Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012  (Read 183635 times)

Offline Star One

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LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #340 on: 10/19/2014 06:10 pm »
An interesting chart from Ted Molczan which shows that each flight has had a different mean altitude. To me this indicates that there is a possibility that the payload carried was different each time.

http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/misc/X-37B_OTV_1,2,3_mean_altitude_history.pdf
« Last Edit: 10/19/2014 07:07 pm by Star One »

Offline veblen

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #341 on: 10/19/2014 06:23 pm »
I've read speculation on other sites that possibly the tires were only inflated a short time prior to landing using some sort of device. Commercial tire inflating kits are available for trucks. More speculation that the tires are solid but somehow I doubt that, solid equates to weight.
« Last Edit: 10/19/2014 06:54 pm by veblen »

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #342 on: 10/20/2014 01:57 am »
Other than, it does fly on a v501 and at one point in it's history was manifest for the smaller Delta II. So the weight of solid tires might not bust the mass budget. But wouldn't you need to heat them before landing?
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Offline Zed_Noir

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #343 on: 10/20/2014 11:28 am »
I've read speculation on other sites that possibly the tires were only inflated a short time prior to landing using some sort of device...
It is possible. But that would meant some kind of disconnect mechanism along with verifying the 3 tires are at acceptable pressure range. IMO, it is a lot simpler to overfilled the tires at launch and monitor the pressures with tire rim pressure gauge with a dis-connectable cable. Presuming there will be some air leakage from the tires over time.




Offline Star One

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #344 on: 10/20/2014 04:54 pm »
Interesting observation about the duration of the three OTV missions

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Oct-2014/0138.html

Offline Norm38

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #345 on: 10/20/2014 05:34 pm »
Is it known if the solar array was folded up and stowed?  Or was it simply jettisoned before the doors closed?  Jettison would have to be after the deorbit burn, to avoid it becoming debris?

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #346 on: 10/20/2014 05:52 pm »
Jettison after the reentry burn sounds like a scary potential failure mode to me...
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Offline Star One

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #347 on: 10/20/2014 07:06 pm »

Is it known if the solar array was folded up and stowed?  Or was it simply jettisoned before the doors closed?  Jettison would have to be after the deorbit burn, to avoid it becoming debris?

I believe it's folded away into the craft.

Offline SMS

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #348 on: 10/20/2014 09:20 pm »
---
SMS ;-).

Offline Zero-G

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #349 on: 10/20/2014 09:39 pm »
That's old footage from OTV-2.
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Offline Norm38

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #350 on: 10/21/2014 02:41 am »
Jettison after the reentry burn sounds like a scary potential failure mode to me...

Dragon jettisons the trunk after the deorbit burn. No other way to get it quickly out of orbit. If an event is mission critical, doesn't really matter when it happens.

But that's cool if the array is retractable. Would also let them inspect that for wear and tear.

Offline Helodriver

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #351 on: 10/24/2014 08:29 pm »
Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own. 

Offline ion guzu

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #352 on: 12/26/2014 10:38 am »
I am a space modelist  and I want to build a flying scale model of Atlas V 501 - OTV-3. For this I need a detailed plan of the rocket, especialy the first stage zone of the engins skirt. Also I need some pictures of details and a color scheme. Thank you in advance. ION

Offline dmorken

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Offline dmorken

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Offline Prober

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #355 on: 12/26/2014 02:57 pm »
I am a space modelist  and I want to build a flying scale model of Atlas V 501 - OTV-3. For this I need a detailed plan of the rocket, especialy the first stage zone of the engins skirt. Also I need some pictures of details and a color scheme. Thank you in advance. ION

Put some sources of 3D cad and stl format sources.   Why reinvent the wheel when you can use these files as a starting point?

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29378.msg1307395#msg1307395



« Last Edit: 12/26/2014 03:05 pm by Prober »
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Offline happyflower

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #356 on: 04/26/2015 05:27 am »
Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.

Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #357 on: 04/26/2015 09:08 am »
Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.

Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?

The X-37 was changed several times during development. It was once to have 2 engines, but later one was deleted.

Offline happyflower

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #358 on: 04/27/2015 08:11 pm »
Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.

Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?

The X-37 was changed several times during development. It was once to have 2 engines, but later one was deleted.

But dont you want the engine push to go through the center of the mass of the craft? How can they just get rid of one of the engines and be off centered and maintain thrust without pushing the craft to one side?

Offline Space Ghost 1962

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012
« Reply #359 on: 04/27/2015 08:14 pm »
Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.

Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?

The X-37 was changed several times during development. It was once to have 2 engines, but later one was deleted.

But dont you want the engine push to go through the center of the mass of the craft? How can they just get rid of one of the engines and be off centered and maintain thrust without pushing the craft to one side?
TVC.

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