NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => ULA - Delta, Atlas, Vulcan => Topic started by: Galactic Penguin SST on 10/15/2012 07:45 pm
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I was looking around the net when I looked at the ULA website, and saw that the launch date has slipped to October 30 (presumbly because of the RL-10 issues). ::)
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/ (http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/)
BTW I was suprised that no one has made a thread about this launch yet....
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Ha - the web page is an image, no copyable text. So, there may be transcription errors:
Atlas V to Launch Third Orbital Test Vehicle Flight
Rocket/Payload: An Atlas V 501 configuration will launch the Air Force's Third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) mission. ULA is providing the launch service on behalf of the Air Force's Rapid Capabilities Office.
Date/Site/Launch Time: Tuesday, Oct. 30, from Space Launch Complex-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Notes: The OTV-3 mission marks the 34th Atlas V launch since its inaugural launch in 2002. Atlas V vehicles also launched the OTV-1 and OTV-2 missions.
Mission Description: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket will launch the U.S. military's Third Orbital Test Vehicle, a prototype space plane. The OTV, also known as the X-37B, supports space experimentation, risk reduction and concept of operations (CONOPS) development for long duration and reusable space vehicle technologies.
Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go OTV-3!
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I was looking around the net when I looked at the ULA website, and saw that the launch date has slipped to October 30 (presumbly because of the RL-10 issues). ::)
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/ (http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/)
BTW I was suprised that no one has made a thread about this launch yet....
According to another NSF member, the delay is related to weather and range constraints, not RL-10 related.
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According to this article the launch is on hold pending results of the investigation.
http://www.spacenews.com/launch/121012-shelton-investigation-delta-anomaly.html
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small but available.
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I'm genuinely surprised to hear of a possible Atlas-V stand-down. Is this just precautionary until they clear common RL-10 components between the A-4 and B-2 versions or do they have genuine reason to believe the fault might affect the Centaur too?
Worst case scenario: with the possibility of a Falcon-9 stand-down due to the Merlin-1C malfunction on SpX-1, the US might be left without a medium launcher for an unspecified period of time.
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Last time there was an RL-10 issue both EELV's were down until it was resolved, at least to a point. I wouldn't be surprised if the same situation exists here.
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Last time there was an RL-10 issue both EELV's were down until it was resolved, at least to a point. I wouldn't be surprised if the same situation exists here.
Was thinking the X-37B might be "launchable" even with issues regarding the RL-10.
Since the X-37B can raise orbits and return for another mission the only loss might be loss of time in orbit/Mission duration.
Would the RL-10 issue be such a concern to ground even with my thinking above. Is the concern a possible LOM or more procedural ?
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All depends on the performance margin. If it is zero with non degraded engine, then LOM is most likely. Also, X-37 is not unique in the ability to change orbit.
And, no it would not be "launchable", they aren't going to take the risk
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2 questions:
* When did OTV-3 arrive in Florida (astrotech ) ?
* When will OTV-3 be transported to the launch pad ?
Thanks
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Do we know if this is a new X-37B, or a reflight of one of the first two?
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It has been stated as reflight
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Do we know if this is a new X-37B, or a reflight of one of the first two?
an article on another site said its a reflight to confirm Jim, but it does have some mods. Expected as its still a test model.
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It has been stated as reflight
specifically, I think they've said it's a reflight of the first flight vehicle
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This flight MIGHT land at KSC:
The military’s mysterious mini-shuttle operations might be consolidated on Florida’s Space Coast, and the upcoming third flight of the Air Force vehicle might land at Kennedy Space Center’s three-mile shuttle runway.
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120928/SPACE/309280017/Mini-shuttle-X-37B-talk-stirs-optimism-Space-Coast
Should at least save time/money/infrastructure transporting back from the West Coast. Would think that the USAF would push for the skip strip on CCAFS, but guess it is too short.
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Should at least save time/money/infrastructure transporting back from the West Coast. Would think that the USAF would push for the skid strip on CCAFS, but guess it is too short.
Why wouldn't they use the Shuttle runway?
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Purely FWIW, I wonder if this is going to be a 'display and show off' mission that will be more 'public' than the other two. After all, there really can't be much to test except reuse on this flight. Maybe they want a day landing at CCAFS as a crowd pleaser.
(Silently wishes for rocket-cams on this launch)
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Purely FWIW, I wonder if this is going to be a 'display and show off' mission that will be more 'public' than the other two. After all, there really can't be much to test except reuse on this flight. Maybe they want a day landing at CCAFS as a crowd pleaser.
Could be an entirely new suite of sensors.
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New update from ULA's Facebook account:
The launch of an Atlas V carrying the OTV-3 payload for the U.S. Air Force is rescheduled for Nov. 13. United Launch Alliance continues to collect and analyze data observed during the recent Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) IIF-3 launch. While the mission successfully placed the GPS satellite in a precise orbit, a lower than normal chamber pressure was observed on the Delta IV RL10 upper stage engine. Although the Atlas V that will launch OTV-3 utilizes a different model of the RL10 engine, ULA leadership and the Air Force have decided to postpone the currently scheduled launch to allow an additional two weeks for the flight data anomaly investigation to progress to a point that will enable a thorough crossover assessment for the OTV launch to be completed. ULA is in close communication with the Air Force regarding the flight data anomaly investigation and will continue to ensure that a complete review is completed to reliably launch our customer's mission.
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ULA Statement
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2012) -- The launch of an Atlas V carrying the OTV-3 payload for the U.S. Air Force is rescheduled for Nov. 13. United Launch Alliance continues to collect and analyze data observed during the recent Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) IIF-3 launch. While the mission successfully placed the GPS satellite in a precise orbit, a lower than normal chamber pressure was observed on the Delta IV RL10 upper stage engine. Although the Atlas V that will launch OTV-3 utilizes a different model of the RL10 engine, ULA leadership and the Air Force have decided to postpone the currently scheduled launch to allow an additional two weeks for the flight data anomaly investigation to progress to a point that will enable a thorough crossover assessment for the OTV launch to be completed. ULA is in close communication with the Air Force regarding the flight data anomaly investigation and will continue to ensure that a complete review is completed to reliably launch our customer's mission.
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So does that clear the deploy-able nozzle that is only used on the Delta IV?
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Purely FWIW, I wonder if this is going to be a 'display and show off' mission that will be more 'public' than the other two. After all, there really can't be much to test except reuse on this flight. Maybe they want a day landing at CCAFS as a crowd pleaser.
(Silently wishes for rocket-cams on this launch)
I wonder if we will get any kind of coverage after faring separation this time, after all it's not like we don't know what the X-37B looks like and surely the classified element is the payload in its bay not the rest of it which would still covered up from prying eyes at this stage in the flight?
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So does that clear the deploy-able nozzle that is only used on the Delta IV?
No one wishes to talk about that.
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Looks like this will be an afternoon launch. Current public launch window for Nov 13 showing as 1645-2045Z (11:45am - 3:45pm EST).
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Nice of them to think about my birthday! ;D
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Nov. 2, 2012) -- The launch of an Atlas V carrying the third X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) payload for the U.S. Air Force is rescheduled for Nov. 27, pending confirmation from the 45th Space Wing regarding the revised range reservation. Although the team investigating the lower than normal upper-stage engine chamber pressure from the recent Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 launch has been making good progress reviewing and analyzing the data, ULA leadership and the Air Force have decided to postpone the launch two weeks to allow for additional flight data anomaly investigation activities and a thorough crossover assessment for the X-37B OTV launch vehicle to be completed. This flight data anomaly investigation is being conducted with investigative processes that have been refined over decades of launch experience and include extensive reconstruction of the flight data with analytical models, as well as detailed inspections of several engines. The OTV-3 launch will be the third launch of the Air Force's test vehicle.
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Is that now likely to be remain where it is launch date wise, or is there the strong possibility of it slipping again?
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Nice of them to think about my birthday! ;D
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Nov. 2, 2012) -- The launch of an Atlas V carrying the third X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) payload for the U.S. Air Force is rescheduled for Nov. 27, pending confirmation from the 45th Space Wing regarding the revised range reservation. Although the team investigating the lower than normal upper-stage engine chamber pressure from the recent Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 launch has been making good progress reviewing and analyzing the data, ULA leadership and the Air Force have decided to postpone the launch two weeks to allow for additional flight data anomaly investigation activities and a thorough crossover assessment for the X-37B OTV launch vehicle to be completed. This flight data anomaly investigation is being conducted with investigative processes that have been refined over decades of launch experience and include extensive reconstruction of the flight data with analytical models, as well as detailed inspections of several engines. The OTV-3 launch will be the third launch of the Air Force's test vehicle.
what a perfect gift
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Nice of them to think about my birthday! ;D
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Nov. 2, 2012) -- The launch of an Atlas V carrying the third X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) payload for the U.S. Air Force is rescheduled for Nov. 27, pending confirmation from the 45th Space Wing regarding the revised range reservation. Although the team investigating the lower than normal upper-stage engine chamber pressure from the recent Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 launch has been making good progress reviewing and analyzing the data, ULA leadership and the Air Force have decided to postpone the launch two weeks to allow for additional flight data anomaly investigation activities and a thorough crossover assessment for the X-37B OTV launch vehicle to be completed. This flight data anomaly investigation is being conducted with investigative processes that have been refined over decades of launch experience and include extensive reconstruction of the flight data with analytical models, as well as detailed inspections of several engines. The OTV-3 launch will be the third launch of the Air Force's test vehicle.
Only a day after mine, so I'll get a belated...lol
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Is that now likely to be remain where it is launch date wise, or is there the strong possibility of it slipping again?
Yes.
Depends on the investigation.
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Is that now likely to be remain where it is launch date wise, or is there the strong possibility of it slipping again?
Yes.
Depends on the investigation.
I can see this moving back into 2013.
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Based on what?
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Based on what?
That it wouldn't surprise me if this inquiry takes longer than expected.
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Thanks for clarifying, I thought you had some actual insight.
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New Av. Week article that provides a little more insight. Basically, it sounds like they are still looking for the root cause.
http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_11_08_2012_p03-02-514469.xml
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Thanks for clarifying, I thought you had some actual insight.
Well let us hear your view on this then?
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal-to-noise_ratio ;)
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Thanks for clarifying, I thought you had some actual insight.
Well let us hear your view on this then?
I have no insight at all into the progress of the troubleshooting, so my guess would be less than worthless...
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Thanks for clarifying, I thought you had some actual insight.
Well let us hear your view on this then?
I have no insight at all into the progress of the troubleshooting, so my guess would be less than worthless...
This article seems to indicate there could be a further delay, depending on how you read it.
The U.S. Air Force was fortunate not to lose a navigation satellite after the rocket on which it was launched Oct. 4 experienced engine trouble, a senior service official said.
http://www.spacenews.com/article/usaf-survived-close-call-on-gps-launch
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Not to sound Snarky, but the X-37 at one point was baselined to fly on the Delta II, so I wonder if flying on a larger Atlas-401 provides it with enough margin to overcome a similar issue.
