Author Topic: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016  (Read 63009 times)

Offline Star One

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Coveage thread for ULA Delta IV launch with AFSPC-06.

Launch Overview Article via William Graham:
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/08/ula-delta-iv-loft-afspc-6/

Looking at a window of 0047-0152 Eastern on August 19.

First time I've seen any kind of artists rendering of the GSSAP craft.

Credit Air Force

Source of launch details

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/01/02/2016-preview-united-launch-alliance/
« Last Edit: 02/16/2022 09:28 pm by gongora »

Offline gosnold

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #1 on: 01/04/2016 07:51 pm »
They look quite small. If they control their attitude and solar panels to avoid specular reflections, they will be hard to track.

Offline Star One

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #2 on: 01/04/2016 08:29 pm »
Is it me or have they been drawn with their observational equipment not shown as they are facing away from the observer?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #3 on: 01/04/2016 08:34 pm »
Is it me or have they been drawn with their observational equipment not shown as they are facing away from the observer?
it displays only the Satellite bus used and in some shows a generic payload

Offline Star One

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #4 on: 01/06/2016 10:01 pm »

Is it me or have they been drawn with their observational equipment not shown as they are facing away from the observer?

It seems so.

Most sensitive part of their design no doubt.

Offline arachnitect

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #5 on: 01/07/2016 01:25 am »
images of the SBSS-1 spacecraft are available. I wonder if GSSAP uses a different architecture?

Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #6 on: 03/10/2016 11:10 pm »
Delta IV delivery for this launch?  See the Delta Mariner images in the imgur album linked below.

From SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 3
Here are some more photos of the ASDS I took today. Drone, Panorama, and some shots from the Exploration Tower.

Full Album:

(Also caught a delta stage rolling up to the base)

http://imgur.com/a/SHt5g
« Last Edit: 03/10/2016 11:11 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #7 on: 03/10/2016 11:47 pm »
Delta IV delivery for this launch?  See the Delta Mariner images in the imgur album linked below.

From SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 3
Here are some more photos of the ASDS I took today. Drone, Panorama, and some shots from the Exploration Tower.

Full Album:

(Also caught a delta stage rolling up to the base)

http://imgur.com/a/SHt5g
I dont how many bays in the HIF were occupied at the time the pictures were taken. if I could its RS-68A engine number then I could figure it out. Nothing yet in any of the NSF sections as to which mission that stage is for. message some of the cape people or Jim Oberg and see if they know

Offline Kim Keller

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #8 on: 03/11/2016 02:56 pm »
Delta IV delivery for this launch?  See the Delta Mariner images in the imgur album linked below.

From SpaceX's Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship Discussion Thread 3
Here are some more photos of the ASDS I took today. Drone, Panorama, and some shots from the Exploration Tower.

Full Album:

(Also caught a delta stage rolling up to the base)

http://imgur.com/a/SHt5g

Atlas AV-063 booster & Centaur also arrived on the Mariner with the Delta.

Online zubenelgenubi

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #9 on: 07/03/2016 03:19 am »
This Delta should be moving from the HIF to the pad soon, yes?

(Also, from the information that I've been able to find, this will be the next-to-last use of the Medium+(4,2) version.  The last will be the first GPS Block IIIA launch in May 2017.)
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Offline Star One

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #10 on: 07/07/2016 05:14 pm »
Delta 4 rolls out for second launch in ‘neighborhood watch’ effort

Pictures on link.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/07/06/delta-4-rolls-out-for-second-launch-in-neighborhood-watch-effort/

Offline Star One

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #11 on: 08/01/2016 03:15 pm »
Delta 4 rocket undergoes launch day rehearsal for its next Air Force mission

Video on link.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/07/30/delta-4-rocket-undergoes-launch-day-rehearsal-for-its-next-air-force-mission/

Offline baldusi

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #12 on: 08/01/2016 05:35 pm »
Are these Orbital ATK birds, too?

