Author Topic: Orbital's Antares Development Update Thread  (Read 1065039 times)

Offline Nicolas PILLET

  • Member
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2454
  • Gien, France
    • Kosmonavtika
  • Liked: 670
  • Likes Given: 134
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #820 on: 01/20/2011 07:34 pm »
It seems that nobody noticed this Yuzhnoye's release, dealing with the departure of the first stage from Ukraine :

http://www.yuzhnoye.com/?idD=80&id=124&path=News/News
Nicolas PILLET
Kosmonavtika : The French site on Russian Space

Offline Shams

  • Member
  • Posts: 39
  • Calicut, india
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 2
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #821 on: 01/22/2011 02:22 pm »
Here is a link to Dave Steffy's AIAA 2008 conference paper on Taurus II.

http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/conferences/Steffy_NRO-AIAA_Conference_Paper--Steffy.pdf

This paper includes a schedule that shows the following significant milestones occurring during 2009.


Thanks for your information regarding the Taurus II Vehicle

Keep in touch
Shams

Offline Hauerg

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 901
  • Berndorf, Austria
  • Liked: 520
  • Likes Given: 2574
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #822 on: 01/22/2011 02:37 pm »
Guess what, Orbital seems to have a time stretch factor similar to spaceX according to http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/conferences/Steffy_NRO-AIAA_Conference_Paper--Steffy.pdf

;)

Offline edkyle99

  • Expert
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15391
    • Space Launch Report
  • Liked: 8565
  • Likes Given: 1356
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #823 on: 01/22/2011 09:09 pm »
Guess what, Orbital seems to have a time stretch factor similar to spaceX according to http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/conferences/Steffy_NRO-AIAA_Conference_Paper--Steffy.pdf

;)

Funny - this paper has the  first stage diagram in it that was "outed" from this forum a few weeks ago when some one mentioned the acronym "ITAR"! :)

 - Ed Kyle

Online Salo

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 11329
  • Odessa, Ukraine
  • Liked: 4227
  • Likes Given: 3524
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #824 on: 01/25/2011 04:38 pm »
Interview of the Head of the National Space Agency of Ukraine Mr. Yuriy Alekseyev for the "Kiev Telegraph" Issue 52 (554), Dec. 24-30, 2010.
Quote
Also this year Americans increased the order in Ukraine in the framework of Taurus-II LV manufacture. First it was about Ukrainian companies to only design and produce the fuel compartment of the first stage. Now, Ukraine is working on a propulsion system for the 2-nd stage.

It is an interesting project because the customer - American corporation "Orbital Sciences”, as is known, won the tender for delivery of cargoes to the ISS after 2010, when flying the space shuttle must be ended.

Offline Robotbeat

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 39270
  • Minnesota
  • Liked: 25240
  • Likes Given: 12115
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #825 on: 01/26/2011 01:30 am »
Guess what, Orbital seems to have a time stretch factor similar to spaceX according to http://www.aiaa.org/pdf/conferences/Steffy_NRO-AIAA_Conference_Paper--Steffy.pdf

;)

Funny - this paper has the  first stage diagram in it that was "outed" from this forum a few weeks ago when some one mentioned the acronym "ITAR"! :)

 - Ed Kyle
Sorry, that was me (I was joking). I think "eye-tar" is a better term. :)
Chris  Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

To the maximum extent practicable, the Federal Government shall plan missions to accommodate the space transportation services capabilities of United States commercial providers. US law http://goo.gl/YZYNt0

Offline Freddie

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 108
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #826 on: 01/26/2011 04:00 am »
Orbital Sciences Corporation has a new update entitled "Upper Stack Pathfinder and Stage One Thrust Frame Testing Wrap Up at Chandler, AZ Facility," dated January 2011, appearing at http://www.orbital.com/TaurusII.

