The Centaur upper stage is moved into the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center, or ASOC, to begin checkout for the launch of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission
In the clean room high bay at the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians prepare to clean and inspect Radiation Belt Storm Probes A and B. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, mission will help us understand the sun’s influence on Earth and near-Earth space by studying the Earth’s radiation belts on various scales of space and time. RBSP will begin its mission of exploration of Earth's Van Allen radiation belts and the extremes of space weather after its launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.
I see the centaur that arrives earlier is off on the right side of the bottom picture.
How big is the ASOC ? How many cores / missions can they work on at the same time ?
and arrival of the 1st stage on the Delta Mariner and then transport to Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center
Great time for EELV operations 8)
Inside the Astrotech payload processing facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians deploy the solar arrays and magnetometer boom of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes, or RBSP, spacecraft A.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iknDzp_uPek&feature=youtu.be
and now the Centaur Upperstage is at the pad:
Centaur stacked on the core stage:
The LUT looks like it could use some maintenance....
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=4
What's an LUT? Not to be a stickler, but Atlas at CCAFS has a Mobile Launch Platform (MLP) on which the vehicle is stacked. That stacking is done at the Vertical Integration Facility (VIF). There are probably a number of other acronyms, but these are the most relevant for these events.
Both probes joined together from channel 3
The whole day :)
Since the Atlas V 401 NROL-36 launch has been delayed until at least Aug. 14 will this Atlas V launch be delayed?
Jim something special about the silver tape use for this mission vs a Gold mylar?
Is this a new project or same Radiation Belt Storm Probes?
Say good bye. They are now in the fairing
Say good bye. They are now in the fairing
Another one of the projects you worked on Jim?
Say good bye. They are now in the fairing
Another one of the projects you worked on Jim?
yep
Not to detract from this update thread, but we will have a very nice surprise after this launch for you ULA fans.
Firstly, this weekend, we'll be creating a specific ULA section on the forum. We'll then have this launch. Then - in full association with ULA, per agreement, we'll have a special event on the forum. :)
Not to detract from this update thread, but we will have a very nice surprise after this launch for you ULA fans.
Firstly, this weekend, we'll be creating a specific ULA section on the forum. We'll then have this launch. Then - in full association with ULA, per agreement, we'll have a special event on the forum. :)
NAVAREA IV 458/2012(GEN). (190916Z AUG 2012)
NORTH ATLANTIC.
ROCKETS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 230808Z TO 230927Z AUG, ALTERNATE
240807Z TO 240926Z AUG IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-37-00.0N 080-36-00.0W, 28-37-00.0N 080-32-00.0W,
28-30-00.0N 080-15-00.0W, 28-29-00.0N 080-15-00.0W,
28-29-00.0N 080-17-00.0W, 28-33-00.0N 080-34-00.0W.
B. 23-24-00.0N 060-01-00.0W, 22-27-00.0N 057-30-00.0W,
21-58-00.0N 057-12-00.0W, 21-37-00.0N 057-22-00.0W,
21-37-00.0N 057-52-00.0W, 22-34-00.0N 060-22-00.0W.
C. 02-02-15.7N 026-42-21.2W, 00-48-17.3N 016-20-04.6W,
06-27-19.8N 015-44-33.4W, 07-39-45.7N 026-11-28.3W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 241026Z AUG 12.
Find Jim in the video
Find Jim in the video
at 50 seconds with your back to back to us?
NAVAREA IV 461/2012(GEN). (201628Z AUG 2012)
NORTH ATLANTIC.
ROCKETS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 240807Z TO 240927Z AUG,
ALTERNATE 250807Z TO 250927Z AND 260807Z TO 260927Z AUG
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-37-00.0N 080-36-00.0W, 28-37-00.0N 080-32-00.0W,
28-30-00.0N 080-15-00.0W, 28-29-00.0N 080-15-00.0W,
28-29-00.0N 080-17-00.0W, 28-33-00.0N 080-34-00.0W.
B. 23-24-00.0N 060-01-00.0W, 22-27-00.0N 057-30-00.0W,
21-58-00.0N 057-12-00.0W, 21-37-00.0N 057-22-00.0W,
21-37-00.0N 057-52-00.0W, 22-34-00.0N 060-22-00.0W.
C. 02-02-15.7N 026-42-21.2W, 00-48-17.3N 016-20-04.6W,
06-27-19.8N 015-44-33.4W, 07-39-45.7N 026-11-28.3W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 458/12.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 261027Z AUG 12.
Find Jim in the video
.
.