Offline Star One

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #13 on: 08/01/2016 06:58 pm »
I wonder if there is any possibility that this is carrying a so far undisclosed third payload like the original GSSAP launch?
« Last Edit: 08/01/2016 06:58 pm by Star One »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #14 on: 08/01/2016 07:11 pm »
I wonder if there is any possibility that this is carrying a so far undisclosed third payload like the original GSSAP launch?
I'm only aware of the GSSAP payloads being scheduled to ship together, unless another payload arrived and was escorted with payload flown on a previous mission.

Offline jacqmans

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #15 on: 08/04/2016 09:51 am »
Delta IV to Launch AFSPC-6

Delta IV AFSPC6 Mission Artwork
Rocket/Payload: A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Medium (4,2) will launch the AFSPC-6 mission for the U.S. Air Force.

Date/Site/Launch Time: Friday, Aug. 19, 2016, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. 

Mission Description: AFSPC-6 will deliver two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites to near-geo­synchronous orbit. The twin GSSAP spacecraft, built by Orbital ATK, will support U.S. Strategic Command space enhanced awareness operations. Data from GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, enhancing our knowledge of the geosynchronous orbit environment, and further enabling space flight safety to include satellite collision avoidance.

Launch Notes: AFSPC-6 marks ULA’s 110th mission since the company was founded in 2006 and the seventh ULA launch of 2016. Two GSSAP satellites were previously launched aboard a ULA Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) rocket from CCAFS on July 28, 2014.

Launch Updates: To keep up to speed with updates to the launch countdown, dial the ULA launch hotline at 1-877-852-4321 or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch. Hashtags #DeltaIV and #AFSPC6.

Go Delta! Go AFSPC-6!
Jacques :-)

Offline chewi

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #16 on: 08/05/2016 06:43 pm »

Offline gosnold

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #17 on: 08/06/2016 08:23 am »
"Oculi nostri nisi" on the second patch comes from the Book of Numbers. It seems to be a kitchen latin translation for "only our eyes".

The two-faced character on the same patch could be Janus, the Roman God of passages.
That could be linked to the fact that the GSSAP satellites fly above and below the geo belt, thus looking both ways (like janus) at the satellites:
Quote
The GSSAP twins, built by Orbital Sciences Corp., will support U.S. Strategic Command space surveillance operations as a dedicated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensor, as well as providing assistance for the Joint Functional Component Command for Space (JFCC-Space) in its task of more accurately tracking and characterizing man-made objects in orbit. When operational, the highly maneuverable satellites will “drift” above and below the geosynchronous Earth orbit “belt” and will employ advanced electro-optical sensors to observe other objects in space. This data is expected to enhance the Air Force’s knowledge of the geosynchronous environment and enable the development of new safety systems, including collision-avoidance mechanisms. The GSSAP satellites will communicate through worldwide Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) ground stations and from thence to Schriever Air Force Base, near Colorado Springs, Colo.
http://www.americaspace.com/?p=64592
« Last Edit: 08/06/2016 08:28 am by gosnold »

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #18 on: 08/10/2016 02:43 am »
Air Force satellite duo mated to Delta 4 rocket for next week’s launch

From the article:
The twin payloads, inside their payload fairing, was attached to the Delta IV on August 5.

Flight Readiness Review (FRR) successfully completed.

The upper stage will deliver the payloads to geosynchronous orbit (GSO).

[I believe Delta IV did the same for the GSSAP 1 & 2 launch.]
« Last Edit: 08/10/2016 02:52 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline catdlr

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Re: ULA DIVM+(4,2) - AFSPC-06 (GSSAP 3&4) - August 19, 2016
« Reply #19 on: 08/13/2016 01:30 am »
Delta IV AFSPC-6 Payload Mate

United Launch Alliance

Published on Aug 12, 2016
The Air Force's AFSPC-6 payload, encapsulated inside a 4-meter diameter payload fairing, is transported and mated to a Delta IV rocket at Space Launch Complex-37. AFSPC-6 will deliver two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites to near-geo­synchronous orbit. The twin GSSAP spacecraft, built by Orbital ATK, will support U.S. Strategic Command space enhanced awareness operations.



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