The DS-1 flight system, comprised of Blue Origin avionics equipment, is expected to be launched as a non-separable, secondary payload on the upper stage of a National Security Space Launch-class launch vehicle (“LV”) with an expected launch date in Q4 2024. The mission will be an elliptical medium Earth orbit (“MEO”) of approximately 21000 km apogee, 2500 km perigee, at an inclination of 55 degrees. The DS-1 flight system will be independent from the LV upper stage, with separate power, communications, and avionics systems. After separation of the unrelated primary payload, the LV upper stage will send an activation signal to the DS-1 flight system but will not have any control over the operation of the DS-1 experiment. Likewise, DS-1 will not be able to control the LV upper stage. Following primary payload separation, DS-1’s onboard omnidirectional antennas will be autonomously initiated to downlink via radio frequency real-time equipment health status to the ATLAS ground stations. The DS-1 mission duration will be no greater than 12 hours, concluding when the DS-1 flight system’s battery is depleted. At the conclusion of the LV upper stage’s mission, the LV upper stage with the DS-1 flight system will be decommissioned according to the LV managed disposal plan.
Bloomberg is now reporting that the US Air Force has imposed postponement fees unspecified fines on ULA for launch delays.https://www.msn.com/en-ae/money/companies/lockheed-boeing-alliance-hit-with-us-fine-for-launch-delays/ar-BB1moavO[May 14]The ULA response was that “we are not aware of any significant delay concerning Space Force missions”.
Launch of a seventh new GPS-III satellite slated for next month [June 2024] was rescheduled for January 2025, the service said.
I spy a Centaur V for a Space Force GPSIII mission. Much easier to build these up outside the clean room (unlike the Centaur III)
What flight and what configuration of Vulcan will support this GPSIII mission? Always appreciate your looks behind the scenes
Likely a 2 solid. When the Gov wants to go
...QuoteLikely a 2 solid. When the Gov wants to gohttps://twitter.com/torybruno/status/1791208767683801472
GPS IIR-M sat PRN17 in plane C, slot C4F had a few clock failures today. Plane C is the only plane without a gen III sat.If it isn't revived I wonder if this launch will be brought forward or moved to SpaceX to replace the failed sat.
QuoteUnited Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 100th National Security MissionJuly 30, 2024[...]ULA’s next launch is the second certification flight (Cert-2) of the Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Vulcan will also launch USSF-106 and USSF-87, two critical NSS missions, to orbit later this year.
United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 100th National Security MissionJuly 30, 2024[...]ULA’s next launch is the second certification flight (Cert-2) of the Vulcan rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. Vulcan will also launch USSF-106 and USSF-87, two critical NSS missions, to orbit later this year.
kinda sounds like it might be this flight?0149-EX-ST-2024QuoteThe DS-1 flight system, comprised of Blue Origin avionics equipment, is expected to be launched as a non-separable, secondary payload on the upper stage of a National Security Space Launch-class launch vehicle (“LV”) with an expected launch date in Q4 2024. The mission will be an elliptical medium Earth orbit (“MEO”) of approximately 21000 km apogee, 2500 km perigee, at an inclination of 55 degrees. The DS-1 flight system will be independent from the LV upper stage, with separate power, communications, and avionics systems. After separation of the unrelated primary payload, the LV upper stage will send an activation signal to the DS-1 flight system but will not have any control over the operation of the DS-1 experiment. Likewise, DS-1 will not be able to control the LV upper stage. Following primary payload separation, DS-1’s onboard omnidirectional antennas will be autonomously initiated to downlink via radio frequency real-time equipment health status to the ATLAS ground stations. The DS-1 mission duration will be no greater than 12 hours, concluding when the DS-1 flight system’s battery is depleted. At the conclusion of the LV upper stage’s mission, the LV upper stage with the DS-1 flight system will be decommissioned according to the LV managed disposal plan.
For those of you that enjoy rocket pictures. Here’s the next #VulcanRocket in final assembly at the Rocket Factory in Decatur
SN Space Force adjusts timeline as Vulcan’s national security launches slip to 2025 [Nov 21]Quote from: Lt. Gen. Philip GarrantThe Space Force is now preparing for a likely 2025 Vulcan national security launch debut instead of the originally planned 2024 launches.Garrant said ULA’s Vulcan remains on track for certification. The rocket’s second certification launch in October was technically successful, with the payload reaching its intended orbit. However, an anomaly with one of the solid rocket boosters continues to be reviewed.The anomaly itself isn’t a showstopper for certification, said Garrant. But the cumulative delays and uncertainties are a concern, he said, “as we aim to maintain assured access to space with two certified providers.”QuoteULA was targeting a November launch for USSF-106. But with only six weeks left in the year, a 2024 launch window is increasingly unlikely, said Garrant.Despite the challenges, Garrant remains cautiously optimistic. “We are working with ULA to evaluate the data from their second flight, and they are making significant progress towards certification,” he noted.
