LIVE: Atlas V - MUOS - February 24, 2012

[AnalogMan]

Seeing a new launch date of Friday 2/24/12 here:

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/change_log.php

(source is given as GSFC ELV NOM Cynthia Starks 2/19/2012)

Edit: SNAP, Salo 

[Chris Bergin]

Realigned the thread and William's article per the new NET. ULA are yet to make it official, so it's a guideline date folks. Don't go making any plans yet.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/atlas-v-launch-muos-historic-centaur-milestone/

[Chris Bergin]

Here's ULA going official with the 24th:

United Launch Alliance Set to Launch U.S. Navy Payload Feb. 24

 

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2012) - The launch of an Atlas V carrying the United States Navy's Mobile User Objective System-1 (MUOS-1) payload from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., is set for Friday, Feb. 24, following two weather scrubs late last week. The opening of the 44-minute window opens at 5:15 p.m. EST. The Atlas V vehicle will roll back to the launch pad Thursday, Feb. 23 in preparation for launch. The current forecast shows a 40 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch. MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical satellite communications system designed to significantly improve ground communications for U.S. forces on the move and will provide military users 10 times more communications capability over existing systems.

[Chris Bergin]

ULA:

The Atlas V launch vehicle remains in the Vertical Integration Facility in preparation for the Navy’s MUOS-1 launch set for Friday, Feb. 24 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The 44-minute launch window opens at 5:15 p.m. EST. The vehicle is set to begin its roll to the launch pad at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning. The L-2 weather forecast shows a 60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch

[LostInSpace]

Updated forecast, expanded but same as Chris quotes above:

Launch day overall probability of violating weather constraints:  40%
Primary concern(s):  Thick Clouds, Cumulus Clouds, Liftoff Winds

24-hour delay overall probability of violating weather constraints  20%
Primary concern(s):  Thick Clouds, Liftoff Winds

48-hour delay overall probability of violating weather constraints  30%
Primary concern(s):  Thick Clouds, Cumulus Clouds

Next forecast will be issued:  23 February 2012/1300Z

[edkyle99]

AV-030 has rolled back to the pad this morning. 

 - Ed Kyle

[Prober]

this might be off topic but I hate to open a new thread for the ?

Noticed the two rail cars pulled under the pad.  Do these two rail cars lift the pad for transport?

[Jim]

this might be off topic but I hate to open a new thread for the ?

Noticed the two rail cars pulled under the pad.  Do these two rail cars lift the pad for transport?

they transport the MLP

[Chris Bergin]

ULA:

The Atlas V launch vehicle rolled out to Space Launch Complex 41 in preparation for the Navy’s MUOS-1 launch set for tomorrow, Feb. 24 at 5:15 p.m.

The L-1 weather forecast continues to show a 60 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.

[Chris Bergin]

ULA:

Launch countdown operations have started to include vehicle power application and avionics functional testing in preparation for the MUOS-1 launch set for today at 5:15 p.m. for the U.S. Navy. 

[Hunts Villain]

Weather briefing: plenty of dry air. Have been some brush fires west of I-95 in the last few days, if one started in the wrong place the plume could pass over the pad.  Wind constraint is 31 or 32 knots depending on direction.  Peak gust today has been 27 knots.  Steady state around 20 knots.  POV for 24-hr scrub is 20%.

[Hunts Villain]

Ready for cryo.  Had a 31 knot gust around 19:55Z.

[stockman]

[stockman]

big picture

[Chris Bergin]

L-100 minutes.