Atlas V 401 - JPSS-2/LOFTID - Vandenberg SLC-3E - 10 November 2022 (09:49 UTC)

[Vahe231991]

With the final launch of the Atlas V from the West Coast, Vandenberg SFB has bid farewell to an SLV family derived from the first operational American ICBM, the Atlas. Considering that the Atlas rocket began taking shape at the Convair design offices in San Diego, many people who worked on components for Atlas SLVs at the Space Systems Division of Convair/General Dynamics (which was sold to Martin Marietta in 1994, only for that company to merge with Lockheed to create Lockheed Martin in 1995) will miss seeing Atlas launches from Vandenberg, because California was the birthplace of ICBM development in the US in the 1950s.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1590810019368697856

A dual-chamber RD-180 engine powers NASA's JPSS mission to orbit on the final Atlas V from Vandenberg. @NASASpaceflight

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Another ULA photo. LOFID looking remarkably good

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nextspaceflight/status/1590822371459764224

First test of the actuated lens cap is a big success! There is a tiny bit of condensation on the lens, but my other camera at this spot with multiple hand warmers is way worse. Lens cap camera did not have any heaters or warmers.

twitter.com/nextspacefligh…

[freddo411]

With the final launch of the Atlas V from the West Coast, Vandenberg SFB has bid farewell to an SLV family derived from the first operational American ICBM, the Atlas. Considering that the Atlas rocket began taking shape at the Convair design offices in San Diego, many people who worked on components for Atlas SLVs at the Space Systems Division of Convair/General Dynamics (which was sold to Martin Marietta in 1994, only for that company to merge with Lockheed to create Lockheed Martin in 1995) will miss seeing Atlas launches from Vandenberg, because California was the birthplace of ICBM development in the US in the 1950s.

Sad to see the Atlas name go away, but the Atlas V was designed to use the RD-180 engine from Russia.   It's first stage doesn't have direct legacy to the Atlas ICBM (like II and III did).

[Craigles]

From https://blogs.nasa.gov/jpss-2/

JPSS-2 In Safe and Stable Configuration
Mission managers for NOAA’s JPSS-2 confirm the satellite has acquired signal and is receiving and responding to commands. The satellite is currently power positive (getting electricity) and in a safe and stable configuration while teams assess the status of the solar array.

Author Karen Fox
Posted on November 10, 2022
Categories Uncategorized

Do we need to start a separate thread for solar array status in the Space Science Coverage section as with Lucy, or is this the correct thread?

[Jim]

, because California was the birthplace of ICBM development in the US in the 1950s.

Not true, there is Baltimore and Huntsville with launches from the Cape.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1590827383426514946

An RD-180 rocket engine muscling ULA's Atlas V off the pad this morning. #JPSS #LOFTID @NASASpaceflight

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://blogs.nasa.gov/jpss-2/2022/11/10/update-on-jpss-2-solar-array-status/

Update on JPSS-2 Solar Array Status

Mission managers for NOAA’s JPSS-2 are working to deploy the satellite’s solar array. The satellite has adequate power to operate while teams work to deploy the array. This indicates that one of the four solar panels is currently exposed to the Sun.

Author Rob Garner
Posted on November 10, 2022
Categories Joint Polar Satellite System-2, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[edkyle99]

With the final launch of the Atlas V from the West Coast, Vandenberg SFB has bid farewell to an SLV family derived from the first operational American ICBM, the Atlas. Considering that the Atlas rocket began taking shape at the Convair design offices in San Diego, many people who worked on components for Atlas SLVs at the Space Systems Division of Convair/General Dynamics (which was sold to Martin Marietta in 1994, only for that company to merge with Lockheed to create Lockheed Martin in 1995) will miss seeing Atlas launches from Vandenberg, because California was the birthplace of ICBM development in the US in the 1950s.

No.  The last Atlas launch from Vandenberg was AC-164 (an Atlas IIAS) in 2003, or, if you are a purist it was in 1995 (Atlas 45E, a refurbished actual ICBM built in 1961).  This thing with that Russian engine is named Atlas, but it is not an Atlas.  More like a "Titan 5".

 - Ed Kyle

[Rondaz]

Update: JPSS-2’s solar array is not deployed.