Offline simonbp

  • Science Guy
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7138
  • Liked: 314
  • Likes Given: 183
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #827 on: 01/26/2011 08:14 pm »
Love the pink foam boxes held together with the Handyman's Secret Weapon; that's real test engineering right there... :)

Offline Freddie

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 108
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #828 on: 01/28/2011 07:33 pm »
http://www.nasa.gov/topics/technology/features/AJ26_20110128.html

NASA Testing of Commercial Engine Flies High
01.28.2011

You see a lot of smiles around the E-1 Test Stand at John C. Stennis Space Center these days. Engineers involved in testing Aerojet's AJ26 rocket engine for Orbital Sciences Corporation's Taurus II space launch vehicle have good reason to smile.

In fact, they have several good reasons given that the partnership between NASA, Orbital and Aerojet is off to such an impressive start. Two successful tests of an AJ26 engine that will power the first stage of Orbital's Taurus II rocket recently wrapped up at Stennis. The two tests were so successful that Orbital engineers decided a planned third test was unnecessary. The AJ26 engine used in the testing was removed from the E-1 stand on Jan. 24, and will be returned to Aerojet in Sacramento, Calif. to be refurbished and used on an upcoming Taurus II mission.

The same day the engine was removed, the first flight engine was installed to begin regularly planned "acceptance testing" at Stennis. The AJ26 flight unit will be tested in February, and then delivered to Orbital at the Wallops Flight Facility launch site in Virginia for integration with the rocket's first stage core.

Orbital's Taurus II rocket will first be used to carry out commercial cargo supply mission to the International Space Station. Orbital is developing the cargo logistics system under the joint Commercial Orbital Transportation Services research and development project with NASA, and is scheduled to carry out the first of eight cargo missions under the Commercial Resupply Services contract beginning in early 2012

Offline Antares

  • ABO^2
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5181
  • Done arguing with amateurs
  • Liked: 371
  • Likes Given: 228
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #829 on: 01/28/2011 08:31 pm »
The two tests were so successful that Orbital engineers decided a planned third test was unnecessary.

Kool-aid alert.  It's all about the Benjamins.  Thousands of Benjamins.
« Last Edit: 01/28/2011 08:32 pm by Antares »
If I like something on NSF, it's probably because I know it to be accurate.  Every once in a while, it's just something I agree with.  Facts generally receive the former.

Offline sdsds

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7201
  • “With peace and hope for all mankind.”
  • Seattle
  • Liked: 2050
  • Likes Given: 1962
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #830 on: 01/28/2011 09:03 pm »
Franklin.  Yes, it does look that way.  Would someone care to comment on how it could be that the third test was "unnecessary?"  Wasn't it to be a full duration burn performed after the standard acceptance test burn?
— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 —

Offline simonbp

  • Science Guy
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7138
  • Liked: 314
  • Likes Given: 183
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #831 on: 01/28/2011 10:00 pm »
Would someone care to comment on how it could be that the third test was "unnecessary?"

Nothing broke on the first two runs, so it's not worth the money to do more.

It's not so much Kool-Aid as cost-benefit analysis...

Offline NotGncDude

  • Veteran
  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 485
  • V
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #832 on: 01/31/2011 06:05 am »
The two tests were so successful that Orbital engineers decided a planned third test was unnecessary.

Kool-aid alert.  It's all about the Benjamins.  Thousands of Benjamins.

My first thought as well. I'd say a combination of both, but yeah the spin is obvious.

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21450
  • Likes Given: 428
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #833 on: 01/31/2011 11:29 am »
The two tests were so successful that Orbital engineers decided a planned third test was unnecessary.

Kool-aid alert.  It's all about the Benjamins.  Thousands of Benjamins.

That is NASA saying it and not OSC

Offline Jim

  • Night Gator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 37440
  • Cape Canaveral Spaceport
  • Liked: 21450
  • Likes Given: 428
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #834 on: 01/31/2011 11:32 am »
Franklin.  Yes, it does look that way.  Would someone care to comment on how it could be that the third test was "unnecessary?"  Wasn't it to be a full duration burn performed after the standard acceptance test burn?