Fingers crossed they find a root cause, and resume operations soon.
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Not to sound Snarky, but the X-37 at one point was baselined to fly on the Delta II, so I wonder if flying on a larger Atlas-401 provides it with enough margin to overcome a similar issue.
Fingers crossed they find a root cause, and resume operations soon.
I presume you mean the 501 & yes in light of that information it must give them a considerable performance margin. A policy that as we saw with the recent GPS launch seems to be highly sensible. It must be the case that all such launches have similar performance margins?
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A policy that as we saw with the recent GPS launch seems to be highly sensible. It must be the case that all such launches have similar performance margins?
It is not a policy but just a happenstance. X-37 can't fly on any other vehicle. Read the GPS thread. GPS can't fly on a plain Medium DIV and when it flies on M+ (4,2)
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A policy that as we saw with the recent GPS launch seems to be highly sensible. It must be the case that all such launches have similar performance margins?
It is not a policy but just a happenstance.
So a performance margin isn't a factor here then when it comes to picking a launcher for a particular military payload?
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Not to sound Snarky, but the X-37 at one point was baselined to fly on the Delta II, so I wonder if flying on a larger Atlas-401 provides it with enough margin to overcome a similar issue.
Fingers crossed they find a root cause, and resume operations soon.
I seem to remember that X-37B should have launched on the Delta II w/o a protective shroud, but cross-wind analysis deduced a too high risk during launch for this configuration. This at least seems to be the official narrative providing a plausible explanation for moving X-37B from Delta II to Atlas V.
The fact that the Air Force had contracted a certain number of Atlas V launch vehicles, and thus had to put them to use might also have contributed to this decision. Launching the X-37B definitely ain't "cheap" (unless someone else has already paid for your launch vehicle).
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A policy that as we saw with the recent GPS launch seems to be highly sensible. It must be the case that all such launches have similar performance margins?
It is not a policy but just a happenstance.
So a performance margin isn't a factor here then when it comes to picking a launcher for a particular military payload?
Not an excessive one like GPS had. All that is required is a positive margin
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A policy that as we saw with the recent GPS launch seems to be highly sensible. It must be the case that all such launches have similar performance margins?
It is not a policy but just a happenstance.
So a performance margin isn't a factor here then when it comes to picking a launcher for a particular military payload?
Not an excessive one like GPS had. All that is required is a positive margin
Thanks for that insight. Why did the GPS end up on the Delta if there is no need for such an excess in performance as I would have thought the Delta would have been the more expensive option to launch it on?
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any updates on the schedule?
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any updates on the schedule?
It was actually known on L2 about 10 days ago that a new launch date in early December was set, but it seems this was dropped too, as ULA's site was finally updated today with a launch date of NET December 11: http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/ (http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/)
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Latest news is (from L2) that there is no launch date anymore.......
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Latest news is (from L2) that there is no launch date anymore.......
Is this due to problems with schedule conflicts, the launch vehicle or payload?
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Latest news is (from L2) that there is no launch date anymore.......
Is this due to problems with schedule conflicts, the launch vehicle or payload?
I believe that it is due to the RL10 failure investigation.
- Ed Kyle
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ULA:
The new OTV-3 planning date for launch is Dec. 11 pending approval from the range.
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I believe that it is due to the RL10 failure investigation.
Your definitions of failure are getting more and more interesting, Ed.
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Lengthy article on Space.com about the delay, also including details of a statement from the Union of Concerned Scientists about the whole X-37B concept.
http://www.space.com/18592-secretive-x37b-space-plane-delay.html
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I believe that it is due to the RL10 failure investigation.
Your definitions of failure are getting more and more interesting, Ed.
RL10B-2 suffered some type of failure during the GPS 2F-3 mission that resulted in low thrust and extended burn times. A propellant leak is one possible explanation, among others. The Delta IV managed to score a success only due to substantial margin on the mission, but the engine or some part of the propulsion system failed to do its job as designed. That's why ULA, NASA, the Air Force, etc., are performing an investigation right now, why ULA is grounded right now, etc..
- Ed Kyle
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Hi,
Is there any update on this launch date? Travelling to Florida next week so wondering if I can watch it...
Steve
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Hi,
Is there any update on this launch date? Travelling to Florida next week so wondering if I can watch it...
Steve
Looks like no range approval as yet...
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Hi,
Is there any update on this launch date? Travelling to Florida next week so wondering if I can watch it...
Steve
Don't give up just yet...
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
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Range Approval for date 11 December 2012 appears to have gone through as Launch is no longer listed as pending approval on ULA website.
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Range Approval for date 11 December 2012 appears to have gone through as Launch is no longer listed as pending approval on ULA website.
I hope to see better confirmation thurs.
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.
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Range Approval for date 11 December 2012 appears to have gone through as Launch is no longer listed as pending approval on ULA website.
This is the date Spaceflight Now are now reporting as well.
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av034/status.html
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Time to remove the "NET" from the thread title! On ULA's launch page (http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/ (http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/)) they have reported that the Launch Readiness Review has been completed, clearing the way for launch on December 11 at 1:03 pm EST (18:03 UTC)!
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United Launch Alliance Clears X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for
Dec. 11 Launch
Centennial, Colo., (Dec. 7, 2012) – Today, United Launch Alliance (ULA) cleared the next launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) for Dec. 11, after a thorough flight clearance process was executed following a flight data anomaly that occurred on the Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 launch on Oct. 4.
"Although the GPS mission was successful and the satellite was delivered to a precise orbit, ULA and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) are executing an extremely robust investigation into the cause of the reduced engine performance on the recent Delta IV mission,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. “Our 50-year heritage of launch experience and decades of launch data have enabled the robust investigation processes we perform for any flight conditions that differ from our nominal predictions, in order to continue the critical focus on mission success that our customers demand.”
The ULA investigation has concluded that a fuel leak occurred in a specific area of the interior of the thrust chamber, and that this leak started during the first engine start sequence. Although the investigation into the flight data anomaly continues, all credible crossover implications from the Delta anomaly for the OTV-3 Atlas vehicle and engine system have been thoroughly addressed and mitigated, culminating in the flight clearance decision for the OTV-3 launch.
“Our flight data anomaly investigation includes substantial involvement and oversight from senior industry technical advisors, as well as our Air Force OTV customer, Air Force EELV customer, and NASA customers,” said Sponnick. “We thank the OTV customer for their patience and participation throughout the flight clearance process for this important mission.”
Following the OTV-3 launch, ULA’s next launch is the TDRS-K mission for NASA, which is planned for Jan. 29, 2013.
ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
For more information on ULA, visit the ULA Web site at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch and twitter.com/ulalaunch.
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.
An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945
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Good linkage! I think I'll write something up :)
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.
An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945
I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.
An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945
I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.
You might be surprised. For those who have not seen one, I suggest the 28 Mar 12 F-15E report available here to see how detailed they can--and are required to be--by AF instructions.
http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY12.html
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Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic ;))
But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/
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Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic ;) )
But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/ (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/)
Great article. I am left with a question.
Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions? The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.
An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945
I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.
You might be surprised. For those who have not seen one, I suggest the 28 Mar 12 F-15E report available here to see how detailed they can--and are required to be--by AF instructions.
http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY12.html
There are ITAR and propriety implications that will limit the detail in the public report
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Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic ;) )
But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/ (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/)
Great article. I am left with a question.
Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions? The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.
Different
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Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic ;) )
But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/ (http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/)
Great article. I am left with a question.
Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions? The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.
Atlas-V/Centaur currently uses: RL10A-4-2
Atlas-V/Centaur is planned to switch to: RL10C which is a derivative of RL10B-2
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Delta-IV currently uses: RL10B-2
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Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions? The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.
Thrust, mixture ratio, chamber pressure, and specific impulse differ between the two models. RL10B-2 has a big extendible nozzle that RL10A-4-2 does not have. Here's how the manufacturer describes its products.
http://www.pw.utc.com/Content/RL10_Engine/pdf/B-4-4-4_pwr_rl10b-2.pdf
http://www.pratt-whitney.com/Content/RL10_Engine/pdf/B-4-4-4_pwr_rl10a-4.pdf
- Ed Kyle
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Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined? Have the details been released? Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.
An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.
An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945
I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.
You might be surprised. For those who have not seen one, I suggest the 28 Mar 12 F-15E report available here to see how detailed they can--and are required to be--by AF instructions.
http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY12.html
There are ITAR and propriety implications that will limit the detail in the public report
Thanks for the clarification. I think it can be safe to say the report will say (much) more than just "a fuel leak occurred in a specific area of the interior of the thrust chamber"
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Am I the only one who have noticed these photos for the launch at the ULA site?
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when did those go up? I would have posted those.
Thx for finding them & hope more come out.
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If I'm reading the mission booklet correctly, roll to the pad is scheduled for T-32 hours. For a launch at 13:03 EST Tuesday that would be 05:03 EST Monday. EST is UTC - 5 hours. So roll should be at 10:03 UTC, or 5 hours and 15 minutes from now.
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If I'm reading the mission booklet correctly, roll to the pad is scheduled for T-32 hours. For a launch at 13:03 EST Tuesday that would be 05:03 EST Monday. EST is UTC - 5 hours. So roll should be at 10:03 UTC, or 5 hours and 15 minutes from now.
I spy something that looks like Atlas V tail AV-034 at SLC-41..... ::)
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Weather forecast doesn't seem all that good for either Tuesday or Wednesday sitting at 30% probability of launch for either day.
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ULA:
L-0: Tuesday, Dec. 11
- 11 a.m.: 45th SW/PA and ULA Communications meet media in the Space Florida parking lot for escort to media launch viewing site
- The OTV-3 launch will be carried live beginning 20 minutes prior to launch and will conclude approximately 20 minutes after launch. A simulcast of the broadcast can be viewed here: http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml.
Weather Forecast
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 70%;
Primary concern(s): Lightning, Cumulus Cloud, Disturbed Weather, Thick
Cloud
Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 hour delay:
70%;
Primary concern(s): Lightning, Cumulus Cloud, Disturbed Weather, Thick
Cloud
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ULA: Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2012) - The United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with the Air Force’s third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) stands ready for launch from its Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. Tomorrow’s launch window opens at 1:03 p.m. EST. The OTV, also known as the X-37B, supports space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept of operations development for long duration and reusable space vehicle technologies. Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance.
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Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 70%;
I'd say that at least a 24-hour hold is indicated here. Unless the forecast clears up fairly quickly, 70/30 is very steep odds.
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Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 70%;
I'd say that at least a 24-hour hold is indicated here. Unless the forecast clears up fairly quickly, 70/30 is very steep odds.
Predicting weather accurately at the Cape has been historically difficult. Numerous Shuttle launch attempts show that so holding beforehand is probably unwarranted until you get closer to launch time.
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Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 70%;
I'd say that at least a 24-hour hold is indicated here. Unless the forecast clears up fairly quickly, 70/30 is very steep odds.
