Author Topic: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)  (Read 165632 times)

Offline Brovane

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #100 on: 09/17/2016 05:18 pm »
What location did you take those photos from? 
"Look at that! If anybody ever said, "you'll be sitting in a spacecraft naked with a 134-pound backpack on your knees charging it", I'd have said "Aw, get serious". - John Young - Apollo-16

Offline Brovane

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #101 on: 09/17/2016 08:28 pm »
What location did you take those photos from?
Renwick, off Ocean.

Bad planning to re-schedule the launch against the NFL. ;D  Although I don't think the hotels were filled for that.

I was kind of debating about trying to catch the launch.  It looks like the weather should be good so we will not have heavy overcast like we did for the Jason-3 launch earlier this year.  I was looking at around this area, either 13th and Ocean or Renwick and Ocean. 
"Look at that! If anybody ever said, "you'll be sitting in a spacecraft naked with a 134-pound backpack on your knees charging it", I'd have said "Aw, get serious". - John Young - Apollo-16

Offline Targeteer

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #102 on: 09/17/2016 10:40 pm »
Launch attempt confirmed for Sunday according to SFN
« Last Edit: 09/17/2016 10:40 pm by Targeteer »
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Offline hootowls

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #103 on: 09/18/2016 02:51 am »
Crews Battling Brush Fire Burning at South Vandenberg Air Force Base

So far clear of SLC-3.

https://www.noozhawk.com/article/fire_burning_at_south_vandenberg_air_force_base_20160917


Offline hootowls

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #104 on: 09/18/2016 03:13 am »
Natural and Triggered Lightning Flight Commit Criteria

Hoping that WV-4 & SLC-3 stay safe and, if launch is still attempted tomorrow, that this rule isn't applicable.

G417.19 Smoke Plumes
(a) A launch operator may not initiate flight if the flight path will carry the launch vehicle through any non-transparent cumulus cloud that has developed from a smoke plume while the cloud is attached to the smoke plume, or for the first 60 minutes after the cumulus cloud is observed to be detached from the smoke plume.
(b) This section does not apply to non- transparent cumulus clouds that have formed above a fire but have been detached from the smoke plume for more than 60 minutes. Section G417.7 applies.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/14_cfr_part_417/media/Lightning%20-%20Final%20Published%20Rule.pdf

Offline TitanFan

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #105 on: 09/18/2016 04:17 am »
Parked at Ocean and 13th. Clear blue skys, and a slight breeze.


I was slightly east of that intersection, back at the spot where the mountains dip down and you can see the tippy-top of the vehicle and the MST, and I'll be in the same spot for the next attempt, too. Hopefully I'll have some pics to share when this thing does finally get off the ground! :)
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 04:24 am by TitanFan »
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Offline TitanFan

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #106 on: 09/18/2016 04:22 am »
I have a question about this launch. When the preliminary WX report was released, it said there was a 10% chance of a scrub due to "visibility." This piqued my curiosity, because I've never heard of "visibility" as a constraint for launch...and not being able to see anything hasn't stopped any launch in the past that I can remember. I can remember plenty of times the famous Vandenberg gloom being so thick that you could barely see your hand in front of your face, yet that didn't keep a rocket on the ground. Has something changed, or was there something different for this launch, or what? It seems to me if a launch has to be scrubbed because it violates "visibility" rules, then nothing would ever get off the ground out here between about the end of Feb. to Oct./Nov...LOL.
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 04:26 am by TitanFan »
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Offline WheelsStop

Hoping that WV-4 & SLC-3 stay safe and, if launch is still attempted tomorrow, that this rule isn't applicable.

G417.19 Smoke Plumes
...

If the LCC concern is specifically regarding cumulus clouds, I'm not too concerned as clouds, if present at all, would be stratus in the morning.  If we get the typical west to southwest wind, it should keep the smoke plume clear of the launch area.  I'm more worried about this line in the noozhawk article:

"However, if the fire is still burning Sunday morning it's not clear how a rocket launch could proceed since South Base must be evacuated for safety reasons."

Though presumably VAFB officials wouldn't be providing assurances if there was a conflict with the launch perimeter.  Article says the fire is "located in a remote canyon between Arguello and Santa Ynez roads" and "moving toward Honda Canyon" which would put it about 3 miles SE of the pad and moving south.

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SFN has just reported that the launch has been scrubbed for today due to the wildfire.
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Offline tehwkd

#AtlasV WorldView-4 launch will be no earlier than Sept. 20. Rocket and payload are secure in the SLC-3 Mobile Service Tower. #WV4

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Offline Brovane

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #111 on: 09/18/2016 01:46 pm »
SFN has just reported that the launch has been scrubbed for today due to the wildfire.

