Author Topic: Pegasus-XL - ICON - Cape Canaveral - October 10/11, 2019 (Read 139832 times)

Zed_Noir · « **Reply #102 on:** 10/17/2018 02:41 am »

What is the significance of the name "Linda" on the Payload fairing shroud?

jacqmans · « **Reply #103 on:** 10/18/2018 05:57 am »

October 17, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-154

NASA to Host Briefings, Events for ICON Launch to Study Space Weather

NASA will host a series of media briefings leading up to the Friday, Oct. 26, launch of its Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) mission to study the dynamic zone high in the atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above.

The launch and briefings, which begin Wednesday, Oct. 24, will air on NASA Television and the agency’s website.

The spacecraft, which is undergoing final preparations, will launch aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The 90-minute launch window will open at 4 a.m. EDT. The deadline for media to apply for accreditation for this launch has passed.

Mission coverage is as follows:

Wednesday, Oct. 24

•1 p.m. – ICON Mission Briefing

Although the deadline has passed to attend the briefing, media can ask questions via phone. For the dial-in number and passcode, please contact Kennedy’s News Center at 321-867-2468.

Thursday, Oct. 25

•3 p.m. – NASA EDGE program

NASA EDGE will broadcast live from Cape Canaveral to discuss the ICON spacecraft operations, science, and engineering. In addition, NASA EDGE will highlight the launch processing of the L-1011 Stargazer with the Pegasus rocket.

Friday, Oct. 26

•3:45 a.m. – Launch coverage begins

ICON will study the ionosphere, where terrestrial and space weather meet. This dynamic zone, high in Earth’s atmosphere, can be a source of great beauty – such as the aurora – but also can be disruptive to radio communications, satellites and astronaut health. ICON will help determine the physical processes at play in this frontier of space, thus paving the way for mitigation of these disruptive effects.

More information on the ICON mission, prelaunch and launch events is available at:

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/icon-launch-briefings-and-events

Join the conversation on social media by following on Twitter and Facebook at:

https://twitter.com/NASASun

and

https://www.facebook.com/NASASunScience/

Jim · « **Reply #104 on:** 10/19/2018 01:41 pm »

Takeoff in 5 minutes

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/N140SC/history/20181019/1400Z/KVBG/KXMR

Kim Keller · « **Reply #105 on:** 10/19/2018 02:49 pm »

Quote from: Zed_Noir on 10/17/2018 02:41 am

What is the significance of the name "Linda" on the Payload fairing shroud?

The LSP Mission Manager is given the privilege of naming the rocket after someone. In the past, there have been wives' names, kids' names, friends' names, or - this case - the name of someone who contributed greatly to the success of the mission. In this case, that's one of our admins. She did tons of work organizing travel for the team, which was a real challenge for this mission.

catdlr · « **Reply #106 on:** 10/20/2018 01:23 am »

Unboxing a New NASA Spacecraft

NASA Goddard
Published on Oct 19, 2018

Go behind the scenes as we unbox NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, after its arrival at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Northrop Grumman engineer Steve Turek and NASA EDGE's Chris Giersch walk us through the whole process of unboxing a spacecraft - from the instrument that records every tiny bump on its journey to the special crane used to lift the spacecraft to its new home.

ICON launches on Oct. 26, 2018, from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to study Earth's interface to space. Read more about the ICON mission: nasa.gov/icon

Music credits: 'Yellow Flicker' by Andrew John Skeet [PRS], Andrew Michael Britton [PRS], David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS]; 'Passing Images' by Andrew Michael Britton [PRS], David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS]; 'Push Away' by Andrew Michael Britton [PRS], David Stephen Goldsmith [PRS], Mikey Rowe [PRS]

This video is public domain and along with other supporting visualizations can be downloaded from the Scientific Visualization Studio at: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12971

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/Joy Ng

Olaf · « **Reply #107 on:** 10/20/2018 04:21 pm »

https://twitter.com/northropgrumman/status/1053614672635707394

MacsAre1 · « **Reply #108 on:** 10/22/2018 01:57 pm »

I'm in Cocoa Beach this week, was hoping to see the launch. Since it's launching at night from the air off of Daytona Beach, will I be able to see anything from the beach in Cocoa Beach?

Rondaz · « **Reply #109 on:** 10/22/2018 06:57 pm »

Stargazer Aircraft Arrives with Pegasus XL, ICON Satellite

Bob Granath Posted on October 22, 2018

The Northrup Grumman L-1011 Stargazer aircraft arrived Oct. 19, 2018 at the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida following a cross-country trip from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Attached beneath the Stargazer is the company’s Pegasus XL rocket with NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, satellite on board.

ICON will study the ionosphere, where terrestrial weather meets space weather. This dynamic zone high in Earth’s atmosphere can be a source of great beauty such as the aurora, but can also be disruptive to radio communications and satellites and astronaut health. ICON will help determine the physical processes at play in this “frontier of space,” thus paving the way for mitigating their effects on our technology, communications systems and society.