Predicting weather accurately at the Cape has been historically difficult. Numerous Shuttle launch attempts show that so holding beforehand is probably unwarranted until you get closer to launch time.
If weather ends up being an issue Tuesday and Wednesday, do you know if they would make a third attempt on Thursday? Or would they stand down and make the next attempt on Friday? Thanks!
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something interesting in this from the ULA site
note the colors in the exhaust trail, the colors are upside down. A hidden meaning?
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something interesting in this from the ULA site
note the colors in the exhaust trail, the colors are upside down. A hidden meaning?
Selling out to the French perhaps? LOL (j/k)
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Hyperspectral?
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Probably a stupid question--but why does OTV need a shroud?
It obviously has the structural and thermal protection capability to survive re-entry just like the space shuttle.
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Probably a stupid question--but why does OTV need a shroud?
It obviously has the structural and thermal protection capability to survive re-entry just like the space shuttle.
Aerodynamic loads on the OTV at launch and max-q. IIRC, back in the NASA-managed days it was once planned to launch without the should on a Delta II.
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ASSET (small / Thor boosted) flew without a shroud but PRIME (Atlas boosted) used a shroud. Not sure of the reasons.
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I think it can be safe to say the report will say (much) more than just "a fuel leak occurred in a specific area of the interior of the thrust chamber"
Why do you think that's "safe to say"?
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Most likely the fairing is not protecting the payload in this case. It's protecting the rocket from the payload. Cheaper to launch an outer mold line that's already been analyzed.
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I think it can be safe to say the report will say (much) more than just "a fuel leak occurred in a specific area of the interior of the thrust chamber"
Why do you think that's "safe to say"?
A hope and a guess, but maybe something as to the root cause, and why there is confidence that it won't occur again? Or are we asking for too much?
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ASSET (small / Thor boosted) flew without a shroud but PRIME (Atlas boosted) used a shroud. Not sure of the reasons.
I would say that using a shroud simplifies the equation for the guidance system on the Altas. Less eye candy for us though... ;D
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Moved for live coverage.
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Good picture from the video feed with 39A in the background.
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An Atlas V launch?
I remember these ;D
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Weather currently green, but no change in 70% POV for the early part of the window. Gets worse as front moves north and showers and clouds move closer. Similar conditions expected tomorrow.
Disabled sailboat being towed in by USCG, no issue for the window.
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Wonder how long this one will stay up considering that last was 1 year 4 months :o
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Doesn't look like this is going to happen today.
Don't see any signs of any fueling going on.
Anyone in the know on this?
Looks like its getting darker clouds now....
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Go to proceed with countdown...
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Go for cryo.
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ULA: Everything is proceeding toward an on time launch of the OTV-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force today. Vehicle fueling operations are underway. The weather remains at a 30 percent chance of favorable weather conditions.
The launch team is not currently working any technical issues.
The launch period begins at 1:03 p.m. EST. The ULA broadcast begins 20 minutes prior at www.ulalaunch.com.
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nice pic with a small ray of sunshine passing
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Just wanted to say congratz on another successful launch (yes i know they didnt launche yet but I am sure how it will end up :p)
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A thick cloud deck has passed over the launch complex, under two hours from launch. Trying to remain cautiously optimistic, Florida is infamously known for its dynamic and constantly changing weather, so whether or not it holds at T-0 is unclear.
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HA! I caught a ULA site slipup...
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Fully loaded. Watching anvil and cumulus from the SW.
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Probably a stupid question--but why does OTV need a shroud?
It obviously has the structural and thermal protection capability to survive re-entry just like the space shuttle.
Aerodynamic loads on the OTV at launch and max-q. IIRC, back in the NASA-managed days it was once planned to launch without the should on a Delta II.
Here is an illustration of an unshrouded X-37 on a Delta II
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William Graham's article - apologies for its lateness:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/ula-atlas-v-launch-x-37b-otv-3-mission/
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apologies for its lateness:
To stress, that is entirely my fault.
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ok guys we have bars...
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ok guys we have bars...
And drinks? ;D
Seriously, what is the big issue with the weather? I've seen Protons and Deltas fired into solid cloud cover just a hundred feet or so above the top of the tower. Is it high-altitude winds or the possibility of lightning strikes?
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Keep the chatter down, there's a launch coming up.
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Weather expected green for the first 10 minutes of the window.
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ULA:
We have entered our 20 minute hold and all is progressing well towards our 1:03 p.m. launch period. Weather looks favorable for the first half of the window.
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Coming to the final polling, to come out of the hold.
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Polling is go!
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T-4 mins and counting.
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T-4 minutes and counting.
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Vehicle internal power.
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Launch enable.
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T-60 seconds.
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T-1 minute.
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GO Atlas GO Centaur.
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Launch!
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MaxQ.
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Mach 1, passing max Q
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Nice..
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Fairing Sep.
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Fairing jettison.
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Staging.
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Centaur firing.
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Is it me or is the X-37B video giving more info than previously?
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Is it me or is the X-37B video giving more info than previously?
Yep!
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=21122.msg581151#msg581151
Also in that video I think we saw the first live video of a fairing separation on an X-37B mission.
It feels to me that the vehicle itself has become more declassified, if you see what I mean. It's more its payload that is still hush hush.
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Awesome to imagine what this would look like from a sat or something.
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I wish they would launch it without the fairing.
More info in that live simulation video it seems?
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MECO
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MECO 1
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16,000 mph, almost in orbit
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Coverage ending. Nice tie:
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Well that's that no more info for us!!! ;D
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Great Mission, and ULA, AF, Boeing great video production
Also this was the perfect mission to retest the Centaur.
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chalk another successful launch for Atlas V - congrats to ULA
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Great work ULA! Love watching X-37B launches. There's still one more little space plane I'd like to see ride atop Atlas V though. ;)
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Congratulations ULA, USAF & Boeing on a successful launch.
Does the X-37B use a special fairing as it looks huge, or is it just a size of fairing rarely used?
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Congrats to ULA, Boeing and USAF thus far on the mission. Nice to see the RL-10 perform as expected (again, thus far).
Need to get that wasp nest away from the camera (assume on the support gantry).
Concur on the tie--nothing like a human-rated Atlas (a-hem).
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Way to go ULA!
Is it me, or in the animation does everyone secretly wish they would replace the X-37 mockup with Santa's sleigh?
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Way to go ULA!
Is it me, or in the animation does everyone secretly wish they would replace the X-37 mockup with Santa's sleigh?
How do you know that wasn't in the payload bay?
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Congrats and well done to all the teams! Chris there was that belated birthday candle as promised... ;D
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Congrats to all involved, great teamwork producing great results.
So, how long until we start seeing articles from Iran/Russia/China/Syria/the Republican Party that the X-37 is stealing their mojo?
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Well done Atlas & Centaur. It was labeled MECO 1 so at least one more burn (circularization probably) to go, but a beautiful launch, especially the slow slow slow clearing of the tower at just barely over 1:1 thrust-to-weight.
I heard two altitude callouts, 265 miles was the first one and I missed the second. He also said the dogleg maneuver had been successfully completed. Don't suppose anyone got the second altitude number or timestamps for either one? Would help for guessing at the final orbit.
Also if someone recorded it a screenshot of that 1/2 second during the promo video where they showed a CAD model of the X-37B with something visible in the payload bay would be cool.
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Does the X-37B use a special fairing as it looks huge, or is it just a size of fairing rarely used?
Nope, it's the 5 meter fairing, short version that got used on 9 previous flights like Juno, New Horizons and Curiosity.
Need to get that wasp nest away from the camera (assume on the support gantry).
Concur on the tie--nothing like a human-rated Atlas (a-hem).
Are you sure that's a wasp? I remember very clearly of the very same type of bug attacking a camera at SLC-40 right at liftoff of the 1st F9 2.5 years ago! :P
Way to go ULA!
Is it me, or in the animation does everyone secretly wish they would replace the X-37 mockup with Santa's sleigh?
How do you know that wasn't in the payload bay?
;D
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Well done Atlas & Centaur. It was labeled MECO 1 so at least one more burn (circularization probably) to go, but a beautiful launch, especially the slow slow slow clearing of the tower at just barely over 1:1 thrust-to-weight.
I heard two altitude callouts, 265 miles was the first one and I missed the second. He also said the dogleg maneuver had been successfully completed. Don't suppose anyone got the second altitude number or timestamps for either one? Would help for guessing at the final orbit.
Also if someone recorded it a screenshot of that 1/2 second during the promo video where they showed a CAD model of the X-37B with something visible in the payload bay would be cool.
It wasn't just me that thought it was a slow launch, it almost seemed to saunter off the launch pad.
@Galactic Penguin SST thanks for the info on the fairing.
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Well done Atlas & Centaur. It was labeled MECO 1 so at least one more burn (circularization probably) to go, but a beautiful launch, especially the slow slow slow clearing of the tower at just barely over 1:1 thrust-to-weight.
I believe the launch phase only needs a single burn to reach the planned orbit. The second burn is used to de-orbit the Centaur (see here for details: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0079.html (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0079.html)).
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Way to go ULA!
Is it me, or in the animation does everyone secretly wish they would replace the X-37 mockup with Santa's sleigh?
How do you know that wasn't in the payload bay?
Because, to leave a present for 7 billion girls and boys you need at least a 5m fairing!
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Well done Atlas & Centaur. It was labeled MECO 1 so at least one more burn (circularization probably) to go, but a beautiful launch, especially the slow slow slow clearing of the tower at just barely over 1:1 thrust-to-weight.
I believe the launch phase only needs a single burn to reach the planned orbit. The second burn is used to de-orbit the Centaur (see here for details: http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0079.html (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0079.html)).
Good link some interesting info on there.
@kevin-rf they have been miniaturized, clever fellow that Santa.
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Bob Christy and Ted Molczan are theorizing that the weird launch windows might be related to photographing opportunities by in-orbit spy satellites (KH-11) of the X-37: http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/US/OTVwindows.php (http://www.zarya.info/Diaries/US/OTVwindows.php)
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I believe the launch phase only needs a single burn to reach the planned orbit. The second burn is used to de-orbit the Centaur...
Makes sense. Am following the SeeSat-L discussion; thought some trajectory info could be gleaned from the launch broadcast.
Regarding my payload image request above, nevermind, the same generic image is in Boeing's public materials.
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United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Third X-37B
Orbital Test Vehicle for the Air Force
First Spacecraft to Launch on an Atlas, Return to Earth and Launch Again
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (Dec. 11, 2012) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket successfully launched the third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3) for the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO) at 1:03 p.m. EST today from Space Launch Complex-41. The OTV, also known as the X-37B, supports space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept of operations development for long duration and reusable space vehicle technologies. The first two OTV missions also were successfully launched by ULA respectively on April 22, 2010 and March 5, 2011.
