Author Topic: LIVE: Delta II - GPS-IIR - August 17, 2009 (Read 71861 times)

DaveS · « **Reply #20 on:** 08/16/2009 03:08 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 08/16/2009 03:05 pm

Quote from: DaveS on 08/16/2009 02:07 pm
Anyone know when they plan to roll the MST to launch position?

The previous GPS launch took place during the early dawn hours, like this one. Its MST rollback occurred during sundown, approximately, the previous evening.

- Ed Kyle

Thanks Ed!

LostInSpace · « **Reply #21 on:** 08/17/2009 12:02 am »

Tower is lit but not retracted yet.

HIPAR · « **Reply #22 on:** 08/17/2009 12:43 am »

Quote from: LostInSpace on 08/17/2009 12:02 am

Tower is lit but not retracted yet.

Round About Midnight

--- CHS

jan_carlo_bascu · « **Reply #23 on:** 08/17/2009 12:55 am »

is it the final Delta II rocket launch by USAF (from CCAFS and VAFB)? not for ULA or NASA obviously

LostInSpace · « **Reply #24 on:** 08/17/2009 01:01 am »

Surely not staying awake that late ;-) yawn

Anyone know why there are only 2 dates mentioned for launch attempts? I had assumed it was due to Atlas getting the range but that's no longer the case?
Recycle time? Low scrub probability?

Launch Weather Forecast
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-071220-067.pdf

LostInSpace · « **Reply #25 on:** 08/17/2009 01:10 am »

The tower is retracting. Good evening Delta II.

jan_carlo_bascu · « **Reply #26 on:** 08/17/2009 01:11 am »

HIPAR · « **Reply #27 on:** 08/17/2009 01:11 am »

Quote from: jan_carlo_bascu on 08/17/2009 12:55 am

is it the final Delta II rocket launch by USAF (from CCAFS and VAFB)? not for ULA or NASA obviously

The Delta II launch schedule I saw includes a Missile Launch Detection satellite later this year. That's a Missile Defense Agency satellite that NASA will send off for the US DoD. Sometime during 2011 NASA will fly the final Delta II from the Cape.

Oh, I see they about to move the service tower.

--- CHAS

edkyle99 · « **Reply #28 on:** 08/17/2009 02:54 am »

Quote from: jan_carlo_bascu on 08/17/2009 12:55 am

is it the final Delta II rocket launch by USAF (from CCAFS and VAFB)? not for ULA or NASA obviously

It is the last Delta II for the Air Force. The remaining launches are for NASA or commercial customers. NASA is managing the STSS launch even though it is a joint NASA/DoD mission.

This is the last launch currently scheduled from SLC 17A. It will be the final launch from that pad barring a new contract. Only two additional Cape Delta II launches remain on the schedule after this one, in addition to five from Vandenberg.

- Ed Kyle

jan_carlo_bascu · « **Reply #29 on:** 08/17/2009 03:17 am »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 08/17/2009 02:54 am

Quote from: jan_carlo_bascu on 08/17/2009 12:55 am
is it the final Delta II rocket launch by USAF (from CCAFS and VAFB)? not for ULA or NASA obviously

It is the last Delta II for the Air Force. The remaining launches are for NASA or commercial customers. NASA is managing the STSS launch even though it is a joint NASA/DoD mission.

This is the last launch currently scheduled from SLC 17A. It will be the final launch from that pad barring a new contract. Only two additional Cape Delta II launches remain on the schedule after this one, in addition to five from Vandenberg.

- Ed Kyle

Thanks Ed Kyle for your answer! =)

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 08/17/2009 03:38 am »

Moved for live coverage.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #31 on:** 08/17/2009 03:40 am »

Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Aug. 16) - A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket sits poised to launch the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIR-21 satellite from Space Launch Complex 17A. The schedule launch is set for 6:35 a.m. EDT with a 14 minute window. This is the last of the GPS IIR series and will be the 49th and last launch of a GPS satellite on a Delta II rocket. Photo by Carleton Bailie, United Launch Alliance

dave k · « **Reply #32 on:** 08/17/2009 04:35 am »

Tower rollback

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #33 on:** 08/17/2009 05:04 am »

ULA Resources:

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #34 on:** 08/17/2009 05:17 am »

Last GPS IIR satellite to launch on final SLC-17A Delta II:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/08/live-last-gps-iir-satellite-launch-on-final-slc-17a-delta-ii/ - William Graham.

DaveS · « **Reply #35 on:** 08/17/2009 06:45 am »

T-150 minutes and holding for 60 minutes. Terminal Countdown will commence at 3:35 am EDT.

elmarko · « **Reply #36 on:** 08/17/2009 08:21 am »

Is there a way to watch the early pre-launch stuff without waiting for the ULA webcast?

I seem to remember there's some NASA links for unmanned launches from the Cape?

Edit: And do they have audio?

Edit 2: http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/ ?

boostincoyote · « **Reply #37 on:** 08/17/2009 08:26 am »

This is my first working launch! Been on console since about midnight.

Everything going smoothly so far.

RP-1 loading should be just about finished. With L02 loading commencing around 8:50GMT.

I think spaceflightnow.com has a live update page.

butters · « **Reply #38 on:** 08/17/2009 09:10 am »

Webcast will be here starting at 6:15AM EDT:

http://ulalaunch.com/DeltaII_GPSIIR-21.html

But until then, why broadcast a splash image and an annoying high-pitched tone at 700kbps when it doesn't cost any more bandwidth to broadcast a webcam feed of the vehicle on the pad?

Targeteer · « **Reply #39 on:** 08/17/2009 09:51 am »

"Around one hour and forty seven minutes after launch, the second stage will restart for a third burn. This will be a propellant depletion burn, lasting approximately thirty two seconds, and will lower the stage’s orbit to speed up its orbital decay, so that it reenters the atmosphere sooner rather than later."

32 seconds worth of fuel (vernier burn?) seems like a lot of "oomph" to leave in the upper stage. Good to hear they're trying to clean up the lower atmosphere by hastening the re-entry burn but can anyone shed light on leaving that much fuel in an upper stage?