Heh, now that's what I call a Jim Profile picture! :)
On console now, its going to be a long nite.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=258No sign of the vehicle number on this Atlas, or in any of the press material. It was previously reported to be AV-032, but that is old public information. Interesting that the outline of a a removed U.S. Air Force emblem is visible on the Centaur paint.
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=258No sign of the vehicle number on this Atlas, or in any of the press material. It was previously reported to be AV-032, but that is old public information. Interesting that the outline of a a removed U.S. Air Force emblem is visible on the Centaur paint.
- Ed Kyle
http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=258No sign of the vehicle number on this Atlas, or in any of the press material. It was previously reported to be AV-032, but that is old public information. Interesting that the outline of a a removed U.S. Air Force emblem is visible on the Centaur paint.
- Ed Kyle
I can confirm it is AV-032
Launch team is not working any issues according to PAO. ::)
If the vehicle anomaly team is running it and it's a beacon issue, that sounds like the C-band system on the rocket did not pass its final checks or there was a hiccup in the signal. If it was an issue on the range, the vehicle anomaly team would not be running it.
range not proceeding at this time due to beacon issue
If the vehicle anomaly team is running it and it's a beacon issue, that sounds like the C-band system on the rocket did not pass its final checks or there was a hiccup in the signal. If it was an issue on the range, the vehicle anomaly team would not be running it.
Thanks, that helps a lot when the official lines are only saying beacon issue and not explaining it.
Wow. That's gorgeous. Who took it?
Any word on approval/resolution for tomorrow's attempt? ULA seem to be tweeting like it's happening.
Yeah - me too Beemer. Went down to Port Canaveral yesterday for the 2nd launch attempt, and there were probably 100 cars of people all along SR401. Great atmosphere, but of course a bit deflated to lose the launch to a beacon!
I wish either NASA or ULA or the range had been a bit more forthcoming with info today on the status of the resolution of the issue, and updated the launch blog accordingly.
Here's to 3rd time lucky!
Heh! Someone's bringing up their kid the right way!
http://twitter.com/4tuneQkie/status/239267728928669696/photo/1/large
Heh! Someone's bringing up their kid the right way!
http://twitter.com/4tuneQkie/status/239267728928669696/photo/1/large
Heh! Someone's bringing up their kid the right way!
http://twitter.com/4tuneQkie/status/239267728928669696/photo/1/large
Red on four weather rules now.
Not gonna happen today folks.Don't be too pessimistic, we still have 1 minute to come out of the hold. ;)
Okay dokey, thanks again to everyone who helped with coverage (especially Dappa :))You might want to find another victim for tomorrow. ;)
Okay dokey, thanks again to everyone who helped with coverage (especially Dappa :))You might want to find another victim for tomorrow. ;)
Okay dokey, thanks again to everyone who helped with coverage (especially Dappa :))You might want to find another victim for tomorrow. ;)
'hopefully' I can wake up in time
Thanks guys for the great coverage. Couldn't make this attempt, but things look promising for tomorrow morning (unless the weather looks dodgy, at which point I'll just be 'normal' and take my normal Sunday sleep in) :)
Poor Jim...(& Kim Keller). Ah well, such is the launch business. Still one of the best jobs in the world (imo).
Okay dokey, thanks again to everyone who helped with coverage (especially Dappa :))You might want to find another victim for tomorrow. ;)
'hopefully' I can wake up in time
Thanks guys for the great coverage. Couldn't make this attempt, but things look promising for tomorrow morning (unless the weather looks dodgy, at which point I'll just be 'normal' and take my normal Sunday sleep in) :)
Poor Jim...(& Kim Keller). Ah well, such is the launch business. Still one of the best jobs in the world (imo).
Sorry Robert, the launch is now NET next Thursday.... luckily this should happen before the EVA on that day LOL.
William's article updated:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/08/nasa-rbsp-spacecraft-ride-ula-atlas-v/
The United Launch Alliance (ULA) have been denied second attempt to launch their Atlas V
NAVAREA IV 477/2012(GEN). (251245Z AUG 2012)
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
ROCKETS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 300805Z TO 300925Z AUG,
ALTERNATE 310805Z TO 310925Z AUG
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-37N 080-36W, 28-37N 080-32W,
28-30N 080-15W, 28-29N 080-15W,
28-29N 080-17W, 28-33N 080-34W.
B. 23-24N 060-01W, 22-27N 057-30W,
21-58N 057-12W, 21-37N 057-22W,
21-37N 057-52W, 22-34N 060-22W.