ICON was processed and prepared for its mission at Vandenberg. The satellite is scheduled for its airborne launch aboard the Pegasus XL rocket after takeoff from the Skid Strip during a 90-minute launch window opening at 4:00 a.m. EDT on Oct. 26.

Kim Keller · « **Reply #110 on:** 10/22/2018 07:01 pm »

Quote from: MacsAre1 on 10/22/2018 01:57 pm

I'm in Cocoa Beach this week, was hoping to see the launch. Since it's launching at night from the air off of Daytona Beach, will I be able to see anything from the beach in Cocoa Beach?

Sorry, but no. The drop point is too far out.

jacqmans · « **Reply #111 on:** 10/23/2018 06:46 am »

The Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL vehicle is being prepared for its move from Building 1555 to the hot pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, on Oct. 14, 2018. NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) is secured inside the rocket's payload fairing. The Pegasus XL rocket will be attached beneath the company's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft, and travel to the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. ICON will launch aboard the Pegasus XL rocket on Oct. 26, 2018, from the Skid Strip at the Cape. ICON will study the frontier of space - the dynamic zone high in Earth's atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above. The explorer will help determine the physics of Earth's space environment and pave the way for mitigating its effects on our technology, communications systems and society.

Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin

dsmillman · « **Reply #112 on:** 10/23/2018 07:36 pm »

The ICON broadcasts have disappeared from the NASA TV schedule.
Does anyone know a new launch date?

Andy DC · « **Reply #113 on:** 10/23/2018 07:42 pm »

Slipped about a week. Was mentioned in L2 yesterday, but without a new date. Florida Today saying might not be before October 31.

Rondaz · « **Reply #114 on:** 10/23/2018 08:57 pm »

NASA’s ICON Launch Delayed; New Launch Date to Come

Bob Granath Posted on October 23, 2018

NASA and Northrop Grumman have delayed the launch of the agency’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, to conduct further pre-launch testing on the rocket. Upon completion of the testing, a new launch date will be established.

The spacecraft is launching aboard a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in Florida. The L-1011 Stargazer carrying the Pegasus rocket arrived at CCAFS last Friday and will remain in Florida to conduct the testing. The spacecraft remains in good health.

The pre-launch mission briefing originally scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 24, also has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date.

Olaf · « **Reply #115 on:** 10/26/2018 07:45 pm »

https://eu.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2018/10/26/pegasus-rocket-set-weekend-flight-test-before-icon-launch/1773341002/
Pegasus rocket set for weekend flight test before launch of NASA's ICON mission

Rondaz · « **Reply #116 on:** 10/27/2018 12:02 am »

ICON Prelaunch Flight Test Set for Oct. 27

Al Feinberg Posted on October 26, 2018

NASA and Northrop Grumman will be conducting a flight of the L-1011 carrying Pegasus on Saturday, Oct. 27 to perform further prelaunch testing. Once the flight is completed, the team will review the test data and ensure readiness to proceed with remaining preparations for launch. This includes working with the Eastern Range to determine the new launch date. Currently, there is Range availability from Oct. 31 through Nov. 8.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2018/10/26/icon-prelaunch-flight-test-set-for-oct-27/

ethan829 · « **Reply #117 on:** 10/29/2018 04:30 pm »

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/1056958820566683649

Rondaz · « **Reply #118 on:** 10/30/2018 05:49 pm »

NASA, Northrop Grumman Reviewing Flight Test Data

Bob Granath Posted on October 30, 2018

NASA and Northrop Grumman completed a test flight of the L-1011 Stargazer aircraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Sunday, Oct. 28. Carrying Pegasus XL and NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON), the 4-hour, 45-minute flight tested the aircraft’s systems prior to launch.

A new launch date for the ICON mission will be determined after the team finishes processing and reviewing the data.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2018/10/30/nasa-northrop-grumman-reviewing-flight-test-data/

Rondaz · « **Reply #119 on:** 11/03/2018 02:41 am »

NASA to Hold Launch Readiness Review for ICON

Anna Heiney Posted on November 1, 2018

NASA and Northrop Grumman will hold a Launch Readiness Review early next week at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to ensure preparations are continuing on track for the launch of the agency’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer, or ICON, satellite.

ICON will be launched by Northrop Grumman’s Pegasus XL rocket which will be carried aloft by the L-1011 Stargazer aircraft taking off from the Skid Strip at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.

The ICON satellite mission is expected to launch no earlier than Wednesday, Nov. 7 with a 90-minute launch window opening at 3 a.m. EST. Release from the Stargazer is anticipated for 3:05 a.m. ICON is designed to study the dynamic zone high in the atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather from above.

Follow the prelaunch coverage and the launch on NASA Television at:
https://www.nasa.gov/live

Tuesday, Nov. 6
3 p.m. – NASA EDGE webcast from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station will discuss ICON spacecraft operations, science and engineering, as well as launch processing of the Northrop Grumman L-1011 Stargazer with the Pegasus rocket.

Wednesday, Nov. 7
2:45 a.m. – Launch coverage begins at 2:45 a.m.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/kennedy/2018/11/01/nasa-to-hold-launch-readiness-review-for-icon/