"The ULA team is proud to have played a critical role in successfully launching these three important Orbital Test Vehicle missions for the Air Force RCO,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. “This is a unique spacecraft since it is the first to launch on an Atlas V, return to Earth landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and then fly again on this mission.”
This launch completes the most aggressive campaign in the history of the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program with 10 missions launched during 2012, including eight launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and two from Vandenberg Air Force Station in California.
This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V EELV 501 configuration vehicle, which includes a 5-meter diameter payload fairing. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine and the Centaur upper stage was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) RL10A-4 engine.
“I sincerely congratulate our OTV customer on today’s successful launch as well as our integrated team of mission partners that successfully accomplished ten critical one-at-a-time launches in 2012,” said Sponnick.
The EELV program was established by the United States Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV Program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the heritage launch systems.
ULA's next launch is the Atlas V TDRS-K mission for NASA scheduled Jan. 29, 2013 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
For more information on ULA, visit the ULA Web site at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch and twitter.com/ulalaunch.
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Contact:
Chris Chavez, (303) 269-5550 (office), (303) 332-6416 (cell), [email protected]
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Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Dec. 11, 2012) – A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket blasts off from Space Launch Complex-41 at 1:03 p.m. EST with the U.S. Air Force’s
third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV-3). This launch marks the 10th and last ULA launch this year, the 55th Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) mission, and the 66th launch since ULA was formed nearly six years ago. The OTV, also known as the X-37B, supports space experimentation, risk reduction, and concept of operations development for long duration and reusable space vehicle technologies. Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance.
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Would help for guessing at the final orbit.
The X-37B has no "final orbit" it can be changed at any time. That's why Red China will be up late nites from now on.
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Would help for guessing at the final orbit.
The X-37B has no "final orbit" it can be changed at any time. That's why Red China will be up late nites from now on.
On the contrary, the orbit change capability of the X-37B is moderately limited. It's demonstrated minor changes in the past, but will remain in the same general altitude and inclination regime throughout its mission.
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News Release Issued: December 11, 2012 2:43 PM EST
ATK Technologies Support ULA's Atlas V Launch of OTV-3
ATK Composite and Space Structures Support Launch Vehicle
ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ATK (NYSE: ATK) composite technology supported the successful December 11 launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The ULA Atlas V rocket launched the U. S. Military's third Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), a prototype space plane. The OTV, also known as the X-37B, supports space experimentation, risk reduction and concept of operations (CONOPS) development for a long duration and reusable space vehicle technologies. The rocket flew in the 501 vehicle configuration with a 5.4 meter fairing and a single-engine Centaur upper stage, with no solid rocket boosters.
Using advanced fiber placement manufacturing techniques, ATK produced the 10-foot diameter composite heat shield that provides essential protection for the first stage of the launch vehicle, the 10-foot diameter Centaur Interstage Adapter (CISA) and the 18-foot diameter boat tail that connects the CISA to the payload fairing. The parts were fabricated by ATK at its Iuka, Miss., and Clearfield, Utah, facilities.
The Reaction Control System (RCS) propellant tank for the Atlas V rocket was manufactured at ATK's Commerce, Calif. facility. This is the 34th Atlas V launch using ATK-built composite structures.
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I slept through it, bad time for me but I'm glad it didn't scrub.
Good to see the US fleet is no longer grounded 8)
Go Atlas, Go Centaur.
Jury is still out of X-37B for me. 3rd launch vehicle for this program and I'm still not sure what it actually does.
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Boeing's Reusable, Unmanned X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Begins 2nd Flight
Affordable, responsive vehicle delivers unprecedented capability to US Air Force
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Dec. 11, 2012 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today successfully returned an unmanned U.S. Air Force X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle to orbit, continuing to demonstrate how the system provides responsive, reusable access to space.
An Atlas V rocket launched OTV-1, the first of two vehicles in the program, into a low Earth orbit at 1:03 p.m. Eastern time from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 41.
The X-37B, which combines the best of aircraft and spacecraft design in an unmanned test platform, is testing reusable vehicle technologies dealing with space experimentation, risk reduction and concept-of-operations development.
"The second mission for OTV-1 demonstrates the vehicle is capable of multiple missions and affordable access to space," said Paul Rusnock, vice president of Boeing Government Space Systems.
OTV-1 was first launched in April 2010 and returned to Earth that December. It is the United States' first unmanned vehicle to return from space and land on its own. The space shuttle had been the only space vehicle capable of landing on a runway.
A second vehicle, OTV-2, set a record for a reusable space vehicle in June of this year when it completed a 469-day mission. Previously, Space Shuttle Discovery held that record with an accumulated total of 365 days in orbit.
Boeing's commitment to space-based unmanned vehicle technology spans a decade and includes support to the Air Force Research Lab's X-40 program, NASA's X-37 program, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's X-37 Approach, Landing and Test Vehicle program.
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Great coverage guys, thanks!
Congrats to ULA and the teams on what looked to be a spectacular launch.
Go little birdie! :)
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OTV-3 has already been spotted by satellite hobbyists based on Ted Molzcan predictive elements.
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0087.html
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0088.html
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OTV-3 has already been spotted by satellite hobbyists based on Ted Molzcan predictive elements.
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0087.html
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0088.html
That was fast, sigh, there goes the dreams of being the first to spot it on the morning walk... Oh well, it will just be me, the dog, and the Geminid's!
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Are you sure that's a wasp? I remember very clearly of the very same type of bug attacking a camera at SLC-40 right at liftoff of the 1st F9 2.5 years ago! :P
Yep, I think I’m going to gift wrap a can of spray so my friend can take it in to work to give to the Atlas guys. The camera makes them look like they have a wing span of two feet.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VhAxiU5xL24#!
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Two cool shots of the launch along with deep rumbling of the RD-180! 8)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxQbex7LJwg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxQbex7LJwg)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlTLTYr8qOI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlTLTYr8qOI)
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Good videos.
Does anyone have that great X-37B video Boeing made?
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Hey all, here are a couple videos I and my team captured from yesterday's Atlas / OTV-3 launch. The first one is from a remote GoPro Hero that was placed at the launch pad perimeter. The second is a video clip I shot from the press location near the ASOC. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlTLTYr8qOI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l71H-eH2Nk8
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Is it me or is the X-37B video giving more info than previously?
Well, unfortunately, for this mission I haven't seen any pictures of the launch preparations of the X-37B vehicle (I checked ULA, Boeing, USAF and Patrick AFB, and various websites with space news)...
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OTV-3 has already been spotted by satellite hobbyists based on Ted Molzcan predictive elements.
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0087.html
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0088.html
After initial confusion regarding interpretation of observations, Ted has a new set of elements which should be close. Further observations will firm them up.
OTV 3 345 X 363 km
1 39025U 12071A 12346.78009259 .00006904 00000-0 50000-4 0 07
2 39025 43.4966 137.4464 0013041 309.6975 307.5436 15.72393679 00
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OTV-3 has already been spotted by satellite hobbyists based on Ted Molzcan predictive elements.
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0087.html
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2012/0088.html
After initial confusion regarding interpretation of observations, Ted has a new set of elements which should be close. Further observations will firm them up.
OTV 3 345 X 363 km
1 39025U 12071A 12346.78009259 .00006904 00000-0 50000-4 0 07
2 39025 43.4966 137.4464 0013041 309.6975 307.5436 15.72393679 00
If this TLE is correct, and there is no reason to doubt Ted's excellent work, the inclination of 43.4966 was easily reachable directly from the Cape. Why was the dogleg maneuver mentioned in the live broadcast necessary--or desirable?
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The second is a video clip I shot from the press location near the ASOC.
New camera? Doesn't seem to capture the rumble nearly as well as your older launch videos do.
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A special treat from the AF
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Is it me or is the X-37B video giving more info than previously?
Well, unfortunately, for this mission I haven't seen any pictures of the launch preparations of the X-37B vehicle (I checked ULA, Boeing, USAF and Patrick AFB, and various websites with space news)...
more details from the program AFRCO
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123329533
"We couldn't be more pleased with the strides we've made in this program and the success of the X-37B vehicle on the first two flights," said Mr. Richard McKinney, Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for Space. "However, it is important to keep in mind that this is an experimental vehicle and a third mission is still relatively young for a test program. This is the first re-flight of a vehicle so that is certainly a key objective for us. We have only just begun what is a very systematic checkout of the system."
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Secretive Space Plane's Retro-Burn Snapped By Satellite Hunter | video
Published on Dec 14, 2012
by: VideoFromSpace
Greg Roberts captured footage of a fast moving cloud above over Cape Town, South Africa, created by the retro-burn of the 2nd stage Centaur rocket that launched the robotic X-37B space plane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYJPAyt_cKc
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...Why was the dogleg maneuver mentioned in the live broadcast necessary--or desirable?
They launched southward so they had to avoid overflying the Caribbean islands. The NOTAMs for the stage drop zones were on a ground track heading of about 110 degrees; about a 126-degree azimuth would have been needed to go direct to the 43.5-degree orbital inclination.
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Secretive Space Plane's Retro-Burn Snapped By Satellite Hunter | video
Published on Dec 14, 2012
by: VideoFromSpace
Greg Roberts captured footage of a fast moving cloud above over Cape Town, South Africa, created by the retro-burn of the 2nd stage Centaur rocket that launched the robotic X-37B space plane.
why do they keep showing those wrong slides?
the x-37B design was changed
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why do they keep showing those wrong slides?
the x-37B design was changed
Because there are no others
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Secretive Space Plane's Retro-Burn Snapped By Satellite Hunter | video
Published on Dec 14, 2012
by: VideoFromSpace
Greg Roberts captured footage of a fast moving cloud above over Cape Town, South Africa, created by the retro-burn of the 2nd stage Centaur rocket that launched the robotic X-37B space plane.
I have a question, that confuses me a bit:
At about 0:35 he writes: "The cloud was first thought to be a fuel dump by the 2nd stage Centaur rocket, but later shown to be a retro-burn of both objects as can be seen in this video taken by Greg Roberts."
Does this make any sense?
Since he mentions Centaur and OTV-3 as the two objects earlier in the video, I assume he wants to tell us that OTV-3 made a retro-burn as well.
But how could that be? Why would OTV-3 do a retro-burn so soon after launch? It did not land already, did it?
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Secretive Space Plane's Retro-Burn Snapped By Satellite Hunter | video
Published on Dec 14, 2012
by: VideoFromSpace
Greg Roberts captured footage of a fast moving cloud above over Cape Town, South Africa, created by the retro-burn of the 2nd stage Centaur rocket that launched the robotic X-37B space plane.
I have a question, that confuses me a bit:
At about 0:35 he writes: "The cloud was first thought to be a fuel dump by the 2nd stage Centaur rocket, but later shown to be a retro-burn of both objects as can be seen in this video taken by Greg Roberts."
Does this make any sense?
Since he mentions Centaur and OTV-3 as the two objects earlier in the video, I assume he wants to tell us that OTV-3 made a retro-burn as well.
