United Launch Alliance barge Delta Mariner arrives at Port Canaveral, Fla. delivering the Centaur stage of the launch vehicle that will boost the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite-K, or TDRS-K, into Earth orbit atop an Atlas V rocket. After off-loading, the Centaur will be transported to the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to begin processing. The TDRS-K spacecraft is part of the next-generation series in the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a constellation of space-based communication satellites providing tracking, telemetry, command and high-bandwidth data return services
That is odd, why did the RBSP Atlas V LV and only the TDRS-K Centaur arrive by the Delta Mariner, yet the TDRS-K CCB is going back to the AN-124? I would imagine that shipping by barge is cheaper.
So are you working this launch?
Wait, they still deliver Atlas V CCB's on An-124s? Do they fly them out of Huntsville?
Are there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 11/08/2012 10:06 amAre there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.Possibly C-5M
Quote from: Jim on 11/08/2012 11:58 amQuote from: Ben the Space Brit on 11/08/2012 10:06 amAre there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.Even if it fit, offloading would be an issue. how about strapping the AV to the 747 like the shuttle 747 transport?
Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 11/08/2012 10:06 amAre there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.Even if it fit, offloading would be an issue.
Quote from: Jim on 11/08/2012 11:58 amQuote from: Ben the Space Brit on 11/08/2012 10:06 amAre there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.Even if it fit, offloading would be an issue.how about strapping the AV to the 747 like the shuttle 747 transport?
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 11/08/2012 11:41 amQuote from: Ben the Space Brit on 11/08/2012 10:06 amAre there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.Possibly C-5MCivilian version (L-500) was planned but never sold. I don't think there are any C-5s outside the military.
Quote from: dasmoth on 11/08/2012 11:53 amQuote from: russianhalo117 on 11/08/2012 11:41 amQuote from: Ben the Space Brit on 11/08/2012 10:06 amAre there any civilian US transport 'planes that could do the job instead of the An-124? I'm not sure if the 747F has a tall enough cabin.Possibly C-5MCivilian version (L-500) was planned but never sold. I don't think there are any C-5s outside the military.Nope not the plan anymore since DoD received funding to convert all remaining C-5A,B,C aircraft to C-5M version.