Well, at least it got canceled before I drove 3-hours.  :)
"Look at that! If anybody ever said, "you'll be sitting in a spacecraft naked with a 134-pound backpack on your knees charging it", I'd have said "Aw, get serious". - John Young - Apollo-16

Offline Newton_V

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #112 on: 09/18/2016 04:01 pm »
Now scheduled for Monday the 26th.
Due to WR availability.  Not sure why the 20th was good at the time.
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 04:04 pm by Newton_V »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #113 on: 09/18/2016 04:33 pm »
A question for our space historians:
Have any previous launches been delayed by wildfire at Vandenberg?  Or anywhere else?

And, there's a link in the Noozhawk article referring to the deaths of the base commander, fire chief, assistant fire chief, and a fire bulldozer operator in the December 20, 1977 Honda Canyon fire (30th anniversary ceremony link).  No circumstances are given in the articles--do any of our old hands know what happened?

EDIT: An article written by one of the firefighters who fought the blaze on the 30th anniversary in the Lompoc Record: 1977 Honda Canyon Fire Recalled.  It appears they were caught in a fire overrun when the high winds and topography allowed the fire to jump from the opposing ridge of the canyon to the ridge they were on.

This article says the fire started when a high-voltage tower was blown over by the extreme winds.
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 04:49 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #114 on: 09/18/2016 04:40 pm »
A question for our space historians:
Have any previous launches been delayed by wildfire at Vandenberg?  Or anywhere else?

And, there's a link in the Noozhawk article referring to the deaths of the base commander, fire chief, assistant fire chief, and a fire bulldozer operator in the December 20, 1977 Honda Canyon fire (30th anniversary ceremony link).  No circumstances are given in the articles--do any of our old hands know what happened?

I can't remember which launch (AV-006, AV-033) went with which incident,  but one was a fire on south base, and one was a discovery of some unexploded ordnance (found and old bomb on base?).  Both disrupted the launch flows, but I just can't remember if the launches slipped because of it.

Edit:
Looks like my memory was wrong:
http://www.independent.com/news/2008/apr/30/finding-bombs-vandenberg-and-beyond/
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 04:46 pm by Newton_V »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #115 on: 09/18/2016 04:41 pm »
https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/
I'm told that the fire was likely started by dry lightning and winds
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 04:42 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline xcel102

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #116 on: 09/18/2016 05:09 pm »
Now scheduled for Monday the 26th.
Due to WR availability.  Not sure why the 20th was good at the time.
Could we get a source? I can still only find NET 9/20. Thanks.

Offline Newton_V

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #117 on: 09/18/2016 06:03 pm »
Now scheduled for Monday the 26th.
Due to WR availability.  Not sure why the 20th was good at the time.
Could we get a source? I can still only find NET 9/20. Thanks.

Me, via company email a couple hours ago. :)

Edit:
It's now updated on SFN.
« Last Edit: 09/18/2016 06:09 pm by Newton_V »

Offline xcel102

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #118 on: 09/18/2016 06:14 pm »
Me, via company email a couple hours ago. :)
Ah I didn't know, thanks for the first hand info!

I have jury duty on the 26th. Good thing SD has the 2-week option, so I might still give it a shot  :D

Offline Targeteer

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Re: WorldView-4 - Atlas V 401 - November 11, 2016 (18:30 UTC)
« Reply #119 on: 09/18/2016 06:25 pm »
From the 30SW Facebook page

CREWS FIGHT VANDENBERG AFB WILDLAND FIRE
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Close to 800 Vandenberg AFB, U.S. Forestry Service, CalFire, and Santa Barbara County fire fighters continue to battle the nearly 500 acre wildland fire on south Vandenberg, Sept. 18.
In addition to the hand-crews and bulldozers, air assets are expected to rejoin Sunday morning according to Vandenberg Fire Chief Clem Marrero.
“We’re using Santa Barbara County helicopters and aircraft based out of Santa Maria and Paso Robles airports,” said Marrero.
Though our facilities are intact, some power lines have been damaged as the fire is located in a remote canyon between Arguello and Santa Ynez Ridge Roads.
“The team work exhibited between the Santa Barbara County, CalFire, U.S. Forestry Service and Air Force firefighters is why we have been as successful as we have been fighting this blaze,” said Lt. Col. Edward Simpson, Emergency Operations Center Director. “We are grateful to have their support.”
The launch of an Atlas V rocket was scheduled for lift off on Sept. 18 with a commercial imaging satellite.
More information to follow as the situation develops.

For more information check the Vandenberg AFB website
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Tags: wv-4 
 

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