But how could that be? Why would OTV-3 do a retro-burn so soon after launch? It did not land already, did it?
retro burn was the wrong terminology to use.
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Secretive Space Plane's Retro-Burn Snapped By Satellite Hunter | video
Published on Dec 14, 2012
by: VideoFromSpace
Greg Roberts captured footage of a fast moving cloud above over Cape Town, South Africa, created by the retro-burn of the 2nd stage Centaur rocket that launched the robotic X-37B space plane.
I have a question, that confuses me a bit:
At about 0:35 he writes: "The cloud was first thought to be a fuel dump by the 2nd stage Centaur rocket, but later shown to be a retro-burn of both objects as can be seen in this video taken by Greg Roberts."
Does this make any sense?
Since he mentions Centaur and OTV-3 as the two objects earlier in the video, I assume he wants to tell us that OTV-3 made a retro-burn as well.
But how could that be? Why would OTV-3 do a retro-burn so soon after launch? It did not land already, did it?
retro burn was the wrong terminology to use.
Thanks! What would be the right terminology then?
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It did any of the following:
a thruster firing
a burn
an orbital adjustment
a phasing burn
a sep burn
a thruster checkout
an OME burn/firing
a maneuver
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New article on the mission.
http://www.space.com/19893-military-space-plane-x37b-mystery.html
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Having no luck tracking OTV-3 anymore on http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=39025
Has anyone tracked any orbit corrections?
Thanks
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New article on this mission.
http://www.space.com/21321-military-space-plane-x37b-mystery.html
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Any new information on OTV-3 - X-37B mission? Haven't been able to find anything to say whether it landed or is still in space.
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Any new information on OTV-3 - X-37B mission? Haven't been able to find anything to say whether it landed or is still in space.
people are hinting that it will likely be in orbit well over a year and possibly two years depending upon fuel reserves.
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Heaven's Above.com (http://www.heavens-above.com/orbit.aspx?satid=39025) shows the orbit as
inclination: 43.4934°
perigee height: 381 km
apogee height: 409 km
according to visual observations on 20 November 2013 16:31:48
Amateur observer extraordinaire Kevin Fetter posted a video of his observations on 24 Nov
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Nov-2013/0126.html
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Any new information on OTV-3 - X-37B mission? Haven't been able to find anything to say whether it landed or is still in space.
people are hinting that it will likely be in orbit well over a year and possibly two years depending upon fuel reserves.
Seriously two years, that seems extraordinary?
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Not really, it isn't manned. How long do you think weather or reconnsats last?
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Not really, it isn't manned. How long do you think weather or reconnsats last?
If they are going to use it for that sort of length of time why not use a dedicated satellite for the job, could it not be cheaper?
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Not really, it isn't manned. How long do you think weather or reconnsats last?
If they are going to use it for that sort of length of time why not use a dedicated satellite for the job, could it not be cheaper?
The short answer is because whatever they are doing, it involves returning something to earth.
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That or, what ever they are doing, they have a platform to mount it on instead of having to do what ever they are doing and build the platform to mount it on...
I am not convinced the value is returning the payload to earth.
This provides them a platform with power and altitude control to mount things on. I think that is the real savings.
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I see by the last post that no one noticed that yesterday was the 1 year mark for OTV-3. Go USAF!
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I see by the last post that no one noticed that yesterday was the 1 year mark for OTV-3. Go USAF!
Nope, totally engrossed in ISS FCV issues...
Indeed, go USAF! Quite a ship.
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The LA Times marked the anniversary:
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-mysterious-space-plane-20131211,0,227769.story#axzz2nJqbNJx2
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Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane passes 400 days in orbit
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/01/30/air-force-mysterious-x-37b-space-plane-passes-400-days-in-orbit/
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Air Force's mysterious X-37B space plane passes 400 days in orbit
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2014/01/30/air-force-mysterious-x-37b-space-plane-passes-400-days-in-orbit/
From the sound of that article it sounds like we shouldn't expect its return any day soon.
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I've been wondering about how long a liquid helium dewar tends to hold its contents in space. It seems to line up with the duration of theX-37B missions. Probably a coincidence.
- Ed Kyle
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“If” the TPS specified for DC is the same as used on the X-37 it would speak well for long stays on orbit...
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I've been wondering about how long a liquid helium dewar tends to hold its contents in space. It seems to line up with the duration of theX-37B missions. Probably a coincidence.
- Ed Kyle
Now that's a thought, is it a consumable limiting the on orbit life. Brilliant!
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I've been wondering about how long a liquid helium dewar tends to hold its contents in space. It seems to line up with the duration of theX-37B missions.
That's an intriguing thought, but there it isn't a fixed time, it depends on how much you have, and how much effort you put into preserving it.
The X-37 payload is rumored to be around 500 lbs. An expendable spacecraft launching to the same orbit on the same launcher would easily have several tons more available for consumables, so it's hard to see that alone justifying re-use. Unless the consumable is spectacularly expensive...
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Well that would actually be good debate.
If you have a consumable like LHe that limits on orbit life to 1 year or so. Do you:
1. Build and launch a new satellite every year?
2. Launch a refueling mission each year?
3. Bring it back and refuel it then relaunch each year?
Considering satellites are so expensive they might as well be coated in Gold (IR pun intended ;) ). There might be some merit in choosing option 3 over option 1.
Also, I thought the X-37 500 lbs limit was payload it could land with. With the Atlas's extra performance, nothing says it cannot launch with more than a 500 lbs payload as long as the consumable boils off before it comes home.
Anyone know if any intelligence beyond early warning can be obtained in the IR bands?
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Anyone know if any intelligence beyond early warning can be obtained in the IR bands?
Anything that produces heat.
Powerplants. Reactors. Aircraft. Tanks. Trucks. People. Animals. Ships. Satellites. Submarines. Etc.
- Ed Kyle
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Yeah, but does the atmosphere mask/blur the heat signatures as viewed from space?
ICBM's and aircraft afterburners are a special case since they are above a good portion of the atmosphere.
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Yeah, but does the atmosphere mask/blur the heat signatures as viewed from space?
ICBM's and aircraft afterburners are a special case since they are above a good portion of the atmosphere.
The atmosphere attenuates IR to an extent that varies by wavelength. IR sensors have nonetheless been used in some earth observing satellites, including KH-11 according to FAS. NASA's VIIRS on Suomi NPP has an infrared sensor, as do any number of weather satellites. The above are not cooled IR sensor types, but cryogenic cooled IR sensors are needed for certain IR wavelengths. It stands to reason that experimentation with cryo-cooled IR systems might occur for purposes of Earth observation. It may already have occurred long ago for all I know.
- Ed Kyle
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I started typing a response to this a few days ago, but when I started researching the IR bands that peak at temps where a cryo cooled sensor was needed it didn't make sense (too low for looking down). IR imagers just need temperature difference. Something can appear dark (cold) against a hotter background or vice versa. Was it Thomas Crown Affair where they fooled the IR security cameras by making the room 98.6F?
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I started typing a response to this a few days ago, but when I started researching the IR bands that peak at temps where a cryo cooled sensor was needed it didn't make sense (too low for looking down). IR imagers just need temperature difference. Something can appear dark (cold) against a hotter background or vice versa. Was it Thomas Crown Affair where they fooled the IR security cameras by making the room 98.6F?
Yup (the newer release with Pierce Brosnan & Rene Russo)
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I started typing a response to this a few days ago, but when I started researching the IR bands that peak at temps where a cryo cooled sensor was needed it didn't make sense (too low for looking down). IR imagers just need temperature difference. Something can appear dark (cold) against a hotter background or vice versa. Was it Thomas Crown Affair where they fooled the IR security cameras by making the room 98.6F?
Kinda why I asked the question... I was wondering if sensors that need LHe cooling actually look at bands that won't be masked by the earth background and the earth's atmosphere.
IR sensors are not the only thing that might benefit from LHe cooling, didn't they cool sensitive radio telescope receivers in LN to bring the background noise from the receiver down?
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IR sensors are not the only thing that might benefit from LHe cooling, didn't they cool sensitive radio telescope receivers in LN to bring the background noise from the receiver down?
That's probably for a superconducting electronic. Those things have zero internal noise, so are super sensitive. Can happen also with magnets, like those proposed for the AMS (then they moved to non superconducting to get a lot more life time) or the CAT scan machines.
But I've never heard of space based LHe that last longer than five years.
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[...]
But I've never heard of space based LHe that last longer than five years.
Spitzer Space Telescope: 360 litres of superfluid LHe to cool several IR sensors. Launched 25 Aug 2003, LHe was exhausted on 15 March 2009 when telescope continued in its 'warm' phase of operations. LHe lasted 2090 days, or 5.73 years.
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Any ideas when OTV-3 will land at VAFB? ??? Or will the USAF push the limits onwards to allow the spaceplane to stay in orbit for two or more years?
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Any ideas when OTV-3 will land at VAFB? ??? Or will the USAF push the limits onwards to allow the spaceplane to stay in orbit for two or more years?
I would not be surprised if it exceeded the length of the last flight, as so far each flight has it appears looked to go longer than the last.
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I thought the consensus was it will land at the SLF.
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Maybe it's waiting for the them to finish the paper work needed to change the landing site to SLF ;)
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Maybe it's waiting for the them to finish the paper work needed to change the landing site to SLF ;)
Or they are waiting until one of the OPF's is available to store it in ;)
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OTV-2 Launch 03/05/11 and Land 06/16/12 = 469 days
OTV-2 Launch 12/11/12. 469 days will be as of 03/25/14.
How long will she be up there.....Vegas odds are on longer than 469.
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OTV-2 Launch 03/05/11 and Land 06/16/12 = 469 days
OTV-2 Launch 12/11/12. 469 days will be as of 03/25/14.
How long will she be up there.....Vegas odds are on longer than 469.
I wonder if its endurance is such that it could stay up there into four figures days wise?
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A secretive mission will pass a quiet milestone at the end of this month when the U.S. Air Force’s unmanned spaceplane the X-37B surpasses 500 days in space.
Launched atop an Atlas V rocket flying in a 401 configuration from Cape Canaveral Florida after several delays on December 11th, 2012 on OTV-3, the X-37B has already surpassed its own record of 469 days in space set on OTV-2. Said milestone was crossed last month. If the current mission stays in space until April 25th of this year, it will have surpassed 500 days in space.
Two X-37Bs were built for the USAF, and the first test mission flew in 2010. NASA performed drop glide tests with an early variant of the X-37A in 2005 and 2006, and DARPA is thought to be a primary customer for the program as well.
Measuring just 8.8 metres in length, the X-37B is tiny compared to its more famous spaceplane cousin the U.S. Space Shuttle. The X-37B has a maximum weight at liftoff of 4,990 kilograms and features a payload bay 2.1 by 1.2 metres in size.
Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/111020/the-usafs-super-secret-x-37b-approaches-a-milestone/#ixzz2yKKkA5JK
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It has now hit 500 days in orbit.
http://www.space.com/25611-x37b-military-space-plane-500-days.html
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Was it really launched in 2012?