2. CANCEL NAVAREA IV 461/12.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 311025Z AUG 12.
HYDROLANT 1961/2012(24,51,57). (251251Z AUG 2012)
EASTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
ROCKETS.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 301935Z TO 302101Z AUG, ALTERNATE
311935Z TO 312101Z AUG
IN AREA BOUND BY
02-02-15.7N 026-42-21.2W, 00-48-17.3N 016-20-04.6W,
06-27-19.8N 015-44-33.4W, 07-39-45.7N 026-11-28.3W.
2. CANCEL HYDROLANT 1918/12.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 312201Z AUG 12.
Any plans to return the vehicle to the VIF?
William's article updated:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/08/nasa-rbsp-spacecraft-ride-ula-atlas-v/
Good article, however the first part of the first sentence is not worded particularly well.QuoteThe United Launch Alliance (ULA) have been denied second attempt to launch their Atlas V
Why are thick clouds a concern?
A launch operator must not initiate flight if the "flight path" will carry the launch vehicle through a "cloud
layer" that is either:
(1) Greater than or equal to 4,500 feet thick and any part of the "cloud layer" along the "flight path" is
located at an altitude where the temperature is between 0 degrees Celsius and −20 degrees Celsius,
inclusive; or
(2) Connected to a "thick cloud layer" that, less than or equal to 5 nautical miles from the "flight path,"
is greater than or equal to 4,500 feet thick and has any part located at an altitude where the temperature
is between 0 degrees Celsius and −20 degrees Celsius, inclusive.
70 percent go, according to this just posted by NASA:
NASA @NASA
#RBSP 1st stage tanking done. Weather is 70% go. Launch at 4:05a ET Aug. 30. NASA TV starts at 1:30a Aug. 30. http://go.nasa.gov/POIaeo
There is something special about a night launch on the Cape.
The pad search lights that you can see for miles in the the sky
Gantries and tall facilities outlined in red lights
The air field beacon sweeping its green and white light.
The lighthouse light blinking in the distance.
Hazardous facilities have their red, yellow or green lights on
And finally, the pad bathed in search lights.
Why is the ring in the middle of the Atlas LO2 tank not yet icing over?
Atlas LO2 at 20%
I know, the middle part is probably around the 50% LO2 level. However, ice was already visible above and below that ring. So something's different in that part of the structure, and I'm wondering what that is.Why is the ring in the middle of the Atlas LO2 tank not yet icing over?
Atlas LO2 at 20%
LOX level hasn't reached that high yet.
I know, the middle part is probably around the 50% LO2 level. However, ice was already visible above and below that ring. So something's different in that part of the structure, and I'm wondering what that is.
Oh, I see what you're talking about: that very thin ring. That is a splice ring; the thicker structure takes longer to develop ice.That's what I suspected, thanks for confirming that.
more information on centaur stage performance and subsystems compared to what we get normally?I think more than on a DoD mission.
more information on centaur stage performance and subsystems compared to what we get normally?I think more than on a DoD mission.
I think you might be right. :Dmore information on centaur stage performance and subsystems compared to what we get normally?I think more than on a DoD mission.
I mean the talk about the changing mixture ratios to consume excess oxidizer, the helium levels being mentioned - can't remember that from things like curiousity - I might jus be mistaken, of course.
I like it! Go Centaur! ;D
replays coming up!I laughed at the bird that was flying over the pad at T-10 seconds. :D
I really liked the "release" voice on liftoff :D
replays coming up!
I really liked the "release" voice on liftoff :D
One more replay of ignition (it's green ;D).
The engine uses a hypergol ignition system using approximately a 50/50 mixture of tri-ethyl boron and tri-ethyl aluminum which ignites spontaneously on contact with liquid oxygen. This hypergol provides all the energy necessary to get the engine started...Good ol' TEA-TEB - SpaceX uses the same if I remember correctly.
USSTRATCOM has catalogued a first object (at epoch Aug 30, 0916UTC)Now a second object (same epoch 0916:56UTC)- 38752/ 2012-046A in 584.0 x 30539.9 km x 10.08°
Ben Cooper....that's all I need to say to make you click this set of frakking amazing photos! ;D
http://www.launchphotography.com/RBSP.html
AFAIU, Centaur de-orbit splash in the Atlantic should take place at around 1935UTCUSSTRATCOM has confirmed that Centaur (2012-046C) decayed on August 30.
Two new NASA probes that are flying through the belts of radiation surrounding Earth have found that these regions change more rapidly than previously thought.
