There's an interesting set of messages concerning this launch and the disposal of the upper stage on SeeSat-L starting at http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jun-2012/0115.html
no different than the last 60 years.
Quote from: Jim on 06/17/2012 07:35 pmno different than the last 60 years.What is different now is that the U.S. civilian space program has largely disappeared, leaving mostly only the once-ignored black side. We used to have the civilian program to observe, and it used to be laid out in fine detail for observation. Now it is largely gone, and the bits that remain are themselves partially masked due to ITAR and proprietary considerations. That leaves us with NRO launches that disappear after first stage shutdown. I understand why, but unless one is on the program itself, it is painfully frustrating and even boring!I know more about Russian launches than U.S. launches, thanks to their coverage. As for excitement, China seems to be where the real money is being spent on new things of interest. Big new rocket engines are rumbling on test stands there. Shiny new rockets will soon follow. - Ed Kyle
back in the VIF
06/074 (A2548/12) - AIRSPACE DCC ER OPA6563 ATLAS REENTRY STATIONARY RESERVATION WITHIN AN AREA BNDD BY 1900N/17930E 1530N/16900W 0930N/17100W 1300N/17730E SFC-UNL. 20 JUN 21:16 2012 UNTIL 20 JUN 22:21 2012.CREATED: 17 JUN 19:46 2012
Another rollout of another rocket with a payload that we can't see, or know anything about. This is what a substantial percentage of U.S. launches look like now. It could be something monumental inside that fairing, something spectacular and impressive and really, really expensive, or it could be mundane, or it could be another Glomar Explorer waste of money, but we'll never know. We should know, at least something, in my opinion. It's our money after all (speaking for U.S. citizens). And this is pretty much our space program now.
What is different now is that the U.S. civilian space program has largely disappeared, leaving mostly only the once-ignored black side. We used to have the civilian program to observe, and it used to be laid out in fine detail for observation. Now it is largely gone, and the bits that remain are themselves partially masked due to ITAR and proprietary considerations. That leaves us with NRO launches that disappear after first stage shutdown. I understand why, but unless one is on the program itself, it is painfully frustrating and even boring!
Quote from: edkyle99 on 06/17/2012 11:49 pmWhat is different now is that the U.S. civilian space program has largely disappeared, leaving mostly only the once-ignored black side. We used to have the civilian program to observe, and it used to be laid out in fine detail for observation. Now it is largely gone, and the bits that remain are themselves partially masked due to ITAR and proprietary considerations. That leaves us with NRO launches that disappear after first stage shutdown. I understand why, but unless one is on the program itself, it is painfully frustrating and even boring!First off let me point out that outside of Saturn the so called military side has always exceeded the number and size than the civilian side. And they have a different job, and one that in many ways is incompatible with the the public outreach objectives of the civilian side. You wouldn't be asking to be fully aware of when, what, and where a Seal Team is doing would you? Just because the civilian side flopped on its face doesn't change the military's job.