The IIP trace can be "easily" steered to fly over sparsely populated areas of west/central Cuba and western Panama. The dwell time is not long. Location of jettisoned items like SRBs, stages, and PLF can also be controlled by lofting and/or timing of dogleg maneuver.
Quote from: Newton_V on 01/04/2018 05:21 pmThe IIP trace can be "easily" steered to fly over sparsely populated areas of west/central Cuba and western Panama. The dwell time is not long. Location of jettisoned items like SRBs, stages, and PLF can also be controlled by lofting and/or timing of dogleg maneuver.All true, but there is a reason why such an early ascent flyovers over other nations are a thorny issue, and thus generally avoided.
It flies over the center of Cuba and might require briefly shutting down Miami, Ft Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach Airports.
SpaceX, however, pursuing cheaper and more efficient launches, worked with the Air Force to turn over that duty to a GPS-equipped on-board computer, an “Automatic Flight Safety System” that debuted in 2017. ...No other US rocket has this capability yet, and it could open up new advantages for SpaceX: The US Air Force is considering launches to polar orbits from Cape Canaveral, but the flight path is only viable if the rockets don’t need to be tracked for range-safety reasons. That means SpaceX is the only company that could take advantage of the new corridor to space.
An article that talks about how FTS enables this new launch route:Elon Musk's SpaceX has a new advantage: Blowing up its own rocket, automatically — QuartzQuoteSpaceX, however, pursuing cheaper and more efficient launches, worked with the Air Force to turn over that duty to a GPS-equipped on-board computer, an “Automatic Flight Safety System” that debuted in 2017. ...No other US rocket has this capability yet, and it could open up new advantages for SpaceX: The US Air Force is considering launches to polar orbits from Cape Canaveral, but the flight path is only viable if the rockets don’t need to be tracked for range-safety reasons. That means SpaceX is the only company that could take advantage of the new corridor to space.
Quote from: Coastal Ron on 01/04/2018 10:41 pmAn article that talks about how FTS enables this new launch route:Elon Musk's SpaceX has a new advantage: Blowing up its own rocket, automatically — QuartzQuoteSpaceX, however, pursuing cheaper and more efficient launches, worked with the Air Force to turn over that duty to a GPS-equipped on-board computer, an “Automatic Flight Safety System” that debuted in 2017. ...No other US rocket has this capability yet, and it could open up new advantages for SpaceX: The US Air Force is considering launches to polar orbits from Cape Canaveral, but the flight path is only viable if the rockets don’t need to be tracked for range-safety reasons. That means SpaceX is the only company that could take advantage of the new corridor to space.It won't help SpaceX much... They already have a VAFB pad, which they need to use since both FL pads will be busy with regular traffic. I agree with others that this is likely being pushed more by Blue Origin and NorthropGrummanOrbitalATK (either by them or on behalf of them), since they wouldn't have to invest in west coast pads.
Quote from: Lars-J on 01/04/2018 06:34 pmQuote from: Newton_V on 01/04/2018 05:21 pmThe IIP trace can be "easily" steered to fly over sparsely populated areas of west/central Cuba and western Panama. The dwell time is not long. Location of jettisoned items like SRBs, stages, and PLF can also be controlled by lofting and/or timing of dogleg maneuver.All true, but there is a reason why such an early ascent flyovers over other nations are a thorny issue, and thus generally avoided.Perhaps current attitude is different, as in ... to intentionally antagonize?Where this is seen as "encouraged to take advantage of", as an opportunity, rather than to be avoided?Because things aren't "bad enough" yet? To matter?"Hmm. Step on it and see if it's really all that bad. Can't blow my foot off anyways ... right?"
Quote from: Space Ghost 1962 on 01/04/2018 07:57 pmQuote from: Lars-J on 01/04/2018 06:34 pmQuote from: Newton_V on 01/04/2018 05:21 pmThe IIP trace can be "easily" steered to fly over sparsely populated areas of west/central Cuba and western Panama. The dwell time is not long. Location of jettisoned items like SRBs, stages, and PLF can also be controlled by lofting and/or timing of dogleg maneuver.All true, but there is a reason why such an early ascent flyovers over other nations are a thorny issue, and thus generally avoided.Perhaps current attitude is different, as in ... to intentionally antagonize?Where this is seen as "encouraged to take advantage of", as an opportunity, rather than to be avoided?Because things aren't "bad enough" yet? To matter?"Hmm. Step on it and see if it's really all that bad. Can't blow my foot off anyways ... right?"Many years ago (when "Freedom Fries" were a thing), by boss came to me and said there was a request to know what it would take to make the IIP (of a currently designed mission with European overflight) go over a certain large city in Western Europe. Nothing ever came of it, but I know for a fact it was a legitimate request.
In the argument of one pad to launch them all. Let's not forget, using a bi elliptic transfer orbit with minimal dv losses it is possible to reach GEO from Vandenberg. Studies have also been done to reach ISS from Vandenberg. Clementine went to the Moon from Vandenberg. Throw in the rare need to launch retrograde and Vandenberg is the best location for a single pad.
Quote from: Lars-J on 01/04/2018 10:49 pmQuote from: Coastal Ron on 01/04/2018 10:41 pmAn article that talks about how FTS enables this new launch route:Elon Musk's SpaceX has a new advantage: Blowing up its own rocket, automatically — QuartzQuoteSpaceX, however, pursuing cheaper and more efficient launches, worked with the Air Force to turn over that duty to a GPS-equipped on-board computer, an “Automatic Flight Safety System” that debuted in 2017. ...No other US rocket has this capability yet, and it could open up new advantages for SpaceX: The US Air Force is considering launches to polar orbits from Cape Canaveral, but the flight path is only viable if the rockets don’t need to be tracked for range-safety reasons. That means SpaceX is the only company that could take advantage of the new corridor to space.It won't help SpaceX much... They already have a VAFB pad, which they need to use since both FL pads will be busy with regular traffic. I agree with others that this is likely being pushed more by Blue Origin and NorthropGrummanOrbitalATK (either by them or on behalf of them), since they wouldn't have to invest in west coast pads.Delta IV's VAFB pad will be offline in about 5 years or less, which would be great for NG. Delta II's pad will be offline in less than a year, and NGL might be able to use that.
Quote from: kevin-rf on 01/07/2018 01:11 pmIn the argument of one pad to launch them all. Let's not forget, using a bi elliptic transfer orbit with minimal dv losses it is possible to reach GEO from Vandenberg. Studies have also been done to reach ISS from Vandenberg. Clementine went to the Moon from Vandenberg. Throw in the rare need to launch retrograde and Vandenberg is the best location for a single pad.Except Gen. Monteith clearly identifies that greatly expanding launch capacity at Vandenberg is a struggle. That support from the local area and state is lacking or that they are even opposed in some cases. In contrast with Florida and the space coast, which he identifies as being helpful. Maybe some of that's just cheerleading for his base, but I don't think it's a suggestion that can be totally ignored for anyone who was considering using a pad at VAFB for one-stop shopping. If your annual launch rate is low, this likely isn't a big deal. But if you plan to launch regularly, it's something to consider.
When is ULA going to introduce AFTS?
Quote from: RedLineTrain on 01/10/2018 01:52 pmWhen is ULA going to introduce AFTS?Vulcan
Quote from: abaddon on 01/10/2018 02:47 pmQuote from: RedLineTrain on 01/10/2018 01:52 pmWhen is ULA going to introduce AFTS?VulcanMaiden Vulcan or a later version?