What ever they where tweaking between flights, the must have finally tweaked it just right ;)
I think we should re-name it Goldilocks.
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Was it really launched in 2012?
What ever they where tweaking between flights, the must have finally tweaked it just right ;)
I think we should re-name it Goldilocks.
Whatever it's carrying must be a payload that consumes very little if any materials, it seems to be unlikely to be something that needs cooling like an IR sensor.
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I was referring to the three bears, not her curl's superior IR reflecting capabilities ;)
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Can this NOTAM for Vandenberg be related to X-37B landing?
M0104/14 - RUNWAY CLOSED. 07 MAY 14:30 2014 UNTIL 07 MAY 23:00 2014. CREATED: 04 MAY 17:56 2014
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Can this NOTAM for Vandenberg be related to X-37B landing?
M0104/14 - RUNWAY CLOSED. 07 MAY 14:30 2014 UNTIL 07 MAY 23:00 2014. CREATED: 04 MAY 17:56 2014
Nice catch, I bet you are correct.
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Can this NOTAM for Vandenberg be related to X-37B landing?
M0104/14 - RUNWAY CLOSED. 07 MAY 14:30 2014 UNTIL 07 MAY 23:00 2014. CREATED: 04 MAY 17:56 2014
Nice catch, I bet you are correct.
VAFB contacts I spoke to today and a trip out to look at the airfield lead me to believe this NOTAM is not related to the X-37B. There is another flight operation using the facility.
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Agree. Probably not for OTV-3 return. Runways close for maintenance now and then. Also, reference below for OTV-2 landing...you usually see R2516 closed when they return (or I would expect R2517 and 2516 closed if they were to land to the north on Runway 30).
Oddly enough the NOTAM below is for the warning area (W532) due west of Vandenburg and the restricted area (R2516) right over the base
06/013 (A1536/12) - AIRSPACE W532E ACT SFC-UNL. 16 JUN 07:30 2012 UNTIL 16 JUN 16:30 2012. CREATED: 15 JUN 18:11 2012
and
M0295/12 - RESTRICTED AREA 2516 CLOSED SURFACE TO FL250. 16 JUN 08:00 2012 UNTIL 16 JUN 13:30 2012. CREATED: 15 JUN 19:44 2012
So the warning area (surface to unlimited) is active the 16th 0730Z to 1630Z and the restricted area (surface to 25,000 feet MSL) is closed the 16th 0800Z to 1330Z. Any passes fit in those times?
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Anyone have recent pics of OPF-1?
Or a X-37C? (wishful thinking)... seriously, we could be testing this by now.
http://www.space.com/24168-secret-x37b-space-plane-boeing-hangar.html
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Or OPF-2 as I guess they have both. OPF-3 going to CST-100.
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That's good to hear. Wonder how ready they are to receive OTV-3?
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I don't have a photo to share, but OPF-1 has a big blue sign on the south side of it now that says "HOME OF THE X-37B". It's hard to tell from a distance (someone at KSC please chime in) but it appears almost as if it were a new vertical door (as in fairing rollout) but I may be very incorrect on this as I have not seen it up close.
Here a photo.... OPF-1 is Boeing now....
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I don’t think you can see it from this image, but there were people working on scissor lifts inside of OPF-1 yesterday. It looks like the bay has already been gutted because you can see all the way threw to the north side.
Its also interesting that Boeing got OPF-3 a while ago and they still don’t have their logo on the building, yet OPF-1 already has it.
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Thanks for the images.
The door looks to be of the same size & shape of the one shown in this article, not that it means anything.
http://defensetech.org/2012/06/18/video-x-37b-robo-shuttle-landing/
Also, that landing video is so damn cool!
Maybe we'll get to see processing pics some day.
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Of note: Tomorrow (3 Aug 14) OTV-3 will hit the 600 day mark.
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It's been carrying out some manoeuvres of late leading to some speculation that one answer is that it's getting ready to return, but this is not the only possible explanation.
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2014/0066.html
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08/818 - AIRSPACE R2933 ACT 5000FT-UNL. 5000FT - UNL, 11 AUG 13:00 2014 UNTIL 12 AUG 01:00
2014. CREATED: 10 AUG 13:03 2014
08/804 - AIRSPACE R2934 ACT SFC-8000FT. SFC - 8000FT, 11 AUG 12:00 2014 UNTIL 11 AUG 20:00
2014. CREATED: 10 AUG 12:03 2014
The two restricted areas around the Cape go active on 11 Aug at 1300Z until 0100Z on the 12th). Could they try a landing there? I thought they weren't ready to receive it?
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Based on the Heavens-above data (Which might be out of date if it is maneuvering) , here are some passes during those windows.
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It appears to have changed orbit to produce a more circular one than before.
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Aug-2014/0085.html
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October 8, 2014
NASA Partners with X-37B Program for Use of Former Space Shuttle Hangars
NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida has entered into an agreement with the U.S. Air Force's X-37B Program for use of the center’s Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) Bays 1 and 2 to process the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for launch.
The OPF bays were last used during NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. With the agency’s transition to the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft, the agency currently does not have a mission requirement for the facilities. This agreement ensures the facilities will again be used for their originally-intended purpose -- processing spacecraft.
"Kennedy is positioning itself for the future, transitioning to a multi-user launch facility for both commercial and government customers, while embarking on NASA's new deep-space exploration plans," said Kennedy Center Director Robert Cabana. "A dynamic infrastructure is taking shape, designed to host many kinds of spacecraft and rockets."
In addition to vehicle preparation for launch, the X-37B Program conducted testing at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility to demonstrate that landing the vehicle at the former shuttle runway is a technically feasible option.
The Boeing Company is performing construction upgrades in the OPFs on behalf of the X-37B Program. These upgrades are targeted to be complete in December.
For more information on partnering with NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/business/index.html
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VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct. 10, 2014 (Vandenberg PR) – Preparations for the third landing of the X-37B, the Air Force’s unmanned, reusable space plane, are underway at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
See more at: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/10/11/vandenberg-prepares-x37b-landing/#more-53658
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Be interested to see its condition after being in orbit for so long.
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Secretive U.S. robotic mini-shuttle to end 22-month mission on Tuesday (http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/12/us-space-military-spaceplane-idUSKCN0I106E20141012)
(Reuters) - The U.S. military plans to land its secretive X-37B robotic space plane in California on Tuesday, ending a classified 22-month mission, officials said.
The exact time and date will depend on weather and technical factors, the Air Force said in a statement released on Friday. The X-37B space plane, also known as the Orbital Test Vehicle, blasted off for its second mission aboard an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Dec. 11, 2012.
The 29-foot-long (9-meter) robotic spaceship, which resembles a miniature space shuttle, is an experimental vehicle that first flew in April 2010. It returned after eight months. A second vehicle blasted off in March 2011 and stayed in orbit for 15 months.
The military has said the vehicles, built by Boeing, are designed to test technologies, though details of the missions are classified.
Last week, the Air Force and NASA finalized a lease agreement to relocate the X-37B program from California to Florida’s Kennedy Space Center. The military is studying using the space shuttle’s runway for landing, but said the X-37B currently in orbit will touch down at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, where the previous two missions also ended.
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Airfield is closed from 0800L to 1700L (1500Z to 0000Z) on 14 Oct
W532N and S is active SFC - UNL all day on the 14th (Warning area West and Northwest of Vandenberg).
However, I don't see the restricted area around Vandenberg closed (R2516 usually goes hot before they land)
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Here is the closest ground track pass of Vandenberg at about 1100 local from Heavens Above for today
http://www.heavens-above.com/gtrack.aspx?satid=39025&mjd=56944.7513756481
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The closest track for Wednesday is a descending node. Any idea whether the previous landings were ascending/descending ?
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The latest orbital data is from Oct 6, when it had lowered its orbit 50 km since Sep 28.
I would caution that it may have maneuvered again since then, so attempts to derive a ground track for today or tomorrow are ... optimistic
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As of last elset from Ted Molczan in 2012, the last X-37 landing occurred on an ascending node.
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Be really nice of them to release a flare/touchdown pic this time.
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I'll be out there today. There was fog/marine layer clouds yesterday. Not sure what is going to be visible.
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Irene Klotz (Reuters/Discovery News) notes on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Free_Space/status/522050213192937472):
Looks like #X-37B landing is off until tomorrow. New notice to pilots closes Vandy airspace from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m local time on Wednesday.
And here's the NOTAM:
Data Current as of: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:51:00 UTC
VBG VANDENBERG AFB
M0267/14 - AERODROME AND CLASS DELTA AIRSPACE CLOSED FROM 15 OCT 0800L - 15 OCT 1700L. 15 OCT 15:00 2014 UNTIL 16 OCT 00:01 2014. CREATED: 14 OCT 14:17 2014
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Well, it is pretty overcast out there. Maybe want to get better long range camera views?
Irene Klotz (Reuters/Discovery News) notes on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Free_Space/status/522050213192937472):
Looks like #X-37B landing is off until tomorrow. New notice to pilots closes Vandy airspace from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m local time on Wednesday.
And here's the NOTAM:
Data Current as of: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:51:00 UTC
VBG VANDENBERG AFB
M0267/14 - AERODROME AND CLASS DELTA AIRSPACE CLOSED FROM 15 OCT 0800L - 15 OCT 1700L. 15 OCT 15:00 2014 UNTIL 16 OCT 00:01 2014. CREATED: 14 OCT 14:17 2014
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I was out there today and judging from the activity, they waved it off pretty early. The tracking cameras were never uncovered and there were few people about. Judging from the positioning of the tracking instrumentation, the vehicle will land on Runway 12, approaching from the northwest over the ocean. This will eliminate overflight of off base civilian property in the Lompoc Valley that would occur with a Runway 30 landing.
This Runway 12 landing presents a bit of challenge in that the prevailing winds are out of the northwest nearly every day at Vandenberg as they were today, giving a moderate to significant tailwind on landing. Without knowing the weather limits for the X-37's arrival I would guess the winds were the factor as they were already blowing by 8 am local. Ceilings were around 2000 feet with relatively thin broken clouds in the morning which cleared to blue skies with scattered high cirrus. Good 10 mile plus visibility prevailed all day.
Pictures are looking NW along the 15,000 feet of runway 30. The covered tracking camera would be looking head on at the vehicle as it approached the runway, flared, and rolled out. There are at least 5 large camera positions set up on the airfield, so I'm imagining some good shots should be obtained. I hope they will be released to the public.
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Any updates on today's attempts? Ascending node should have been around 1800UT(1100LT), descending node coming up around 2244UT(1544LT). Webcams of the region show partly cloudy skies.
