Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V - NROL-34 - April 14, 2011 (Read 55695 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 03/29/2011 11:20 pm »

Don't seem to have a thread for this one, so opening with ULA's first e-mail about it showing the launch artwork:

ugordan · « **Reply #1 on:** 03/29/2011 11:24 pm »

Ooh, 2nd Atlas with a single SRB?

Jason1701 · « **Reply #2 on:** 03/30/2011 12:05 am »

Should be a treat to watch it on liftoff!

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #3 on:** 03/30/2011 12:36 am »

Quote from: ugordan on 03/29/2011 11:24 pm

Ooh, 2nd Atlas with a single SRB?

Third.

bobthemonkey · « **Reply #4 on:** 03/30/2011 07:17 pm »

Trumpet F/O with the third SBIRS HEO element presumably.

DaveJes1979 · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/04/2011 04:29 pm »

Any word yet on the launch window?

AnalogMan · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/04/2011 08:56 pm »

Quote from: DaveJes1979 on 04/04/2011 04:29 pm

Any word yet on the launch window?

I have seen a suggestion that the launch time is April 13 (GMT) with preferred lift off time of 0451 GMT and a window from 0451 to 0551 GMT. So local launch time April 12, at 20:51 PST

(correction from an earlier post)

Antares · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/05/2011 01:38 am »

Except the US is on Daylight time, so 21:51 PDT/local - if your suggestion is based on GMT.

AnalogMan · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/05/2011 10:21 am »

Quote from: Antares on 04/05/2011 01:38 am

Except the US is on Daylight time, so 21:51 PDT/local - if your suggestion is based on GMT.

Yes, you're absolutely right - I forgot about clock changes! The GMT times are the basis.

Thanks for catching that.

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/06/2011 07:32 pm »

ULA confirms the time:
http://twitter.com/ulalaunch

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #10 on:** 04/08/2011 08:23 pm »

ULA:

UPDATE - April 8, 1 p.m. PDT: The launch of an Atlas V carrying the NROL-34 payload has been rescheduled for April 14, 2011, in order to allow time for the launch team to replace an avionics component on the vehicle. The launch is now scheduled for April 14 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The opening of the launch window is 9:24 p.m. PDT.

edkyle99 · « **Reply #11 on:** 04/11/2011 04:40 pm »

Is anyone besides me missing the good old days, back when secret satellites were launched without fanfare, inside plain, unadorned payload fairings?

- Ed Kyle

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #12 on:** 04/11/2011 04:58 pm »

ULA note that: All launch preparations are progressing in support of the launch date of Thursday, April 14, for Atlas V NROL-34. The opening of the launch window is 9:24 p.m. PDT. The weather forecast looks excellent for launch with a 100% chance of acceptable weather! Satellite coordinates and some important event dates surrounding the launch can be found below.

L-1: Wednesday, April 13

· 1300: Remote camera photographers meet at the South Gate for escort to SLC-3 to set cameras

L-0: Thursday, April 14

· ~1630: MST Roll – I will send pictures shortly after

· 2000: 30 SW/PA meets media at the Main Gate Visitor Control for escort to media launch viewing site

· 2104: The NROL-34 launch will be carried live beginning 20 minutes prior to launch and will conclude approximately 4.5 minutes following launch. A simulcast of the broadcast can be viewed here: http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml

· 2124: Opening of the launch window (9:24 p.m. PDT)

Satellite Coordinates

ALL TIMES PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME

TEST -- APRIL 13, 2011

A 15-MINUTE TEST WILL BE CONDUCTED AT 12:00 P.M. PDT

LAUNCH -- APRIL 14, 2011

BEGIN TRANSMISSION (BARS AND TONE) – 8:30 P.M.

BROADCAST START – 9:04 P.M.

LAUNCH – 9:24 P.M.

SATELLITE: AMC 1

TRANSPONDER: C15

BAND: C Band Analog

ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west

CARRIER: SES Americom

BANDWIDTH: 36 MHz

UPLINK FREQ: 6225 MHz Vertical

DOWNLINK FREQ: 4000 MHz Horizontal

Weather Forecast

Launch Forecast: High pressure will dominate the region creating fair weather conditions and a tight pressure gradient with increased winds throughout the period. Winds at 168 foot will be from the northwest at 15-20 knots gusting up to 28 knots for MST roll. After sunset, wind gusts will dissipate to 10-15 knots for T-0. Temperatures will remain in the low to mid 50’s. Maximum upper-level winds will be west-northwesterly at 70 knots at 37,000 feet. There are no predicted space weather events to affect the launch.

Overall probability of violation at T-0: 0%

AnalogMan · « **Reply #13 on:** 04/11/2011 04:58 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 04/08/2011 08:23 pm

ULA:

UPDATE - April 8, 1 p.m. PDT: The launch of an Atlas V carrying the NROL-34 payload has been rescheduled for April 14, 2011, in order to allow time for the launch team to replace an avionics component on the vehicle. The launch is now scheduled for April 14 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The opening of the launch window is 9:24 p.m. PDT.

Looks like this launch date has a shorter window of only 29 minutes (9:24 to 9:53 pm PDT) compared with 1 hour previously for April 12.

Antares · « **Reply #14 on:** 04/12/2011 12:40 am »

Probably just giving a little more public fidelity of the actual launch window instead of the launch period. This has been done for most NRO launches.

DaveJes1979 · « **Reply #15 on:** 04/12/2011 06:09 pm »

Does anyone have word on launch windows if they scrub Thursday?

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 04/13/2011 01:43 am »

ULA:

Everything continues to go well as we progress towards the launch of Atlas V NROL-34 on Thursday night. The launch time is set for 9:24 p.m. PDT. We’ve had a bit of a change in weather, with the possibility of high wind gusts during MST roll and into the launch time. In terms of wind constraints, it is now looking like a 30% chance of acceptable weather for launch. The winds look the same for an attempt on April 15 as well.

robertross · « **Reply #17 on:** 04/13/2011 01:47 am »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 04/13/2011 01:43 am

ULA:

Everything continues to go well as we progress towards the launch of Atlas V NROL-34 on Thursday night. The launch time is set for 9:24 p.m. PDT. We’ve had a bit of a change in weather, with the possibility of high wind gusts during MST roll and into the launch time. In terms of wind constraints, it is now looking like a 30% chance of acceptable weather for launch. The winds look the same for an attempt on April 15 as well.

Ah, weather. Quite the change from 0% of probability of launch violation.

rdale · « **Reply #18 on:** 04/13/2011 01:52 am »

Sorry I wasn't paying close attention to this thread

DaveJes1979 · « **Reply #19 on:** 04/14/2011 03:50 am »

Any weather updates?