Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012  (Read 183636 times)

Offline Jim

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #40 on: 11/09/2012 10:15 pm »
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)
« Last Edit: 11/10/2012 04:05 am by Jim »

Offline Star One

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #41 on: 11/09/2012 10:20 pm »
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?

Offline hoku

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #42 on: 11/09/2012 10:39 pm »
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).
« Last Edit: 11/09/2012 10:42 pm by hoku »

Offline Jim

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #43 on: 11/10/2012 12:18 am »
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

Offline Star One

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #44 on: 11/10/2012 02:30 pm »
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?

Offline Prober

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #45 on: 11/20/2012 03:52 pm »
any updates on the schedule?
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET December 11, 2012
« Reply #46 on: 11/21/2012 10:43 am »
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/

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Offline jacqmans

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #47 on: 11/21/2012 01:56 pm »
Latest news is (from L2) that there is no launch date anymore.......
Jacques :-)

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #48 on: 11/21/2012 03:38 pm »
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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Offline edkyle99

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #49 on: 11/21/2012 04:03 pm »
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.

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Offline Chris Bergin

Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #50 on: 11/21/2012 04:17 pm »
ULA:
The new OTV-3 planning date for launch is Dec. 11 pending approval from the range.
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Online ugordan

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #51 on: 11/21/2012 06:50 pm »
I believe that it is due to the RL10 failure investigation.

Your definitions of failure are getting more and more interesting, Ed.

Offline Star One

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #52 on: 11/21/2012 08:41 pm »
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

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET November 27, 2012
« Reply #53 on: 11/22/2012 02:35 am »
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

Offline steveb23

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #54 on: 12/04/2012 04:30 pm »
Hi,

Is there any update on this launch date? Travelling to Florida next week so wondering if I can watch it...

Steve

Offline robertross

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #55 on: 12/04/2012 04:48 pm »
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...

Offline WHAP

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #56 on: 12/04/2012 09:35 pm »
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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Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #57 on: 12/05/2012 12:41 am »
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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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #58 on: 12/05/2012 08:50 pm »
Range Approval for date 11 December 2012 appears to have gone through as Launch is no longer listed as pending approval on ULA website.

Offline Prober

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Re: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - NET Dec. 11, 2012
« Reply #59 on: 12/06/2012 01:40 am »
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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