Author Topic: The suborbital thread! (Read 1056277 times)

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1980 on:** 03/14/2021 01:19 am »

Quote from: Fmedici on 03/13/2021 07:25 am

When did the first flight take place? On Wikipedia it was credited as the maiden flight of the Mk.III version

The last digit in the number is obscured by a light reflection. It could be F01, but I'm not sure.

This website gives some details on the Mk.III. Payload is 100 kg to 550 km.

https://www.vssc.gov.in/VSSC/index.php/launchers/sounding-rocket

Fmedici · « **Reply #1981 on:** 04/20/2021 07:28 am »

Black Brant IX launched yesterday at White Sands:

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/shields-up-nasa-rocket-to-survey-our-solar-system-s-windshield

Quote

The Spatial Heterodyne Interferometric Emission Line Dynamics Spectrometer (SHIELDS) mission was successfully launched at 4:30 a.m. EDT April 19 from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The NASA black Brant IX sounding rocket carried the payload to an apogee of 177 miles before descending by parachute and landing at White Sands. Preliminary indications show that vehicle systems performed as planned and data was received.

Personal curiosity: what does the alphanumeric code associated to this kind of launches (e.g. 36.324 US in this case) refer to? Serial of the rocket, payload or launch per se?

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1982 on:** 04/20/2021 08:32 am »

Quote from: Fmedici on 04/20/2021 07:28 am

Personal curiosity: what does the alphanumeric code associated to this kind of launches (e.g. 36.324 US in this case) refer to? Serial of the rocket, payload or launch per se?

The first two digits is the rocket type and the last three digits is the launch number for that rocket. The first letter refers to the agency and the second letter the mission type. See pages 33-35 of the Sounding Rocket Handbook.

https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/files/SRHB.pdf

Fmedici · « **Reply #1983 on:** 04/20/2021 09:22 am »

Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 04/20/2021 08:32 am

Quote from: Fmedici on 04/20/2021 07:28 am
Personal curiosity: what does the alphanumeric code associated to this kind of launches (e.g. 36.324 US in this case) refer to? Serial of the rocket, payload or launch per se?

The first two digits is the rocket type and the last three digits is the launch number for that rocket. The first letter refers to the agency and the second letter the mission type. See pages 33-35 of the Sounding Rocket Handbook.

https://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/files/SRHB.pdf

Thanks!

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #1984 on:** 04/26/2021 07:46 am »

Missile test:

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1985 on:** 04/27/2021 08:14 am »

Launch was presumably on 26 April. The interceptor might be the 53T6M Gazelle.

http://russianforces.org/blog/2021/04/successful_launch_of_a_missile.shtml

Fmedici · « **Reply #1986 on:** 04/27/2021 09:15 am »

Missile test from Taiwan on 23 April:

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/23/taiwan-conducts-missile-tests/amp/

Jrcraft · « **Reply #1987 on:** 04/28/2021 02:37 pm »

https://www.defense.gouv.fr/actualites/articles/succes-d-un-tir-d-essai-de-missile-m51-sans-charge-militaire
French M51 SLBM test on April 28.

eeergo · « **Reply #1988 on:** 04/28/2021 08:47 pm »

https://twitter.com/DGA/status/1387417063212388360

Check out Langbroek's analysis: https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2021/04/an-upcoming-french-icbm-test.html

Gliderflyer · « **Reply #1989 on:** 05/08/2021 03:19 pm »

This launch out of Wallops tonight looks like it will be releasing a vapor cloud shortly after sunset, might be interesting to watch if you are in the viewing radius.

https://www.nasa.gov/wallops/2021/press-release/nasa-wallops-may-8-rocket-launch-visible-in-eastern-united-states

bkellysky · « **Reply #1990 on:** 05/09/2021 01:42 am »

The launch did not occur tonight. The 5/6 press release has been updated:
"UPDATE 5/8: The launch of the Black Brant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X payload has been postponed to no earlier than 8:03 p.m., Sunday, May 9. The launch has been postponed due to upper level winds not being within the required limits for a safe launch. The launch window for Sunday runs until 8:43 p.m."

Fmedici · « **Reply #1991 on:** 05/10/2021 10:16 am »

According to NASA Wallops website today also the VIPER mission should be launched, but I couldn't find anything else about that

bkellysky · « **Reply #1992 on:** 05/10/2021 11:56 am »

Update from Wallops Island:
UPDATE 5/9: The launch of the Black Brant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X payload has been postponed to no earlier than 8:04 p.m., Monday, May 10. The launch has been postponed due to upper level winds not being within the required limits for a safe launch.

bkellysky · « **Reply #1993 on:** 05/12/2021 12:32 pm »

The latest update:
UPDATE 5/11: The launch of the Black Brant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X payload has been postponed to no earlier than 8:06 p.m. EDT, Wednesday, May 12. The launch has been postponed due to upper level winds not being within the required limits for a safe launch. The launch window for Tuesday [sic] runs until 8:46 p.m.

I don't know their criteria for upper level winds. I only know there's been a lot of bumpy jet stream flow overhead here in the eastern United States. Attached is the 8pm chart for 300mb (about 9km or so high). Numbers are the height at 300mb in meters with the last digit omitted. The darker the color, the stronger the wind.

dror · « **Reply #1994 on:** 05/12/2021 01:22 pm »

Some suborbital launches cought tonight. The more visible are the ones saving people's life.
Most sincere gratitude for anyone who took part in developing Iron Dome and may be reading this !

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #1995 on:** 05/13/2021 06:29 am »

KiNET-X is delayed to 14 May 8:02 p.m. EDT.

https://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/home

Mission: KiNET-X
Vehicle: Black Brant XII Sounding Rocket
Date: No earlier than May 14, 2021
Time: 8:02 p.m. EDT

bkellysky · « **Reply #1996 on:** 05/13/2021 12:25 pm »

Another report said the 'contact' was made with a launch support vehicle. Now I've heard everything - a launch delayed by an auto accident.
UPDATE 5/11: The launch of the Black Brant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X payload has been postponed to no earlier than 8:02 p.m. EDT, Friday, May 14. The launch has been postponed to provide time for inspection of the rocket after the vehicle came in contact with a launcher support during today’s preparations.

bkellysky · « **Reply #1997 on:** 05/13/2021 09:07 pm »

Correction!
I was wrong about the "auto accident".
Here's the latest update, which clarifies the story. (At least for me. It's possible no one else mis-understood it the way I did!)
UPDATE 5/13: The launch of the Black Brant XII sounding rocket carrying the KiNET-X payload has been postponed to no earlier than 8:10 p.m. EDT, Saturday, May 15. The launch has been postponed to provide time for inspection of the rocket after the vehicle came in contact with a launcher support during today’s preparations.

Jrcraft · « **Reply #1998 on:** 05/15/2021 11:19 pm »

https://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops/status/1393704511110328322

Quote

After inspecting the launcher and replacing the rocket's third stage motor, we're back counting down to launch the Black Brant XII with the KiNET-X payload. Weather is looking great here at Wallops, but Bermuda is currently seeing cloudy skies.

So the third stage motor got banged, interesting.

StarshipSLS · « **Reply #1999 on:** 05/15/2021 11:22 pm »

Do you think Starship without Super Heavy could be a suborbital rocket similar to sounding rockets?