain.
Do the paper gains work that much differently than launching from say France?