Just checked NOTAMs:
M0277/14 - RUNWAY 30/12 CLOSED. 15 OCT 15:00 2014 UNTIL 15 OCT 23:59 2014. CREATED: 14 OCT 23:59 2014
M0276/14 - AERODROME AND CLASS DELTA AIRSPACE CLOSED FROM 16 OCT 0800L - 16 OCT 1700L. 16 OCT 15:00 2014 UNTIL 16 OCT 23:59 2014. CREATED: 14 OCT 23:31 2014
So move landing to 16th?
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Landing moved to the 16th. Waved off before 0900L the Vandenberg range control broadcast on its maritime frequency a notice to mariners closing the offshore danger areas starting 0400L tomorrow morning.
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As of now (1400UT, Vandenberg 0700LT), NOTAM is still in effect. Time of ascending and descending nodes is virtually identical to days before.
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Current weather at Vandenberg (15:55 UT):
Winds: from the ESE (110 degrees) at 6 MPH (5 knots; 2.6 m/s)
Visibility: 10 or more miles (16+ km)
Ceiling: 2500 feet AGL
Clouds: few clouds at 900 feet AGL
few clouds at 1300 feet AGL
broken clouds at 2500 feet AGL
Source: http://aviationweather.gov/adds/metars/index.php?submit=1&station_ids=KVBG&chk_metars=on&hoursStr=2&std_trans=translated&chk_tafs=on
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Waived off again at 0815 local time.
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Vehicle landed successfully at appx 0925L. Fourth times the charm. That is one fast and hard to see little vehicle. Did not spot it until it was in the deep into the flare. Shuttle like double sonic boom heralded its arrival about two minutes before touchdown on runway 12.
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Nice! Thanks for the update Helodriver, and congrats to the teams involved! Welcome home OTV-3!
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Nice! Will see if I can put an article together!
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Great ! We can expect at least one photograph?
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I'm not sure when the USAF will release landing images. There were a lot of big cameras pointed at the vehicle on the approach.
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X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-3 Lands at Vandenberg AFB
10/17/2014 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission 3 (OTV-3), the Air
Force's unmanned, reusable space plane, landed at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. Oct. 17 .
"The 30th Space Wing and our mission partners, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, Boeing, and our base
support contractors, have put countless hours of hard work into preparing for this landing and today we were
able to see the culmination of that dedication," said Col Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing commander.
"I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third safe and successful landing.
Everyone from our on console space operators to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this
unique mission and exemplify excellence during its execution."
The OTV-3 conducted on-orbit experiments for 674 days during its mission, extending the total number of days
spent on-orbit for the OTV program to 1367 days.
"The landing of OTV-3 marks a hallmark event for the program" said the X-37B program manager.
"The mission is our longest to date and we're pleased with the incremental progress we've seen in our testing of
the reusable space plane. The dedication and hard work by the entire team has made us extremely proud."
The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities
Office, the X-37B program performs risk reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development
for reusable space vehicle technologies.
The Air Force is preparing to launch the fourth X-37B mission from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in 2015.
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Our article, with eyewitness report :)
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/10/third-x-37b-returns-home-two-years-space/
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Our article, with eyewitness report :)
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/10/third-x-37b-returns-home-two-years-space/
Great reportage !
No tire damage:after two years, just wondering if they did some service before landing, at least to inflate them.
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Our article, with eyewitness report :)
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/10/third-x-37b-returns-home-two-years-space/
Great reportage !
No tire damage:after two years, just wondering if they did some service before landing, at least to inflate them.
I second that! Great article indeed!
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I third that! :) Eyewittness report and double sonic booms! Robo-Shuttle does it again... Film at 11? ;D
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No tire damage:after two years, just wondering if they did some service before landing, at least to inflate them.
Impressive, isn't it, that something like that can orbit for that long in the temperature extremes and vacuum of space and then, when needed, after being exposed to extreme reentry heating, all of its control surfaces, tires, wheels, and brakes work?
- Ed Kyle
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Video and images!!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil
X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE-3 LANDS AT VANDENBERG AFB
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - Video imagery of the X-37B Orbital Test
Vehicle-3 landing can be viewed at the posted YouTube link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65oh_fpMwM0&list=UUim4yCI9sKyfinPuHqI9s3A
For still images, visit the Vandenberg Air Force Base Facebook page; link
below.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153540971359897.1073742042.95781119896&type=1
- 30 -
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Oh, hell yes.
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For still images, visit the Vandenberg Air Force Base Facebook page
Better quality versions of the same photos on Facebook here:
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123428671
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High resolution photos (10 of them) are available at:
http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123428671
(possibly the same ones as at the Facebook link above, without the FB (http://www.theonion.com/video/cias-facebook-program-dramatically-cut-agencys-cos,19753/) tracking ...)
EDIT: dang, Robert beat me to it :)
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Video and images!!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil
X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE-3 LANDS AT VANDENBERG AFB
Wow, what an entrance!
That just screams awesomeness.
I thank the US military for that release. That made my day.
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The following is a news release from Vandenberg AFB:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
From: 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, www.vandenberg.af.mil
X-37B ORBITAL TEST VEHICLE-3 LANDS AT VANDENBERG AFB
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle mission
3 (OTV-3), the Air Force's unmanned, reusable space plane, landed at
Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. Oct. 17 .
"The 30th Space Wing and our mission partners, Air Force Rapid Capabilities
Office, Boeing, and our base support contractors, have put countless hours
of hard work into preparing for this landing and today we were able to see
the culmination of that dedication," said Col Keith Balts, 30th Space Wing
commander.
"I'm extremely proud of our team for coming together to execute this third
safe and successful landing. Everyone from our on console space operators
to our airfield managers and civil engineers take pride in this unique
mission and exemplify excellence during its execution."
The OTV-3 conducted on-orbit experiments for 674 days during its mission,
extending the total number of days spent on-orbit for the OTV program to
1367 days.
"The landing of OTV-3 marks a hallmark event for the program" said the
X-37B program manager.
"The mission is our longest to date and we're pleased with the incremental
progress we've seen in our testing of the reusable space plane. The
dedication and hard work by the entire team has made us extremely proud."
The X-37B is the newest and most advanced re-entry spacecraft. Managed by
the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the X-37B program performs risk
reduction, experimentation and concept of operations development for
reusable space vehicle technologies.
The Air Force is preparing to launch the fourth X-37B mission from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station in 2015.
______________________________________________________________
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Does anyone else find the shape of the flaperon interesting? What would be the purpose of the apparent twist?
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I'm impressed with the overall appearance of the vehicle...seems to be in quite a good condition after spending so much time in space....
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Does anyone else find the shape of the flaperon interesting? What would be the purpose of the apparent twist?
Prevent tip stall (i.e. washout)? Keep tip heating down during entry?
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The main engine is offset correct? Why do that?
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The main engine is offset correct? Why do that?
Make room for something on the left? Like a fuel or pressurization tank maybe?
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The main engine is offset correct? Why do that?
I think that original plans called for two engines, or at least for the possibility of two engines, but only one has been used in practice so far. There was a drawing long ago that showed two.
- Ed Kyle
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https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/photos/a.97094879896.77266.95781119896/10153541383784897/?type=1&theater
"Touchdown! Behind the cool pictures of the vehicle there are hundreds of down-to-earth people who literally brought the X-37B down to Earth! They may be humble, but they made history! An amazing team: mission support professionals around the whole base, technicians on the flight line, operators in the ops centers, analysts crunching the numbers and so many others. The game ball (boomerang) went to the primary Range team who truly put some awe into this awesome accomplishment."
Decoding the picture for those unfamiliar with the Air Force :) The folks in the middle, 1 Capt, 2 1LTs, an enlisted Airmen (can't see the stripes) and 1 civilian who did all the work. On the end, 2 Cols who horn in on the picture and take all the credit on their yearly officer performance reports (OPRs)--"skillfully directed team members resulting in successful recovery of high-value, classified asset..."
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Helodriver, Is the noise hearable in the footage coming from a chase plane or it is just her real noise ?
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What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?
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What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?
draining of hypergolic fuel, probably
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What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?
draining of hypergolic fuel, probably
Thanks, hence the guys in the environmental suits.
I see yet again people have been saying it has been carrying out reconnaissance, I don't believe this I think it's doing what they say they it's doing that's materials & technology testing & validation through long term exposure to space.
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I think you were right the first time: I think it's for cooling. It seems too thick for handling prop. It looks more like an air con hose. Cooling would come first and prop offload later. The environmental suits would be needed for approaching the vehicle anyway.
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Boeing-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle Successfully Completes 3rd Flight
Unmanned spacecraft concludes record-setting 674-day mission
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct. 17, 2014 – The Boeing [NYSE: BA]-built X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) successfully de-orbited and landed today at Vandenberg Air Force Base at 9:24 a.m. PDT, concluding a 674-day experimental test mission for the U.S. Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The X-37B was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Dec. 11, 2012.
“We congratulate the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and the 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base on this third successful OTV mission,” said Ken Torok, Boeing director of Experimental Systems. “With a program total of 1,367 days on orbit over three missions, these agile and powerful small space vehicles have completed more days on orbit than all 135 Space Shuttle missions combined, which total 1,334 days. The innovative X-37B combines the best of an aircraft and a spacecraft into an affordable, responsive unmanned vehicle and continues to demonstrate that reusable space vehicles are affordable options that support vital missions.”
The first OTV mission began April 22, 2010, and concluded on Dec. 3, 2010, after 224 days in orbit. The second OTV mission began March 5, 2011, and concluded on June 16, 2012, after 468 days on orbit.
The X-37B program is demonstrating a reliable, reusable unmanned space test platform for the Air Force. Its objectives include space experimentation, risk reduction and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies that could become key enablers for future space missions.
Boeing's commitment to this space-based unmanned vehicle spans a decade and includes support to the Air Force Research Lab's X-40 program, NASA's X-37 program and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's X-37 Approach & Landing Test Vehicle program.
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Helodriver, Is the noise hearable in the footage coming from a chase plane or it is just her real noise ?
That is the real noise. The shuttle was even louder. There are no chase planes
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What's the purpose of the the big pipe you can see being attached to it, is it cooling something onboard?
It is for cooling the vehicle. The avionics may be still running and there is soak back from the entry heat. The radiators are stowed, so there has to be a way to remove the heat. The same connection is used while the vehicle is in the fairing at the pad. Standard spacecraft have surfaces/radiators exposed to fairing air during prelaunch. There has to be a way to remove the internal heat from entry vehicles that are clad in TPS.
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I think you were right the first time: I think it's for cooling. It seems too thick for handling prop. It looks more like an air con hose. Cooling would come first and prop offload later. The environmental suits would be needed for approaching the vehicle anyway.
They won't be deservicing the vehicle on the runway. The suit are just to protect the workers from residual fumes and any leaks.
Note to those who think space stations need large pressurized bays to service spacecraft. If you still have to wear a suit to approach a spacecraft, might as well just do as an EVA.
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Does anyone else find the shape of the flaperon interesting? What would be the purpose of the apparent twist?
Prevent tip stall (i.e. washout)? Keep tip heating down during entry?