The Space Force is now preparing for a likely 2025 Vulcan national security launch debut instead of the originally planned 2024 launches.Garrant said ULA’s Vulcan remains on track for certification. The rocket’s second certification launch in October was technically successful, with the payload reaching its intended orbit. However, an anomaly with one of the solid rocket boosters continues to be reviewed.The anomaly itself isn’t a showstopper for certification, said Garrant. But the cumulative delays and uncertainties are a concern, he said, “as we aim to maintain assured access to space with two certified providers.”
ULA was targeting a November launch for USSF-106. But with only six weeks left in the year, a 2024 launch window is increasingly unlikely, said Garrant.Despite the challenges, Garrant remains cautiously optimistic. “We are working with ULA to evaluate the data from their second flight, and they are making significant progress towards certification,” he noted.
The decision to accelerate the launch of SV-07 was made in mid-2024 when uncertainty around the Vulcan rocket’s readiness led Space Force leaders to reassess their options. Horne emphasized that this move was less about Vulcan delays and more about testing the boundaries of the NSSL program’s flexibility. “This is a way for us to demonstrate to adversaries that we can be responsive,” he said.
SpaceX just launched SV07; ULA will now launch SV10. [Dec 17]Quote from: Col. James Horne, senior materiel leader for launch execution at USSF’s Space Systems CommandThe decision to accelerate the launch of SV-07 was made in mid-2024 when uncertainty around the Vulcan rocket’s readiness led Space Force leaders to reassess their options. Horne emphasized that this move was less about Vulcan delays and more about testing the boundaries of the NSSL program’s flexibility. “This is a way for us to demonstrate to adversaries that we can be responsive,” he said.
Quote from: StraumliBlight on 12/17/2024 01:54 amSpaceX just launched SV07; ULA will now launch SV10. [Dec 17]Quote from: Col. James Horne, senior materiel leader for launch execution at USSF’s Space Systems CommandThe decision to accelerate the launch of SV-07 was made in mid-2024 when uncertainty around the Vulcan rocket’s readiness led Space Force leaders to reassess their options. Horne emphasized that this move was less about Vulcan delays and more about testing the boundaries of the NSSL program’s flexibility. “This is a way for us to demonstrate to adversaries that we can be responsive,” he said.The most interesting point is that they switched the payload from ULA to SpaceX over 6 months, rather than the usual two year cycle.
Some unspecified amount of time was spent to switch out Vulcan adapter for Falcon adapter.So I guess one of the lessons learned is that if you want fast responsive launch, you should default your payload to launch on the LV that's flying every 3 days.
Quote from: thespacecow on 12/18/2024 06:34 amSome unspecified amount of time was spent to switch out Vulcan adapter for Falcon adapter.So I guess one of the lessons learned is that if you want fast responsive launch, you should default your payload to launch on the LV that's flying every 3 days.The article made no mention of any differences caused by the orientation. Vulcan uses vertical integration, while Falcon uses horizontal integration.Separately(?) they were forced to ship the satellite by truck from Colorado to Florida because the C17s were all responding to Hurricane Helene. Could the satellite have been transported vertically in the C17? If so, they got lucky here, having already changed to horizontal shipment before they were forced to use the truck.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 12/18/2024 08:53 amQuote from: thespacecow on 12/18/2024 06:34 amSome unspecified amount of time was spent to switch out Vulcan adapter for Falcon adapter.So I guess one of the lessons learned is that if you want fast responsive launch, you should default your payload to launch on the LV that's flying every 3 days.The article made no mention of any differences caused by the orientation. Vulcan uses vertical integration, while Falcon uses horizontal integration.Separately(?) they were forced to ship the satellite by truck from Colorado to Florida because the C17s were all responding to Hurricane Helene. Could the satellite have been transported vertically in the C17? If so, they got lucky here, having already changed to horizontal shipment before they were forced to use the truck.Since six of the first sevenGPS III launch used a Falcon 9 Block 5, it's likely that any changes needed to be made for the horizontal vs vertical integration likely were well recorded.
