Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - March 1, 2017 (17:50 UTC)  (Read 60458 times)

Offline ZachS09

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan. 26, 2017
« Reply #20 on: 11/18/2016 03:46 pm »
I may have asked this before, but will NROL-79 also carry cubesats?
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan. 26, 2017
« Reply #21 on: 11/18/2016 04:49 pm »
I may have asked this before, but will NROL-79 also carry cubesats?

There are no cubesats.

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan. 26, 2017
« Reply #22 on: 01/10/2017 07:34 pm »
From the "SpaceX Falcon 9 - Iridium NEXT - NET Jan 14, 2017 (17:54 UTC)- UPDATES" thread:

The range issue - which is another (albeit less than the bad weather) issue - is an Atlas V doing a WDR next week ahead of a NROL mission that's upcoming after the Falcon 9 launch. WDRs need (and thus book) the range.
The Atlas V NROL flight would be this thread's launch, on January 26 PST.

If anyone can answer: Is the Atlas V WDR scheduled BEFORE or AFTER the January 14 Falcon 9 launch?
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan. 26, 2017
« Reply #23 on: 01/10/2017 08:49 pm »
From the "SpaceX Falcon 9 - Iridium NEXT - NET Jan 14, 2017 (17:54 UTC)- UPDATES" thread:

The range issue - which is another (albeit less than the bad weather) issue - is an Atlas V doing a WDR next week ahead of a NROL mission that's upcoming after the Falcon 9 launch. WDRs need (and thus book) the range.
The Atlas V NROL flight would be this thread's launch, on January 26 PST.

If anyone can answer: Is the Atlas V WDR scheduled BEFORE or AFTER the January 14 Falcon 9 launch?

It was this morning.

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #24 on: 01/16/2017 04:06 pm »
Slipping:

ULA:

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. (Jan. 16, 2017) – The launch date for a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying NROL-79 for the National Reconnaissance Office is under review. The team is actively working to resolve Atlas V second stage booster issues discovered during vehicle testing. This additional time will allow the ULA team to ensure all systems are operating nominally prior to launch. A new launch date will be released once it is established. The Atlas V is set to lift off from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg air Force Base in California.

 

The Atlas V SBIRS mission remains on schedule for Jan. 19 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, pending final vehicle verifications.
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Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #25 on: 01/22/2017 07:12 pm »
I read that this launch had been delayed to February 9 (on the NSF launch thread and SFN launch schedule) as of January 17.  Now the NSF launch thread shows this launch in March.

Is this due to continued delays resolving the Centaur issues mentioned in the January 16 ULA release (see previous post this thread)?

Or is it a new problem?

EDIT: Also, I note that the problem with the NROL-79 Centaur appears not to have affected the SBIRS GEO-3 launch.
« Last Edit: 01/22/2017 08:20 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #26 on: 01/22/2017 08:40 pm »
I read that this launch had been delayed to February 9 (on the NSF launch thread and SFN launch schedule) as of January 17.  Now the NSF launch thread shows this launch in March.

Is this due to continued delays resolving the Centaur issues mentioned in the January 16 ULA release (see previous post this thread)?

Or is it a new problem?

EDIT: Also, I note that the problem with the NROL-79 Centaur appears not to have affected the SBIRS GEO-3 launch.
I can't comment on the reason for the slip, but since the 26 Jan ILC, there was never a new date set until the NET March.  I don't know where SFN got the 9 February date from, but the source was incorrect.

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Mar, 2017
« Reply #27 on: 01/26/2017 09:05 am »
Anyone have a better image of this?
« Last Edit: 01/26/2017 09:12 am by vapour_nudge »

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #28 on: 01/26/2017 06:16 pm »
With the revelations of quality control problems in Russia for Proton & Soyuz rockets, is there any implication for the RD-180 or is it completely out of the picture here?

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #29 on: 01/26/2017 06:24 pm »
With the revelations of quality control problems in Russia for Proton & Soyuz rockets, is there any implication for the RD-180 or is it completely out of the picture here?
If Wikipedia is to be believed, they're made in different facilities by different entities.    Looks like the RD-180 is made by NPO Energomash near Moscow, while the suspect engines (RD-0110, RD-0210) are made in the Voronezh Mechanical Plant in Voronezh, near Russia's border with Ukraine.

Offline Jarnis

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #30 on: 01/27/2017 12:03 pm »
With the revelations of quality control problems in Russia for Proton & Soyuz rockets, is there any implication for the RD-180 or is it completely out of the picture here?

