Author Topic: Electron : LC-1B : TROPICS F2: Rocket Like A Hurricane : 8 May 2023 01:00 UTC  (Read 42864 times)

Offline the_big_boot

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Signal acquisition confirmed:

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NASA, Rocket Lab Launch First Pair of Storm Observing CubeSats

May 8, 2023

[...]

Two NASA CubeSats designed to study tropical cyclones, including hurricanes and typhoons, are in orbit after successfully launching at 1 p.m. Monday, NZST (9 p.m. EDT Sunday).

The first pair of the agency’s TROPICS (Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats) lifted off aboard an Electron rocket from Rocket Lab’s Launch Complex 1 Pad B in Māhia, New Zealand. Team members successfully sent commands to the first CubeSat at 1:48 a.m. EDT, May 8. Subsequently, they established communications with the second CubeSat at 6:31 a.m. EDT.

[...]

The second pair of TROPICS CubeSats is planned to launch aboard another Rocket Lab Electron rocket in about two weeks. The second launch will be timed to insert the next two CubeSats into the TROPICS constellation.

[...]

That should be the second and third pair, as the first pair was lost in the failed Astra launch.

lol NASA is just casually acting like the astra launch never happened

Online trimeta

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lol NASA is just casually acting like the astra launch never happened
"NASA has given unto you these six...

[THUD]

"Four! Four TROPICS satellites!"


Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1655646177340313601

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This is my new favorite launch footage. The team always has something new.

Online trimeta

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https://twitter.com/peter_j_beck/status/1655646177340313601

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This is my new favorite launch footage. The team always has something new.
I've attached a downloaded copy of the video.

Edit: Rocket Lab uploaded a copy to YouTube, it's higher-quality than what they had on Twitter. I'm not changing the attached file (it took long enough to upload already), but if you want an even better copy, check out this version:

« Last Edit: 05/08/2023 08:25 pm by trimeta »

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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This is my new favorite launch footage. The team always has something new.

I wish they had shown that in the livestream, instead of the big cloud of steam we saw at liftoff!
« Last Edit: 05/09/2023 05:42 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline catdlr

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This is my new favorite launch footage. The team always has something new.

I wish they had shown that in the live stream, instead of the big cloud of steam we saw at liftoff!

They had the drone shot hovering at LV level for a while just before liftoff but they probably didn't choose to switch over to that shot (intentionally or forgot).  Hopefully next time. I sure like these more than the static shots.   
It's Tony De La Rosa, ...I don't create this stuff, I just report it.

Online gmbnz

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I wish they had shown that in the live stream, instead of the big cloud of steam we saw at liftoff!

They had the drone shot hovering at LV level for a while just before liftoff but they probably didn't choose to switch over to that shot (intentionally or forgot).  Hopefully next time. I sure like these more than the static shots.

They did - first there's the closeup, then a tracking camera shot, then the wide angle, then the drone footage:
https://www.youtube.com/live/N3prw-94wQc?feature=share&t=1242
I think the drone footage is a bit more delayed, so when they cut to it the rocket is a bit lower than the wide angle shot - but that's presumably just the encoding + decoding delay

Offline catdlr

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I wish they had shown that in the live stream, instead of the big cloud of steam we saw at liftoff!

They had the drone shot hovering at LV level for a while just before liftoff but they probably didn't choose to switch over to that shot (intentionally or forgot).  Hopefully next time. I sure like these more than the static shots.

They did - first there's the closeup, then a tracking camera shot, then the wide angle, then the drone footage:
https://www.youtube.com/live/N3prw-94wQc?feature=share&t=1242
I think the drone footage is a bit more delayed, so when they cut to it the rocket is a bit lower than the wide angle shot - but that's presumably just the encoding + decoding delay

It would be nice to have each of the launch camera angles replayed to us during the time we are waiting for deployment.
It's Tony De La Rosa, ...I don't create this stuff, I just report it.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1657930020319535104

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The final launch milestone: satellite deployment!

Look carefully and you’ll see a @NASA TROPICS CubeSat deploy from our Canisterized Satellite Dispenser on Electron’s Kick Stage. We’re already counting down to our 2nd & final TROPICS launch soon. Stay tuned for the launch date!

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Here's an enhanced image of the satellite being deployed.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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