Kuiper test sats on Atlas V1606-EX-ST-2023
The Atlas V 501 will be launched on an easterly trajectory from Eastern Range (ER) Launch Complex 41 (SLC-41). A single Centaur main engine burn with a Guidance Commanded Shutdown (GCS) will place the two spacecraft into a Low Earth Orbit (500 km circular at 30.0 deg inclination). Spacecraft separation will occur at approximately 18 minutes after liftoff. After separation the Centaur coasts for approximately 15 minutes before turning to the second burn attitude. The second burn (which occurs at approximately 40 minutes after liftoff) will place the Centaur into a hyperbolic trajectory to meet upper stage disposal requirements. Centaur end of mission occurs approximately 81 minutes after liftoff.
One question pointed out to me by someone else: ULA's Atlas V FAA launch license (for Cape launches which is all it has now) was recently (January 2023) amended to only include the 551 variant:https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/licenses_permits/media/LLO_18_113_Rev_4.pdfI wonder if that actually hinders such a launch from happening, or at least more paperwork is needed? I suspect Starliner launches are using another licensing method for crew and there's a military launch left (USSF-51) that has the variant never confirmed, with 501 being an option (Tory Bruno once said it's a "repeat mission" payload and the X-37B OTV is a fore-running candidate). So can ULA just launch a 501 without amending this license again?
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 08/05/2023 02:33 amOne question pointed out to me by someone else: ULA's Atlas V FAA launch license (for Cape launches which is all it has now) was recently (January 2023) amended to only include the 551 variant:https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/licenses_permits/media/LLO_18_113_Rev_4.pdfI wonder if that actually hinders such a launch from happening, or at least more paperwork is needed? I suspect Starliner launches are using another licensing method for crew and there's a military launch left (USSF-51) that has the variant never confirmed, with 501 being an option (Tory Bruno once said it's a "repeat mission" payload and the X-37B OTV is a fore-running candidate). So can ULA just launch a 501 without amending this license again?The Atlas V 551 variant is currently the only Atlas V variant planned to launch production Kuiper satellites. Even if the USSF-51 mission launches in September, the Atlas V slated to launch this mission will be the 551 variant and the X-37B probably won't be used for the USSF-51 mission.
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 08/05/2023 02:33 amOne question pointed out to me by someone else: ULA's Atlas V FAA launch license (for Cape launches which is all it has now) was recently (January 2023) amended to only include the 551 variant:https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/licenses_permits/media/LLO_18_113_Rev_4.pdfI wonder if that actually hinders such a launch from happening, or at least more paperwork is needed? I suspect Starliner launches are using another licensing method for crew and there's a military launch left (USSF-51) that has the variant never confirmed, with 501 being an option (Tory Bruno once said it's a "repeat mission" payload and the X-37B OTV is a fore-running candidate). So can ULA just launch a 501 without amending this license again?Why is it assumed that it is the X-37B? They've launched dozens of military missions, he could be referring to just a repeat of any kind of military mission they've done already
Quote from: Alexphysics on 08/05/2023 12:13 pmQuote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 08/05/2023 02:33 amOne question pointed out to me by someone else: ULA's Atlas V FAA launch license (for Cape launches which is all it has now) was recently (January 2023) amended to only include the 551 variant:https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/licenses_permits/media/LLO_18_113_Rev_4.pdfI wonder if that actually hinders such a launch from happening, or at least more paperwork is needed? I suspect Starliner launches are using another licensing method for crew and there's a military launch left (USSF-51) that has the variant never confirmed, with 501 being an option (Tory Bruno once said it's a "repeat mission" payload and the X-37B OTV is a fore-running candidate). So can ULA just launch a 501 without amending this license again?Why is it assumed that it is the X-37B? They've launched dozens of military missions, he could be referring to just a repeat of any kind of military mission they've done alreadyLast year, Northrop Grumman said that 9 GEM-63 SRM's were scheduled to launch with an Atlas V in 2022. At that time, USSF-12, SBIRS GEO-6, SES-20/SES-21, JPSS-2 and USSF-51 were the remaining launches for 2022. USSF-12 (4), SBIRS GEO-6 (2) and SES-20/SES-21 (3) equated to that total of 9 SRM's to be used, which meant that if USSF-51 was still scheduled for 2022 (which it appeared it did at the time) that it would have been an Atlas V 501, which would have matched with a X-37B mission.
Amazon confirms it now plans to launch the first two test satellites for the company's Kuiper broadband network on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket as soon as next month, shifting the payloads off of the inaugural flight of ULA's new Vulcan rocket.
The Atlas V 551 variant is currently the only Atlas V variant planned to launch production Kuiper satellites. Even if the USSF-51 mission launches in September, the Atlas V slated to launch this mission will be the 551 variant and the X-37B probably won't be used for the USSF-51 mission.
Quote from: Vahe231991 on 08/05/2023 03:43 amThe Atlas V 551 variant is currently the only Atlas V variant planned to launch production Kuiper satellites. Even if the USSF-51 mission launches in September, the Atlas V slated to launch this mission will be the 551 variant and the X-37B probably won't be used for the USSF-51 mission.No. Atlas V has been called "Dial a Rocket". SRBs can be added or subtracted with no core mods.
Quote from: Jim on 08/07/2023 06:22 pmQuote from: Vahe231991 on 08/05/2023 03:43 amThe Atlas V 551 variant is currently the only Atlas V variant planned to launch production Kuiper satellites. Even if the USSF-51 mission launches in September, the Atlas V slated to launch this mission will be the 551 variant and the X-37B probably won't be used for the USSF-51 mission.No. Atlas V has been called "Dial a Rocket". SRBs can be added or subtracted with no core mods.Thanks, Jim. I had assumed that this is true but I did not know. For those of us with no Cape experience, In which facility are the SRBs attached?
The first two demonstration satellites for Amazons Project Kuiper broadband constellation will launch on an Atlas 501 rocket. These satellites were originally scheduled to fly on the first Vulcan rocket.
Quote from: DanClemmensen on 08/07/2023 06:54 pmQuote from: Jim on 08/07/2023 06:22 pmQuote from: Vahe231991 on 08/05/2023 03:43 amThe Atlas V 551 variant is currently the only Atlas V variant planned to launch production Kuiper satellites. Even if the USSF-51 mission launches in September, the Atlas V slated to launch this mission will be the 551 variant and the X-37B probably won't be used for the USSF-51 mission.No. Atlas V has been called "Dial a Rocket". SRBs can be added or subtracted with no core mods.Thanks, Jim. I had assumed that this is true but I did not know. For those of us with no Cape experience, In which facility are the SRBs attached?SRB's are attached in the VIF
NextSpaceflight (Updated September 4th)Launch NET October 2023https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6773Expected with the delays to NROL-107 / Silent Barker
Launch plan currently unconfirmed.
During the live broadcast of the NROL-107 / Silent Barker mission, ULA called this mission the "Project Kuiper Protoflight". (And confirmed that this was their next mission which we already knew)
