... For the HTV-2 mission, Orbital will fly a three-stage Minotaur IV "Lite"version of the rocket to carry out the suborbital flight trajectory. ...
Looks like a delay until April 21 at the earliest, due to weather.http://www.keyt.com/news/local/91551629.html - Ed Kyle
Blimey, someone needs to get a subeditor to that article! But the info is what counts.Changed the thread title.
Ok, this one should head uphill today. Still the same launch window?
I take it that the "Lite" version only uses the three Peacekeeper motors, with no fourth stage?An MX missile, except with Pegasus/Taurus avionics and a Taurus payload fairing, and launched from a fixed above-ground stand rather than pressure-launched from a silo?
I assume this won't be webcasted?
Athena launches are only likely to be made from Vandenberg if payload requirements prevent the launch occurring from the other Athena launch sites at Cape Canaveral, Wallops Island, and Kodiak Island.
William's preview:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/04/first-minotaur-iv-launch-with-hypersonic-test-vehicle/
Just did a little looking to see if there a webcast and found out it's delayed till Thursday.VAFB - Minotaur Delayed
Quote from: mrhuggy on 04/21/2010 05:27 pmJust did a little looking to see if there a webcast and found out it's delayed till Thursday.VAFB - Minotaur DelayedIt seems to have been updated few minutes ago, Wed. is back as the launch date !
Reload the page ?
So we don't know the exact launch time? Usually VAFB tightens up the launch window a little bit for launches like these when we get closer to the launch. Seems like the NOTAMS restrictions for a six hour launch window would be semi-ridiculous...--Craig
Quote from: craigcocca on 04/22/2010 05:30 pmSo we don't know the exact launch time? Usually VAFB tightens up the launch window a little bit for launches like these when we get closer to the launch. Seems like the NOTAMS restrictions for a six hour launch window would be semi-ridiculous...--CraigThat is the window. It doesn't have to reach a specific orbit (or any orbit for that matter), so it isn't dependant on the position of the Earth, Sun and other spacecraft relative to the target orbital plane at the time of launch. Minuteman tests also have long windows.
Quote from: GW_Simulations on 04/22/2010 05:35 pmQuote from: craigcocca on 04/22/2010 05:30 pmSo we don't know the exact launch time? Usually VAFB tightens up the launch window a little bit for launches like these when we get closer to the launch. Seems like the NOTAMS restrictions for a six hour launch window would be semi-ridiculous...--CraigThat is the window. It doesn't have to reach a specific orbit (or any orbit for that matter), so it isn't dependant on the position of the Earth, Sun and other spacecraft relative to the target orbital plane at the time of launch. Minuteman tests also have long windows.Right, I'm with you on the lack of need to reach a specific orbital plane. I'm just surprised that they didn't tighten up the window more than they did given the effect that it has on the range during daylight hours.
backpacks with the six EVDO cards in it for doing Flash Media Encoding
Having been to Vandenberg, unless you're on base, the closest you're going to get is to the south. And it's possible that they have evacuated some of the southern beach areas depending upon launch safety concerns (although I doubt it). Viewing from the east isn't all that great.So unless you're right there, the best you're going to get is a smoke trail.
Any kind of webcast?
Has this gone up yet? Do you think it will be very visible from the Orlando/ Central Florida area (if viewed from a hill or good shuttle viewing spot)?
Probably won't be able to update until after launch. Press Site has very bad cell coverage.
Quote from: jenni88 on 04/22/2010 09:51 pmHas this gone up yet? Do you think it will be very visible from the Orlando/ Central Florida area (if viewed from a hill or good shuttle viewing spot)?Please tell us about those hills in Central Florida.
Minotaur IV launched at 4pm local and everything appeared good.
Quote from: Danderman on 04/22/2010 11:00 pmQuote from: jenni88 on 04/22/2010 09:51 pmHas this gone up yet? Do you think it will be very visible from the Orlando/ Central Florida area (if viewed from a hill or good shuttle viewing spot)?Please tell us about those hills in Central Florida. They have scales and are called alligators.Standing on them is not advised.
any news on whether the test is success or not?
Quote from: 8900 on 04/23/2010 11:39 amany news on whether the test is success or not?http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/military/article_3a0e8f48-4ea6-11df-a282-001cc4c03286.html"Minutes after Minotaur blasted off and quickly disappeared into clouds, ground controllers announced that the payload had separated from the rocket.However, hours after the launch, officials with DARPA and the Air Force still hadn’t confirmed the outcome of the mission."No news releases from DARPA or Orbital this morning, which is interesting. - Ed Kyle
Quote from: edkyle99 on 04/23/2010 01:59 pmQuote from: 8900 on 04/23/2010 11:39 amany news on whether the test is success or not?http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/military/article_3a0e8f48-4ea6-11df-a282-001cc4c03286.html"Minutes after Minotaur blasted off and quickly disappeared into clouds, ground controllers announced that the payload had separated from the rocket.However, hours after the launch, officials with DARPA and the Air Force still hadn’t confirmed the outcome of the mission."No news releases from DARPA or Orbital this morning, which is interesting. - Ed KyleSeveral news reports have used the word "successful" when describing the Minotaur 4 launch, but no word has come on the fate of the Hypersonic Test Vehicle (HTV-2a) nearly 24 hours after the flight. My guess - only a guess - is that the HTV-2a portion of the flight didn't go entirely "as planned". IMO - Ed Kyle
I would caution you not to assume that the only way to get between two points is a straight line. From what I know of the program, the notional flight plan was to approximate a AMaRV-style trajectory. That doesn't give a really good answer as to what the trajectory of the launch vehicle looks like, but I wouldn't assume a depressed trajectory. From what I've been able to gather from people associated with the program, the flight itself was planned to include about a 30 minute glide phase, but vehicle telemetry was lost approximately 10 minutes into the glide phase. I do not have first hand knowledge, so take it for what it is worth.