One of the four panels in the array, exposed to sunlight even before the array unfolds, is generating enough power for the spacecraft for now.

https://twitter.com/TGMetsFan98/status/1590847898904064000

[edkyle99]

Solar Array Fully Deployed on NOAA’s JPSS-2 Satellite

NOAA’s JPSS-2 satellite is now in Sun acquisition mode (initial operations mode) with the solar array fully deployed. The operations team will continue to evaluate an earlier solar array deployment issue, but at this time, the satellite is healthy and operating as expected. The team has resumed normal activities for the JPSS-2 mission.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/jpss-2/2022/11/10/solar-array-fully-deployed-on-noaas-jpss-2-satellite/

(Yay!)

[Comga]

A rectified image.

Thank you
How hard can it be to get the aspect ratio correct for onboard imagery, which ULA never does?
It’s not like it’s…. rocket science.😝

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post with launch time to the fraction of a second:

https://www.ulalaunch.com/missions/next-launch/atlas-v-jpss-2

Nov 10 13:15

Our official liftoff time today was 1:49:00.125 a.m. PST.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/shorealonefilms/status/1590913951243509761

A few remote camera photos from this morning”s 100% successful & Last west coast #AtlasV launch. GO ATLAS!!! @ULA @torybruno #JPSS2 #LOFTID 11-10-22

[FutureSpaceTourist]

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/jdeshetler/status/1592027349289431041

Final launch of ULA Atlas V to deliver JPSS-2/LOFTID payloads from Vandenberg SFB, shot in time-lapse.
@NASASpaceflight @ulalaunch
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/11/jpss-2-launch/

https://twitter.com/jdeshetler/status/1592032257233256448

Slow-motion remote shot of ULA Atlas V's RD-180 rocket engine launching off the SLC-2E pad. @NASASpaceflight @ulalaunch
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/11/jpss-2-launch/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1592188102923423745

LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS! 🚀

On Nov. 10 at 1:49 a.m. PST from SLC-3 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, a ULA #AtlasV rocket lifted off carrying the #JPSS2 mission for @NOAA and @NASA and #LOFTID for @NASA_Technology.

Watch on YouTube: youtu.be/bpFZv7oZtqs

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/1592566347325579264

Rocket Cam! 🚀 📹

Climb aboard the #AtlasV rocket as it launches #JPSS2 for @NASA and @NOAA and NASA's #LOFTID!

Watch on YouTube:

[Targeteer]

November 15, 2022
MEDIA ADVISORY M22-173
NASA to Share First Results of Inflatable Heat Shield Technology Test


NASA will host a media briefing on Thursday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. EST to share early results from the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) technology demonstration.

Audio of the call will stream live on the agency’s website.

The LOFTID demonstration took place Nov. 10. About one hour after launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, the LOFTID inflatable heat shield deployed and began its demonstration. As LOFTID inflated, the Centaur upper stage rocket spun up and released the heat shield, which then began its intense re-entry journey through Earth's atmosphere. LOFTID splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at about 7 a.m. 

The inflatable heat shield technology tested by LOFTID could improve landing capability on worlds with atmospheres, allowing the landing of heavier payloads and safe touchdown at higher altitudes than are currently accessible. The technology has potential applications for missions to Mars, Venus, Saturn's moon Titan, and return of large payloads from low-Earth orbit.

Full study of LOFTID's performance is expected to take about a year.

The team will share initial results of the demonstration during the call. The briefing participants are:

    Trudy Kortes, director of Technology Demonstrations, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
    Joe Del Corso, LOFTID project manager, NASA's Langley Research Center
    John DiNonno, LOFTID chief engineer, NASA Langley
    Greg Swanson, LOFTID instrumentation lead, NASA's Ames Research Center

Media will have the opportunity to ask questions of panelists. To participate, media must RSVP at least two hours prior to the virtual event to Roxana Bardan at: [email protected].

The LOFTID project is managed and funded through NASA’s Technology Demonstration Missions program, part of the agency's Space Technology Mission Directorate. The project is led by NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, in partnership with ULA and with contributions from NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. NASA’s Launch Services Program, based at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managed the launch service.

For more information about LOFTID, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/loftid