Author Topic: The suborbital thread!  (Read 1213341 times)

Offline Olaf

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #200 on: 11/04/2008 05:30 am »
Last week, October 22, was the launch of the REXUS4 rocket from Esrange.

http://www.dlr.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1/86_read-13855/

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #201 on: 11/05/2008 12:56 pm »
A Minuteman III was launched from Vandenberg at 09:00 GMT this morning.

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #202 on: 11/06/2008 11:51 am »
From Vandenberg Air Force Base...

VANDENBERG SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES MINUTEMAN III
                     by 2nd Lt. Raymond Geoffroy
                   30th Space Wing Public Affairs
                             2008 NOV 5

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- A Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile configured with a National Nuclear Security Administration test assembly was launched from North Vandenberg today at 1 a.m.

The launch was an operational test to determine the weapon system's
reliability and accuracy.

The missile's single unarmed re-entry vehicle traveled approximately
4,190 miles to the pre-determined target near the Kwajalein Atoll in
the Marshall Islands.

The missile was launched under the direction of the 576th Flight Test
Squadron. Operational tasks were conducted by maintenance and
operations task force personnel from the 90th Missile Wing, F.E.
Warren AFB, Wyo. Members of the 576th FLTS installed tracking,
telemetry and command destruct systems on the missile to collect data
and meet safety requirements.

"Tests like these are the cornerstone of nuclear deterrence," said
Capt. Chris Terry, 576th FLTS test launch director. "We gather data on
new modifications and aging components of the Minuteman weapon system to aide USSTRATCOM in operational planning."

Unique to this launch was the incorporation of airborne Launch Control
System crews from the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron, Offutt AFB, Neb., which entered the preparatory commands and executed launch command/keyturn during the countdown.

"Every launch we perform introduces some unique test element; it never gets old," said Captain Terry. "For this launch we will use a
contingency airborne system which will tell the missile to fire."

This airborne system is considered a fail-safe method of ensuring
Minuteman III can fire even in the event of the missile losing contact
with its Launch Control Center. The 576th FLTS periodically tests this
method of launch in order to gauge the system's effectiveness and
reliability.

Col. Steven W. Winters, 30th Space Wing vice commander, was the
spacelift commander. Lt. Col. Lesa K. Toler, 576th FLTS commander, was the mission director for this test launch.

"The fact that we can randomly select an on-alert operational ICBM from any missile wing and launch it without making any modifications to the components to hit a bulls-eye target is a testament of the systems reliability," Colonel Toler said. "I have complete confidence in our ICBM weapon system to perform as advertised."

The data collected will be used by the entire ICBM community, including
the United States Strategic Command planners and the NNSA/Department of Energy laboratories.

"Tests like this make Vandenberg the first line of defense in terms of
strategic deterrence," Colonel Winters said. "Thanks to the hard work
of the 30th Space Wing and the 576th Flight Test Squadron, we continue a proud legacy of ensuring global stability through assuring the readiness and reliability of our ICBM fleet."

Offline edkyle99

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #203 on: 11/07/2008 05:34 pm »
A video of the launch, complete with a Launch Director interview.  Interesting to see the silo door opening and scenes from launch control.

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081105-024.wmv

Some terrific photos of this launch are also posted at:

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story_media.asp?id=123122619

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 11/07/2008 05:35 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #204 on: 11/09/2008 11:18 pm »
A K-15 test from LC-3 at the ITR (Balasore) is scheduled for this Wednesday, and a Black Brant IX launch on a Solar research mission from White Sands is planned for Friday.

Offline Olaf

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #205 on: 11/12/2008 12:02 pm »
A K-15 test from LC-3 at the ITR (Balasore) is scheduled for this Wednesday, and a Black Brant IX launch on a Solar research mission from White Sands is planned for Friday.
There was a launch in India today, but they say that´s no K-15.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_test-fires_N-capable_missile/articleshow/3703369.cms
« Last Edit: 11/12/2008 12:48 pm by Olaf »

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #206 on: 11/12/2008 01:46 pm »
Iran also conducted a missile test this morning. From the descriptions and ranges, I'd say both missiles were capable of reaching space.

Online jcm

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #207 on: 11/13/2008 05:15 pm »
A K-15 test from LC-3 at the ITR (Balasore) is scheduled for this Wednesday, and a Black Brant IX launch on a Solar research mission from White Sands is planned for Friday.
There was a launch in India today, but they say that´s no K-15.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_test-fires_N-capable_missile/articleshow/3703369.cms

Most press reports call this a "Shaurya" missile, but I see the official Indian govt site
pib.nic.in calls it "SHOURYA".
-----------------------------

Jonathan McDowell
http://planet4589.org

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #208 on: 11/16/2008 12:00 pm »
France tested an M51 missile from Biscarrose on 13 November, and there was a Black Brant launch from White Sands on the 14th.

Offline Stephan

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #209 on: 11/16/2008 01:30 pm »
Best regards, Stephan

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #210 on: 11/16/2008 03:17 pm »
France tested an M51 missile from Biscarrose on 13 November, and there was a Black Brant launch from White Sands on the 14th.

M51 launch was at 0906 UTC Nov 13.

The BB was NASA 36.221DS, with some kind of solar payload - the PI was Dan Moses of NRL,
whose background is in extreme ultraviolet solar telescopes, but I haven't discovered what this particular mission was.
-----------------------------

Jonathan McDowell
http://planet4589.org

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #211 on: 11/20/2008 07:03 am »
There was an unsuccessful Japanese AEGIS test this morning. I believe the target was launched from Kauai at 02:18 GMT, followed by an SM-3 from the JDS Chōkai at 02:21 GMT. The test failed due to a sensor error, which I believe also occurred on the last SM-3 test.

Russia will test another Bulava next week.

Offline Yeknom-Ecaps

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Offline Stephan

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #213 on: 11/24/2008 06:54 pm »
Best regards, Stephan

Offline Yeknom-Ecaps

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #214 on: 11/24/2008 10:41 pm »
Sorry for the repeat .....

Any additional info available on the Nov WSMR launch?

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #215 on: 11/26/2008 12:40 pm »
Iran has conducted a sub-orbital research flight.

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #216 on: 11/26/2008 02:45 pm »
Russia tested an RS-24 at 13:20 GMT today. A Bulava will also be tested in the next few days.

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #217 on: 11/26/2008 03:24 pm »
Iran has conducted a sub-orbital research flight.

Any other infos about this?

Offline William Graham

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #218 on: 11/26/2008 04:20 pm »
Flight was reported to have lasted 40 minutes before the payload was recovered by parachute. The flight was designated "Kavoshgar-2" (some sources say "Kavosh-2").

I believe a Safir rocket was used for Kavoshgar-1 back in February. Nothing official on what was used for this one, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was the same.


Interestingly, this is the third confirmed Iranian launch (including the August failure) since they said they'd need three tests before they launch a satellite, so the next one could be an orbital attempt.
« Last Edit: 11/26/2008 04:22 pm by GW_Simulations »

Offline Yeknom-Ecaps

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Re: The suborbital thread!
« Reply #219 on: 11/26/2008 08:14 pm »
From IRNA web site http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0811262190150611.htm :

Iran's aerospace experts have successfully launched 'Kavosh 2' (Explorer 2) rocket into space on Wednesday.

The rocket carried a space lab and data monitoring and processing unit and put it into orbit in several minutes with a special parachute.

The safe stationing of the space lab was the highlight of the test.

Kavosh 2 is made in line with Iran's strategic space program and in order to prepare the grounds for further scientific and technological progress.



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