Quote from: Calphor on 04/23/2010 11:45 pmI would caution you not to assume that the only way to get between two points is a straight line. From what I know of the program, the notional flight plan was to approximate a AMaRV-style trajectory. That doesn't give a really good answer as to what the trajectory of the launch vehicle looks like, but I wouldn't assume a depressed trajectory. From what I've been able to gather from people associated with the program, the flight itself was planned to include about a 30 minute glide phase, but vehicle telemetry was lost approximately 10 minutes into the glide phase. I do not have first hand knowledge, so take it for what it is worth.Very interesting, thanks.Although the AMaRV traj suggestion doesn't seem to be really consistent with the statement about the 3100-nautical-mile atmospheric glide phase, if I understand AMaRV correctly...Not saying it's wrong!
Quote from: jcm on 04/24/2010 01:12 amQuote from: Calphor on 04/23/2010 11:45 pmI would caution you not to assume that the only way to get between two points is a straight line. From what I know of the program, the notional flight plan was to approximate a AMaRV-style trajectory. That doesn't give a really good answer as to what the trajectory of the launch vehicle looks like, but I wouldn't assume a depressed trajectory. From what I've been able to gather from people associated with the program, the flight itself was planned to include about a 30 minute glide phase, but vehicle telemetry was lost approximately 10 minutes into the glide phase. I do not have first hand knowledge, so take it for what it is worth.Very interesting, thanks.Although the AMaRV traj suggestion doesn't seem to be really consistent with the statement about the 3100-nautical-mile atmospheric glide phase, if I understand AMaRV correctly...Not saying it's wrong!Note that the press release mentions use of an unprecedented "energy management maneuver" during the Minotaur IV ascent. Perhaps it "wasted" some delta-v by performing an off-axis deviation during third stage burn, etc.
Orbital has published its press release on the launch, which includes a nice close-up picture of the launchhttp://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=732
The LV worked perfectly and they did not build the payload, but still having orbital and failed project together does not seem good.
Quote from: Lewis007 on 04/28/2010 06:36 amOrbital has published its press release on the launch, which includes a nice close-up picture of the launchhttp://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/release.asp?prid=732I wonder how this launch bodes for orbital, specifically COTS/CRS. The LV worked perfectly and they did not build the payload, but still having orbital and failed project together does not seem good.
Another successful flight for Orbital
With respect to the HTV-2a - I'm presuming that as this was launched from VAFB, it was on a southwards near-polar trajectory, so the HTV would have been lost over the Pacific. How would have it been recovered after a nominal flight? If it was meant to be recovered from the sea, then it might be bobbing around out there somewhere, choc full of classified electronics and engineering. What chances are there of recovering it?
How would have it been recovered after a nominal flight? If it was meant to be recovered from the sea, then it might be bobbing around out there somewhere, choc full of classified electronics and engineering. What chances are there of recovering it?
I wonder how this launch bodes for orbital, specifically COTS/CRS. The LV worked perfectly and they did not build the payload, but still having orbital and failed project together does not seem good.
The typical result of a non-capsule-like object tumbling at hypersonic speed is breakup followed by massive overheating, with only the most heat-resistant bits coming down in recognizable form.
Quote from: yinzer on 04/28/2010 08:53 pmThe typical result of a non-capsule-like object tumbling at hypersonic speed is breakup followed by massive overheating, with only the most heat-resistant bits coming down in recognizable form.What leads you to believe it tumbled at hypersonic speed? It was stated that the vehicle achieved stable M20 flight.
Quote from: Kim Keller on 04/29/2010 04:31 pmQuote from: yinzer on 04/28/2010 08:53 pmThe typical result of a non-capsule-like object tumbling at hypersonic speed is breakup followed by massive overheating, with only the most heat-resistant bits coming down in recognizable form.What leads you to believe it tumbled at hypersonic speed? It was stated that the vehicle achieved stable M20 flight.A more or less uninformed theory that in an experimental hypersonic vehicle the odds of a pure communication system failure are lower than the odds of an unexpected flaw in the thermal protection or control systems.
A more or less uninformed theory that in an experimental hypersonic vehicle the odds of a pure communication system failure are lower than the odds of an unexpected flaw in the thermal protection or control systems.
I would "assume" that the vehicle was hot enough to be tracked by DSP through out the flight, it would be obvious to the people that paid for the flight if it flew it's flight profile, or tumbled out of control.
Quote from: kevin-rf on 04/30/2010 12:36 pmI would "assume" that the vehicle was hot enough to be tracked by DSP through out the flight, it would be obvious to the people that paid for the flight if it flew it's flight profile, or tumbled out of control. They probably would have tried to use SBIRS-HEO, which has a better sensor than DSP. Plus, they had a lot of assets in the area. My guess is that they would have had something in the area to observe the separation event at least.
I checked passes using Heavens Above, and assuming their data is correct, both USA-184 and USA-200 (the two satellites which are believed to carry SBIRS-HEO instruments), were over the area at the time of launch.