The other two tests met the objectives of the third test.    It is not like these were the "only" tests, Aerojet tested many of these engines, many times for the K-1.  Also, these development tests, the flight engines still have to go through acceptance testing.

Offline Freddie

  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 108
  • Liked: 1
  • Likes Given: 0
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #835 on: 01/31/2011 08:55 pm »
Franklin.  Yes, it does look that way.  Would someone care to comment on how it could be that the third test was "unnecessary?"  Wasn't it to be a full duration burn performed after the standard acceptance test burn?

With regard to the third test, please see the NASA Stennis news release dated 12 November 2010 -  http://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/news/newsreleases/2010/CLT-10-246.html  - which states in part:

"The initial test, the first in a series of three firings, lasted 10 seconds and served as a short-duration readiness firing to verify AJ26 engine start and shutdown sequences, E-1 test stand operations, and ground-test engine controls."

"The test was conducted by a joint operations team comprised of Orbital, Aerojet and Stennis engineers, with Stennis employees serving as test conductors. The joint operations team and other NASA engineers will conduct an in-depth data review of all subsystems in preparation for a 50-second hot-fire acceptance test scheduled several weeks from now. A third hot-fire test at Stennis also is planned to verify tuning of engine control valves."

Offline hop

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3352
  • Liked: 553
  • Likes Given: 891
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #836 on: 01/31/2011 09:34 pm »
Would someone care to comment on how it could be that the third test was "unnecessary?"
Plan enough tests so you can find something wrong, make adjustments, and re-test. If the initial tests go perfectly, you drop the last one. This is a pretty common (and common sense) pattern in all sorts of development.

Offline sdsds

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7201
  • “With peace and hope for all mankind.”
  • Seattle
  • Liked: 2050
  • Likes Given: 1962
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #837 on: 02/01/2011 12:15 am »
With regard to the third test, please see the NASA Stennis news release dated 12 November 2010 -  http://www.nasa.gov/centers/stennis/news/newsreleases/2010/CLT-10-246.html  - which states in part:
[...]
A third hot-fire test at Stennis also is planned to verify tuning of engine control valves."

Ah, thank you for correcting my misconception!  I see now there was never a full duration burn planned for Stennis.  Congratulations to all involved with this engine on the completion of testing!
— 𝐬𝐝𝐒𝐝𝐬 —

Online Chris Bergin

Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #838 on: 02/04/2011 08:01 pm »
Media Invited to Engine Test and Meeting with NASA Administrator
PR Newswire

Feb. 4

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. -- Members of the news media are invited to visit NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center on Monday, Feb. 7, to view a flight acceptance test of Aerojet's AJ26 rocket engine for the Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Taurus II space launch vehicle.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and executives from Orbital and Aerojet will be at Stennis to witness the test, which is targeted for 4 p.m. CST. Following the test, reporters will have an opportunity to ask questions of Bolden and the Orbital and Aerojet executives.

When flight acceptance testing on the AJ26 engine is complete, it will be delivered to Orbital at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility launch site in Virginia for integration with the rocket's first stage. NASA has contracted with Orbital to provide eight cargo missions to the International Space Station. The first is scheduled for early 2012. NASA is investing with private industry to develop safe, reliable, cost-effective space transportation capabilities that will spur the development of new spacecraft and launch vehicles that will stimulate the commercial sector and reduce dependence on foreign providers.

To attend the event, news media must contact Paul Foerman at 228-688-1880 or [email protected] by 9 a.m. on Feb. 7. Reporters must arrive no later than 3 p.m. on Feb. 7 to allow time for clearance and escort to the test site. For information about Stennis Space Center, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/stennis

Support NSF via L2 -- Help improve NSF -- Site Rules/Feedback/Updates
**Not a L2 member? Whitelist this forum in your adblocker to support the site and ensure full functionality.**

Offline Jason1701

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2232
  • Liked: 70
  • Likes Given: 152
Re: Taurus II Development News
« Reply #839 on: 02/04/2011 11:41 pm »
Did they ever dedicate the HIF, or is that still postponed?

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
0