The Van Allen Probes — a pair of twin spacecraft formerly known as the Radiation Belt Storm Probes — launched Aug. 30, and turned on their instruments two days later. Since then, the spacecraft have returned unprecedented measurements of the zones of charged particles, called the Van Allen radiation belts, around our planet. In these zones,trillions of high-energy particles released by the sun are trapped by Earth's magnetic field.
Earth’s radiation belts, two doughnut-shaped regions of charged particles encircling our planet, were discovered more than 50 years ago, but their behavior is still not completely understood. Now, new observations from NASA’s Van Allen Probes mission show that the fastest, most energetic electrons in the inner radiation belt are not present as much of the time as previously thought. The results are presented in a paper in the Journal of Geophysical Research and show that there typically isn’t as much radiation in the inner belt as previously assumed — good news for spacecraft flying in the region.
Past space missions have not been able to distinguish electrons from high-energy protons in the inner radiation belt. But by using a special instrument, the Magnetic Electron and Ion Spectrometer — MagEIS — on the Van Allen Probes, the scientists could look at the particles separately for the first time. What they found was surprising —there are usually none of these super-fast electrons, known as relativistic electrons, in the inner belt, contrary to what scientists expected.
“We’ve known for a long time that there are these really energetic protons in there, which can contaminate the measurements, but we’ve never had a good way to remove them from the measurements until now,” said Seth Claudepierre, lead author and Van Allen Probes scientist at the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, California.
Of the two radiation belts, scientists have long understood the outer belt to be the rowdy one. During intense geomagnetic storms, when charged particles from the sun hurtle across the solar system, the outer radiation belt pulsates dramatically, growing and shrinking in response to the pressure of the solar particles and magnetic field. Meanwhile, the inner belt maintains a steady position above Earth’s surface. The new results, however, show the composition of the inner belt isn’t as constant as scientists had assumed.
Ordinarily, the inner belt is composed of high-energy protons and low-energy electrons. However, after a very strong geomagnetic storm in June 2015, relativistic electrons were pushed deep into the inner belt.
The findings were visible because of the way MagEIS was designed. The instrument creates its own internal magnetic field, which allows it to sort particles based on their charge and energy. By separating the electrons from the protons, the scientists could understand which particles were contributing to the population of particles in the inner belt.
“When we carefully process the data and remove the contamination, we can see things that we’ve never been able to see before,” said Claudepierre. “These results are totally changing the way we think about the radiation belt at these energies.”
Given the rarity of the storms, which can inject relativistic electrons into the inner belt, the scientists now understand there to typically be lower levels of radiation there — a result that has implications for spacecraft flying in the region. Knowing exactly how much radiation is present may enable scientists and engineers to design lighter and cheaper satellites tailored to withstand the less intense radiation levels they’ll encounter.
In addition to providing a new outlook on spacecraft design, the findings open a new realm for scientists to study next.
“This opens up the possibility of doing science that previously was not possible,” said Shri Kanekal, Van Allen Probes deputy mission scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, not involved with the study. “For example, we can now investigate under what circumstances these electrons penetrate the inner region and see if more intense geomagnetic storms give electrons that are more intense or more energetic.”
The Van Allen Probes is the second mission in NASA’s Living with a Star Program and one of many NASA heliophysics missions studying our near-Earth environment. The spacecraft plunge through the radiation belts five to six times a day on a highly elliptical orbit, in order to understand the physical processes that add and remove electrons from the region.
NASA's Van Allen Probes Spot Man-Made Barrier Shrouding Earth
***SNIP***
NASA's Van Allen Probes Spot Man-Made Barrier Shrouding Earth
Humans have long been shaping Earth’s landscape, but now scientists know we can shape our near-space environment as well. A certain type of communications — very low frequency, or VLF, radio communications — have been found to interact with particles in space, affecting how and where they move. At times, these interactions can create a barrier around Earth against natural high energy particle radiation in space. These results, part of a comprehensive paper on human-induced space weather, were recently published in Space Science Reviews.
“A number of experiments and observations have figured out that, under the right conditions, radio communications signals in the VLF frequency range can in fact affect the properties of the high-energy radiation environment around the Earth,” said Phil Erickson, assistant director at the MIT Haystack Observatory, Westford, Massachusetts.
VLF signals are transmitted from ground stations at huge powers to communicate with submarines deep in the ocean. While these waves are intended for communications below the surface, they also extend out beyond our atmosphere, shrouding Earth in a VLF bubble. This bubble is even seen by spacecraft high above Earth’s surface, such as NASA’s Van Allen Probes, which study electrons and ions in the near-Earth environment.
