Author Topic: Orbital's Antares A-One Processing Flow Updates  (Read 110368 times)

Online Chris Bergin

LIVE Update thread for Antares flow to hotfire, ahead of Antares' Debut Flight. There will be a new update thread for the debut flight.

Latest article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/01/flight-antares-orbital-long-awaited-debut/

---

FOR THE SPECIFIC DISCUSSION (NOT UPDATES), SEE THIS THREAD:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30922.0

Please note the difference between this thread and the update thread.

For everything else, here's the Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30923.0

Resources:

Orbital GENERAL Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=46.0

Orbital (Antares/Cygnus) News Articles (Recent):
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/antares/


L2 Antares/Cygnus Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags&tags=antares
(Includes updates, videos, graphics, presentations and specific interactive posts).

As always, stay on topic and use the correct threads.
« Last Edit: 04/17/2013 07:22 am by Jester »
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.**

Online Chris Bergin

http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/

Antares “Cold Flow” Test Complete. “Hot Fire” Test is Next.

January 2013

Orbital recently completed an extensive series of cold flow propellant tests, also known as wet dress rehearsals, at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) launch complex at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. The series of tests were performed to confirm that the launch complex’s propellant handling systems were performing according to specifications and were fully compatible with the liquid fuel first stage of the Antares rocket. With the completion of these flow tests, the Orbital team will begin to prepare for a “hot fire” test of the first stage, which is the final ground test before the inaugural flight of the Antares rocket. This test is currently scheduled to take place in February.

For the hot fire, Orbital will conduct a 29-second hold-down operation of the Antares first stage and its dual AJ26 rocket engines. The primary goals of the test will be to ensure that the pad’s fueling systems and the Antares stage one test article function properly in a fully operational environment, that engine ignition and shut down commands operate as designed, and that the two AJ26 first stage engines perform properly in the dual engine configuration. The test will include a full propellant loading sequence, launch countdown and engine ignition operation. The pad’s high volume water deluge system will also flow throughout the entire period of the test to protect the pad from damage and to provide general noise suppression.

After the test is successfully completed, the first stage test article will be returned to the Horizontal Integration Facility where the core and two engines will be refurbished for a later flight.
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 mr. mark

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1996
  • Liked: 172
  • Likes Given: 0
Hotfire will not be broadcast live. Another reason why they are not building new space fans like SpaceX.  Let's hope for a followup video on Orbital's website. :(

Offline Space Pete

Hotfire will not be broadcast live.

What??? That's just throwing interest away. :(
NASASpaceflight ISS Editor

Offline Fuji

  • Full Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1231
  • Japan
  • Liked: 234
  • Likes Given: 14
Antares Engine Test Scheduled for February 12
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/hotfire.html

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility will provide launch range support for an Orbital Sciences Corp. Antares rocket engine test scheduled for Feb. 12 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad-0A.

The window for the engine test, or hot fire, is 6- 9 p.m. EST.

The test will fire the Antares' dual AJ26 rocket engines, which will generate a combined total thrust of 680,000 lbs., for about 30 seconds while the first stage of the test rocket will be held down on the pad. The hot fire will demonstrate the readiness of the rocket's first stage and launch pad fueling systems to support upcoming flights.

The test will be visible and audible in the Wallops Island local area. Given the broad window and non-operational nature of the test, no live webcast or formal public viewing is planned. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility will provide range support for the hot fire, including communications, data collection, range safety and area clearance.

Offline kevin-rf

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8823
  • Overlooking the path Mary's little Lamb took..
  • Liked: 1318
  • Likes Given: 306
Hotfire will not be broadcast live.

What??? That's just throwing interest away. :(

But will there be a twitter feed?
If you're happy and you know it,
It's your med's!

Offline yg1968

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17267
  • Liked: 7123
  • Likes Given: 3065

Online Chris Bergin

Hotfire now Wednesday, per L2.
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 Ronsmytheiii

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23394
  • Liked: 1879
  • Likes Given: 1023
Hotfire will not be broadcast live.

What??? That's just throwing interest away. :(

From what I believe I heard during the Tacsat-3 launch attempts, the cameras that we see feeds from at the launch pad are not permanent, rather they are temporary cameras powered by battery.  Also dont believe orbital has its own television crew, so if NASA doesnt cover it they cant.

Offline QuantumG

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9238
  • Australia
  • Liked: 4477
  • Likes Given: 1108
Also dont believe orbital has its own television crew, so if NASA doesnt cover it they cant.

So, if they don't do it.. then they can't do it? Or just that setting up ustream on a $100 camera is too hard for them?
Human spaceflight is basically just LARPing now.

Offline woods170

  • IRAS fan
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 12096
  • IRAS fan
  • The Netherlands
  • Liked: 18202
  • Likes Given: 12162
Hotfire tests are boring to 99.99999 percent of Earths population. There's your explanation.


Offline kevin-rf

  • Elite Veteran
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8823
  • Overlooking the path Mary's little Lamb took..
  • Liked: 1318
  • Likes Given: 306
He's part of the 0.00001 percent ;)
If you're happy and you know it,
It's your med's!

Offline psloss

  • Veteran armchair spectator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 17980
  • Liked: 4047
  • Likes Given: 2089
He's part of the 0.00001 percent ;)
I think most of us who lurk here are in that group.

Offline Prober

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10348
  • Save the spin....I'm keeping you honest!
  • Nevada
  • Liked: 721
  • Likes Given: 729
He's part of the 0.00001 percent ;)
I think most of us who lurk here are in that group.


wait for the video I guess.
2017 - Everything Old is New Again.
"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant..." --Isoroku Yamamoto

Offline pericynthion

  • GNC / Comms Engineer
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
  • Liked: 426
  • Likes Given: 167
I have payload on the Antares test flight... and I still expect to learn about the hotfire here first.

Offline Lars_J

  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 6160
  • California
  • Liked: 677
  • Likes Given: 195
So... no word yet? Or was it pushed back to another day?

Offline pericynthion

  • GNC / Comms Engineer
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
  • Liked: 426
  • Likes Given: 167
It's scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 13th), 6-9pm EST as described by Chris yesterday.

Offline Ronsmytheiii

  • Moderator
  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 23394
  • Liked: 1879
  • Likes Given: 1023
Also dont believe orbital has its own television crew, so if NASA doesnt cover it they cant.

So, if they don't do it.. then they can't do it? Or just that setting up ustream on a $100 camera is too hard for them?


How are you going to set up the stream for a camera that is on a strip of land surrounded by a swamp/marsh and the ocean? Oh and that area surrounding is rural, so even a long range camera would be in a rural area without strong cell or internet use.

A lot to think about when setting up for a simple hotfire.

Offline rdale

  • Assistant to the Chief Meteorologist
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10390
  • Lansing MI
  • Liked: 1415
  • Likes Given: 171
It's scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 13th), 6-9pm EST as described by Chris yesterday.

His post must have been deleted? Maybe he mentioned SpaceX :)

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/hotfire.html

UPDATE: The engine test for Orbital Sciences Antares rocket on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s pad-0A at NASA Wallops Flight Facility has been rescheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13.

Offline pericynthion

  • GNC / Comms Engineer
  • Full Member
  • **
  • Posts: 289
  • Liked: 426
  • Likes Given: 167
It's scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 13th), 6-9pm EST as described by Chris yesterday.

His post must have been deleted? Maybe he mentioned SpaceX :)


It's right here

Tags:
 

Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Advertisement Brady Kenniston
Advertisement NextSpaceflight
Advertisement Nathan Barker Photography
1