Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012  (Read 88619 times)

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #160 on: 06/20/2012 01:00 pm »

Offline mike robel

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #161 on: 06/20/2012 01:26 pm »
Photos from the SR528 Causeway


Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #162 on: 06/20/2012 01:49 pm »
Question: do ULA have a 'generic payload' graphic that they use for NRO launches' simulated ascent graphics or is it possible that what we saw duirng simulated PLF sep was what the real NRO-38 spacecraft loooks like?
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Offline Ronsmytheiii

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #163 on: 06/20/2012 02:31 pm »
Quote
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-41 on June 20, 2012, at 8:28 a.m. EDT with a national security payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. This is the 61st launch for ULA and marks the 50th successful launch of an Atlas V and Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle.

Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance

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Offline Prober

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #164 on: 06/20/2012 03:10 pm »
That payload had to be one of the lightest for an Atlas V.  Maybe could have even flown on a Delta II if they wanted to.
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Offline jkumpire

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #165 on: 06/20/2012 03:31 pm »
I have not real good photos from Playalinda beach I will try and post. What a magnificient view from there! I was surprised by how much noise we got from the launch, it's hard to imagine how loud a Saturn V or Shuttle launch was from that viewpoint (Obviously no access would be allowed to where I was :( for one of those launches).

I'd guess 200 or so others were there where we were for it, a surprising mumber of Germans were there from the languages I heard spoken. What a great thing to see, you folks who get to see these things regularly are the luckiest people in the world. I'd move here today if I could.

Thanks for all the information people, after 50 years of wishing to see a live launch in person it was worth it. 
 
 

Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #166 on: 06/20/2012 03:56 pm »
That payload had to be one of the lightest for an Atlas V.  Maybe could have even flown on a Delta II if they wanted to.

nope and no

Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #167 on: 06/20/2012 03:57 pm »
Question: do ULA have a 'generic payload' graphic that they use for NRO launches' simulated ascent graphics or is it possible that what we saw duirng simulated PLF sep was what the real NRO-38 spacecraft loooks like?

yes and no

Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #168 on: 06/20/2012 03:57 pm »
The view and sound was great from the NASA Causeway.

Offline HIPAR

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #169 on: 06/20/2012 04:13 pm »
Question: do ULA have a 'generic payload' graphic that they use for NRO launches' simulated ascent graphics or is it possible that what we saw duirng simulated PLF sep was what the real NRO-38 spacecraft loooks like?

Let's for the sake of discussion say that graphic was the actual spacecraft.  So other than the obvious size from which you might also make an educated of it's weight, what else can you deduce.  Maybe the power delivered from the solar panels? 

Then we can speculate about the purpose of that 'do-hickey' on the top panel  ???

That looks like a generic spacecraft to me.

---  CHAS
« Last Edit: 06/20/2012 04:16 pm by HIPAR »

Offline jkumpire

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #170 on: 06/20/2012 05:01 pm »
The view and sound was great from the NASA Causeway.

Well Jim,

I'd sure like to come down the next launch and compare notes to see how good your view was. Can ylou get me past the gate at the KSCVC?  ::)

Let me know where we can meet to look at it, dinner on me at some local dive of your choice 8)
« Last Edit: 06/20/2012 05:03 pm by jkumpire »

Offline Rocket Guy

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #171 on: 06/20/2012 06:26 pm »
The view and sound was great from the NASA Causeway.

 Can ylou get me past the gate at the KSCVC?  ::)

Playalinda is actually a crop closer than the causeway (4.8 versus 5), and the closest on-base viewing for Atlas for is only a little closer than that (4). You got as good a view as you can :-)
« Last Edit: 06/20/2012 06:27 pm by Rocket Guy »

Offline Space Pete

Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #172 on: 06/20/2012 10:33 pm »
ULA does it again!

And check it out - NSF quoted by AFP! :)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gDdnB-SCH3X5Z_YfSFOnnkpkmSrQ
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Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #173 on: 06/20/2012 11:41 pm »

Well Jim,

I'd sure like to come down the next launch and compare notes to see how good your view was. Can ylou get me past the gate at the KSCVC?  ::)

Let me know where we can meet to look at it, dinner on me at some local dive of your choice 8)

Sorry, not since 9/11

Offline baldusi

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #174 on: 06/21/2012 07:28 pm »
I have to congratulate ULA for their fantastic work. I'm amazed that they are making launching satellites so routine that people pay little attention (just four pages!).

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #175 on: 06/22/2012 08:47 am »
I'm amazed that they are making launching satellites so routine that people pay little attention (just four pages!).

I think that, in this case, it's an issue that, as an NRO launch, there is very little information to discuss - just launch to PLF sep! ;)
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Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #176 on: 06/22/2012 01:55 pm »
NROL-38 catalogued as USA 236, 38466/2012-033A

Offline jcm

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #177 on: 06/23/2012 06:58 pm »
Subsequent cataloging makes it clear there'll be no entry for the NROL-38 Centaur stage, supporting the assumption it was deorbited on the first revolution
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Offline ugordan

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #178 on: 06/29/2012 06:16 pm »
Wow, this looks like a very nice place to view an Atlas launch from.



Judging from the sound delay, I'd say the observers were within 2.5 km of the pad.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-38 - June 20, 2012
« Reply #179 on: 06/29/2012 06:39 pm »
Judging from the sound delay, I'd say the observers were within 2.5 km of the pad.

Based on the hedgerow, I would guess about 1.5 km, the red dot on the google maps image.
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