The probes have noticed an interesting coincidence — the outward extent of the VLF bubble corresponds almost exactly to the inner edge of the Van Allen radiation belts, a layer of charged particles held in place by Earth’s magnetic fields. Dan Baker, director of the University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, coined this lower limit the “impenetrable barrier” and speculates that if there were no human VLF transmissions, the boundary would likely stretch closer to Earth. Indeed, comparisons of the modern extent of the radiation belts from Van Allen Probe data show the inner boundary to be much farther away than its recorded position in satellite data from the 1960s, when VLF transmissions were more limited.
With further study, VLF transmissions may serve as a way to remove excess radiation from the near-Earth environment. Plans are already underway to test VLF transmissions in the upper atmosphere to see if they could remove excess charged particles — which can appear during periods of intense space weather, such as when the sun erupts with giant clouds of particles and energy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFYoYUBGw4s
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2017/nasas-van-allen-probes-spot-man-made-barrier-shrouding-earth
Super cool and impactful findings. Aurora-watchers may lament this decades from now.
Was intrigued by the idea of using VLF as some kind of space weather shield.I wonder what a VLF array on Mars could do. Could it help rebuild the atmosphere, or is a strong magnetic field needed to begin with?
Was intrigued by the idea of using VLF as some kind of space weather shield.I wonder what a VLF array on Mars could do. Could it help rebuild the atmosphere, or is a strong magnetic field needed to begin with?
- Ed Kyle
Chris, who's is the lead artwork on that article? It's a beautiful picture.
I don't understand. If the craft is going to lose power next year, how will it be able to perform a controlled re-entry in 2034? Is the press release talking about a "controlled reentry" just using that phrase loosely or is there something else happening?
I don't understand. If the craft is going to lose power next year, how will it be able to perform a controlled re-entry in 2034? Is the press release talking about a "controlled reentry" just using that phrase loosely or is there something else happening?
By lowering perigee to 190 miles now, NASA knows how atmospheric drag during each perigee will lower the apogee of each orbit. Eventually, by 2034, the atmospheric drag will circularize the orbit and degrade quickly from there for atmospheric entry.
Lower perigee now allows for the reentry timeline to be understood - controlled - instead of leaving the probes to slowly decay over tens to hundreds of years.
Instead, NASA is controlling the reentry by lowering the probes' perigees now so the probes are on understood, increasingly lower orbits that will eventually circularize low enough to degrade quickly for destructive reentry.
To this point, their EOM characteristics and reentries are controlled. "Controlled" doesn't always mean firing an engine to hit a precise point in the atmosphere at a precise second.
Is there a particular reason these probes carry so little fuel to return? They were 1500kg on an Atlas V 401, so not mass limited and they only need a few m/s more to return to denser atmosphere from that highly eccentric orbit.
Is there a particular reason these probes carry so little fuel to return? They were 1500kg on an Atlas V 401, so not mass limited and they only need a few m/s more to return to denser atmosphere from that highly eccentric orbit.
What do you mean "to return"?
Yes, there was a mass limit, look at the operational orbit.
They lowered their orbit from 30414x618 to 30414x305. It just seems odd to me that they carry enough fuel to lower their orbit to somewhere that will take 30+ years to come down and cross everything from LEO constellations to GPS. If you really care about deorbiting, going down to 100km would take an additional 8m/s at apogee, a difference of some 5kg of hydrazine.
The satellites are still working, so they don't want to end their missions immediately. This ensures they will decay in a reasonable timescale without halting the mission. I imagine that if there is some later problem that permanently disables the scientific payload, they could command a manoeuvre that would lead to immediate decay.Yes, it's a tradeoff. Orbital debris guidelines say LEO disposal orbits should have a lifetime of less than 25 years. The target orbit has a lifetime of about 15 years, requires 2kg of propellant to get to, and leaves enough propellant for about another year of operations. The deorbit burn needs to be done when the spacecraft spin axis, which points at the Sun, lines up with the velocity vector at apogee; this happens once or twice a year. If they waited another year, there might not be enough propellant to complete the deorbit burn.
Propellant budget | ΔV | Propellant |
Mission—Phasing/Collision Avoidance | 2.4 m/s | 0.8 kg |
G&C—Precession | - | 13.3 kg |
G&C—Spinup/Spindown | - | 0.3 kg |
Mission—Deorbit | 59.6 m/s | 18.3 kg |
Additional N2H4 to fill tanks | - | 23.3 kg |
Residual propellant | - | 0.5 kg |
Total propellant mass | - | 56.5 kg |
Total GN2 pressurant mass | - | 0.5 kg |