That's interesting. Washout or washin on aircraft is usually done on the leading edge. However, the LE shape is constrained by entry heating, so for a hypersonic vehicle it would have to be done on the TE.
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Helodriver, Is the noise hearable in the footage coming from a chase plane or it is just her real noise ?
That is the real noise. The shuttle was even louder. There are no chase planes
What Jim said. That airflow sound was audible about 10 seconds before the vehicle could be spotted flaring over the runway lights. The vehicle is so small that it was hard to pick out before it was very low. The sound was the only clue. Blink and you'd miss it.
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I noticed something interesting when examining the OTV-3 landing photos which might give some clues about its on-orbit behavior.
There is a notable amount of discoloration on the top side of the vehicle. At first I assumed this was related to entry heating, but then I noticed that it is only present on the payload bay doors.
(http://i.imgur.com/tyvvUjM.png)
It is most prominent at the front of the doors, and totally absent just forward of them. This makes the reentry heating hypothesis unlikely, as it fails to explain that sharp boundary.
I think the most logical conclusion is that it is caused by prolonged sun exposure, indicating that OTV-3 had its bottom side continually facing the sun for the vast majority of its mission (to protect sensitive optics or other equipment from sun exposure perhaps). The boundary between the discolored area and the clean area matches very well where the shadow of the wing would be while the doors were open and the bottom side was facing the sun.
I created a very approximate model of the vehicle to illustrate the concept (see attached).
You can see which parts of the payload bay doors are sunlit, and which parts are in shadow. It seems to correspond well with the difference in coloration on the doors.
Comments appreciated.
EDIT: Realized after posting this that the spacecraft's orientation relative to the sun would not significantly affect which parts of the payload bay doors were suntanned. Given their close proximity to the wings, some places will be in shadow regardless of sun angle. So my previous statement about the bottom strictly facing towards the sun the whole time is not warranted. It's much more likely that the top was pointed towards Earth, or specific locations on it, without regard to sun angle. Still, it's cool to observe this effect.
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HarbingerDawn, good observation and seems a likely cause. The flat aft end appears a bit sun scorched relative to past photos as well but as Ed remarked a couple pages back, the fact that all systems worked well after two years in orbit is very impressive. I can't help but imagine the cool video if X-37B had a couple stabilizer cameras, maybe displayed on split screen. Columbia's was pretty big but probably offered more protection.
Edit: oops, shuttle camera mount was fixed.
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Something from a CBC report (AP image)
Thermal image
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/secret-x-37b-robotic-space-plane-returns-from-2-year-orbital-mission-1.2804695
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The landing video is quite interesting, especially the view from the approach end down the runway: It looks like main gear touchdown was about one wingspan away to the right of the runway centerline, which is about 14 ft. After main gear touchdown the vehicle is correcting the offset by moving to the left to reach the centerline. Nose gear touchdown is just before reaching the centerline, and the airbrake seems to be deployed after nose gear touchdown, about the time when the centerline is reached. But then the vehicle overshoots the centerline a bit to the left and just before the video ends you can see that the vehicle is moving to the right again.
Do we know, if there was any crosswind?
What is the nominal speed at touchdown?
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(AP image) Thermal image
That is from OTV-2 in 2012. Here is the AP caption:
This June 16, 2012 file image from video made available by the Vandenberg Air Force Base shows an infrared view of the X-37B unmanned spacecraft landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base.
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Regarding the discoloration on the payload bay doors: I think we're seeing a difference in thermal protection. There are the thermal protection blankets that cover heated areas that don't require tiles, then there's a white area just ahead of the doors that appears to have some sort of white protection (painted on?), and then there's the door's themselves which show a bit of charring (less or different type of paint?). Anybody got any other ideas?
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Do we know, if there was any crosswind?
What is the nominal speed at touchdown?
Winds at the surface were negligible. Not sure what the winds a few hundred feet were, but its unlikely they were strong enough to carry the vehicle off course too far given the very high sink rate.
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Regarding the discoloration on the payload bay doors: I think we're seeing a difference in thermal protection. There are the thermal protection blankets that cover heated areas that don't require tiles, then there's a white area just ahead of the doors that appears to have some sort of white protection (painted on?), and then there's the door's themselves which show a bit of charring (less or different type of paint?). Anybody got any other ideas?
I can't see any obvious difference in the materials used; the top of the doors seem to be the same white material as the rest of the top of the vehicle, and the sides seem to use the same thermal blankets as the rest too, so I see no reason to think that there's some unseen difference there, though it is possible. The color of the affected area matches what would be expected from sun exposure, as does the pattern of the discoloration, so that still strikes me as the most likely cause.
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Re: discoloration
http://space.stackexchange.com/questions/3200/what-is-the-cause-of-discoloration-along-the-edges-of-the-quest-joint-airlock-th
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Could the solar panels it uses be part of the technology it's developing, there's nothing to say it's using the same panels on each flight.
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Probably is just space weathering (sun tan) but I am also wondering about the thermal effects on the s/c skin, if any, of the operation of the radiators (open payload bay) on a 675 day mission. Cumulatively that's a lot of heat to get rid of. Just a guess.
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Could the solar panels it uses be part of the technology it's developing, there's nothing to say it's using the same panels on each flight.
no, there are cheaper and easier ways to do that
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Wonder if the flight duration was dictated by the air pressure in the landing gear tires.
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An interesting chart from Ted Molczan which shows that each flight has had a different mean altitude. To me this indicates that there is a possibility that the payload carried was different each time.
http://satobs.org/seesat_ref/misc/X-37B_OTV_1,2,3_mean_altitude_history.pdf
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I've read speculation on other sites that possibly the tires were only inflated a short time prior to landing using some sort of device. Commercial tire inflating kits are available for trucks. More speculation that the tires are solid but somehow I doubt that, solid equates to weight.
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Other than, it does fly on a v501 and at one point in it's history was manifest for the smaller Delta II. So the weight of solid tires might not bust the mass budget. But wouldn't you need to heat them before landing?
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I've read speculation on other sites that possibly the tires were only inflated a short time prior to landing using some sort of device...
It is possible. But that would meant some kind of disconnect mechanism along with verifying the 3 tires are at acceptable pressure range. IMO, it is a lot simpler to overfilled the tires at launch and monitor the pressures with tire rim pressure gauge with a dis-connectable cable. Presuming there will be some air leakage from the tires over time.
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Interesting observation about the duration of the three OTV missions
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Oct-2014/0138.html
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Is it known if the solar array was folded up and stowed? Or was it simply jettisoned before the doors closed? Jettison would have to be after the deorbit burn, to avoid it becoming debris?
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Jettison after the reentry burn sounds like a scary potential failure mode to me...
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Is it known if the solar array was folded up and stowed? Or was it simply jettisoned before the doors closed? Jettison would have to be after the deorbit burn, to avoid it becoming debris?
I believe it's folded away into the craft.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9_P87uSKgs
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That's old footage from OTV-2.
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Jettison after the reentry burn sounds like a scary potential failure mode to me...
Dragon jettisons the trunk after the deorbit burn. No other way to get it quickly out of orbit. If an event is mission critical, doesn't really matter when it happens.
But that's cool if the array is retractable. Would also let them inspect that for wear and tear.
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Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.
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I am a space modelist and I want to build a flying scale model of Atlas V 501 - OTV-3. For this I need a detailed plan of the rocket, especialy the first stage zone of the engins skirt. Also I need some pictures of details and a color scheme. Thank you in advance. ION
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Try this
http://www.spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-501.html
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Try this
http://www.spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-501.html
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I am a space modelist and I want to build a flying scale model of Atlas V 501 - OTV-3. For this I need a detailed plan of the rocket, especialy the first stage zone of the engins skirt. Also I need some pictures of details and a color scheme. Thank you in advance. ION
Put some sources of 3D cad and stl format sources. Why reinvent the wheel when you can use these files as a starting point?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=29378.msg1307395#msg1307395
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Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.
Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?
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Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.
Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?
The X-37 was changed several times during development. It was once to have 2 engines, but later one was deleted.
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Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.
Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?
The X-37 was changed several times during development. It was once to have 2 engines, but later one was deleted.
But dont you want the engine push to go through the center of the mass of the craft? How can they just get rid of one of the engines and be off centered and maintain thrust without pushing the craft to one side?
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Now that the official photos have been released, one of my own.
Why is the engine off centered? Is it the deployable solar panel?
The X-37 was changed several times during development. It was once to have 2 engines, but later one was deleted.
But dont you want the engine push to go through the center of the mass of the craft? How can they just get rid of one of the engines and be off centered and maintain thrust without pushing the craft to one side?
TVC.
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Does that engine have TVC? The simplest solution is just cant it through the vehicle's (including the payload) center of mass.
Most LV solids do that.
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Does that engine have TVC? The simplest solution is just cant it through the vehicle's (including the payload) center of mass.
Most LV solids do that.
Since I dont know enough about it, i"ll just take space ghosts word for it.
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Does that engine have TVC? The simplest solution is just cant it through the vehicle's (including the payload) center of mass.
Most LV solids do that.
Since I dont know enough about it, i"ll just take space ghosts word for it.
He's right that you don't need a controlled system to vector the thrust through the CM, just a fixed angle that intersects it. In any case where the thrust vector is offset from center, cosine losses, RCS offset thrust, and GNC that can cope with thrust asymmetry are required.
The cost of using TVC is complexity/reliability, the benefit can be lower total prop usage (less RCS offset thrust, shorter maneuvers) due to its greater control authority. And there are things you can do with it you can't any other way.
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Space Ghost, don't forget with no "air resistance" in space a single offset engine canted through the center of mass has no cosine losses.
You only have loses when you cant more than one engine or are trying to fly through atmosphere with canted engine(s).
Getting back to TVC, did the AJ-10 on the Shuttle use TVC, or rely on RCS for fine tuning?
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Space Ghost, don't forget with no "air resistance" in space a single offset engine canted through the center of mass has no cosine losses.
You only have loses when you cant more than one engine or are trying to fly through atmosphere with canted engine(s).
Sure where drag occurs. But if you have a fixed angle offset engine, attitude control before/through/after the burn is maintained by RCS (or CMG) solely. If the guidance for the burn is inexact, say to slight CM shift (prop/consumable depletion etc), then cosine terms come into play, as you "waste" part of RCS/engine burn cancelling the error. That was what I was referring to.
Getting back to TVC, did the AJ-10 on the Shuttle use TVC, or rely on RCS for fine tuning?
OMS engines are gimballed. FRCs/ARCs for adjusting vector so as not to exceed gimbal rate/limits.
I can go through the entire OMS thrusting maneuver control sequence (attitude hold, ...) and decisions. Variable forward/aft depletion on Shuttle RCS was a big deal, you could have surprises on mission/mission planning often as a result.
add:
(http://klabs.org/DEI/Processor/shuttle/sp-504/section_4/figures_4/figure_4_30.jpg)
(https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1785.0;attach=82787;image)