I'm pretty sure this was reported to be a centaur issue (second stage). No Russian engines there.

Offline baldusi

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #31 on: 01/27/2017 08:04 pm »
With the revelations of quality control problems in Russia for Proton & Soyuz rockets, is there any implication for the RD-180 or is it completely out of the picture here?
If Wikipedia is to be believed, they're made in different facilities by different entities.    Looks like the RD-180 is made by NPO Energomash near Moscow, while the suspect engines (RD-0110, RD-0210) are made in the Voronezh Mechanical Plant in Voronezh, near Russia's border with Ukraine.
Different designer bureaus and different manufacturing plants. The RD-0210 family, RD-0110 and RD-0124 are designed bu KbKhA bureau, and manufactured in the Voronesh Mechanical Plant, which is the manufacturing branch of KbKhA, itself owned by Khrunichev.
The RD-180 is not only designed by NPO Energomash, but made in-house. The only RD-170 derivative not made by them will be the RD-191 made in the Proton-PM plant in Omsk. But RD-171M, RD-180 and the initial RD-191 are made within NPO own factory, which has a pretty good record.
They did had issues, like the oxidized mixture control valve. But the last Sea Launch failure was due to a TVC made and integrated in Ukraine, not an NPO Energomash problem.
Besides, the RD-180 is made to DoD and NASA crew rating standards. Those clients require a more extensive quality process that NPO Enegomash and its parent RSC Energia, are in much better prosition to supply.

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #32 on: 01/28/2017 12:31 am »
With the revelations of quality control problems in Russia for Proton & Soyuz rockets, is there any implication for the RD-180 or is it completely out of the picture here?

I'm pretty sure this was reported to be a centaur issue (second stage). No Russian engines there.
My question wasn't related to the current delay or factory for that matter. I was considering the recent findings and how the Russian space industry appears (from outside) to be rife with these issues. My concern is the factory possibly subcontracted the part or the metal and that the makers of the RD-180 haven't done the same thing.
Call me a worried onlooker because that's all I am, my thinking is perhaps affected by last year's near miss on OA-5
ULA have schedule reliability and a fantastic launch record going for them. If this were to falter due to some problems of the kind that are affecting Proton & Soyuz, it would be a shame

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Mar, 2017
« Reply #33 on: 02/02/2017 09:18 am »
Apparently the Centaur issue is unique to this particular Centaur on AV-068 according to Tory Bruno.

u/ToryBruno •
Not mission specific, but looks to be vehicle specific. We have a path ahead and will be able to firm up the launch date shortly

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #34 on: 02/09/2017 08:36 pm »
ULA:

The Atlas V launch carrying the NROL-79 satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office is confirmed on the Western Range for March 1.
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Offline Newton_V

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - Jan, 2017
« Reply #35 on: 02/10/2017 01:10 am »
ULA:

The Atlas V launch carrying the NROL-79 satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office is confirmed on the Western Range for March 1.

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Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - March 1, 2017
« Reply #36 on: 02/11/2017 02:00 am »
From the ULA Facebook page
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Antares

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - March 1, 2017
« Reply #37 on: 02/11/2017 03:51 am »
With the revelations of quality control problems in Russia for Proton & Soyuz rockets, is there any implication for the RD-180 or is it completely out of the picture here?
Looks like the RD-180 is made by NPO Energomash near Moscow, while the suspect engines (RD-0110, RD-0210) are made in the Voronezh Mechanical Plant in Voronezh, near Russia's border with Ukraine.
1) Different designer bureaus and different manufacturing plants. The RD-0210 family, RD-0110 and RD-0124 are designed bu KbKhA bureau, and manufactured in the Voronesh Mechanical Plant, which is the manufacturing branch of KbKhA, itself owned by Khrunichev.
The RD-180 is not only designed by NPO Energomash, but made in-house.

2) Besides, the RD-180 is made to DoD and NASA crew rating standards. Those clients require a more extensive quality process that NPO Enegomash and its parent RSC Energia, are in much better prosition to supply.

1) Energomash chambers are built to print by Voronezh.  They are also part of the same holding company, though it's doubtful they will ever truly merge.

2) What evidence do you have of that?
If I like something on NSF, it's probably because I know it to be accurate.  Every once in a while, it's just something I agree with.  Facts generally receive the former.

Offline Newton_V

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Re: Atlas V 401 - NROL-79 - VAFB SLC-3E - March 1, 2017
« Reply #38 on: 02/16/2017 12:53 am »
Finally!

Offline ZachS09

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