Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Cape Canaveral SLC-41 - January 19/20, 2018  (Read 73738 times)

Offline mhlas7

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #40 on: 01/15/2018 08:05 pm »
Hoping this launches on time. I'm in Florida for a few days and I have tickets to watch from the LC-39 observation gantry! This will be my first launch in person! I will post pictures after. Hoping to get some snaps of FH if it is on the pad

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #41 on: 01/16/2018 04:56 am »
Mission overview document from ULA website

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #42 on: 01/16/2018 03:55 pm »
Launch forecast issued today is still 80% GO:

Quote
Launch day overall probability of violating weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Cumulus Clouds

24-hour delay overall probability of violating weather constraints: 20%
Primary concern(s): Cumulus Clouds
« Last Edit: 01/16/2018 03:55 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline catdlr

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #43 on: 01/16/2018 05:28 pm »
Atlas V SBIRS GEO Flight 4 Mission Profile


United Launch Alliance
Published on Jan 16, 2018

An Atlas V 411 rocket will launch the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 mission for the U.S. Air Force from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex-41. SBIRS, considered one of the nation's highest priority space programs, is designed to provide global, persistent, infrared surveillance capabilities to meet 21st-century demands in four national security mission areas: missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Online ZachS09

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #44 on: 01/16/2018 06:58 pm »
Quick error of the mission profile video:

Even though the launch footage correctly depicts a night launch, the model shown is wrong since the 411 config lifts off faster and leaves a smoke trail thanks to the AJ-60A SRB.
Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Offline satwatcher

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #45 on: 01/17/2018 08:36 am »
The interesting thing is, that this time an Atlas-V(411) instead of the Atlas-V(401) was ordered

SBIRS-GEO has either gained some additional mass or an different orbital injection profile will be used.

https://govtribe.com/project/ja-15-37-for-space-based-infrared-systems-sbirs-geo-flight-4-launch-services

It's possible the extra SRB is for increased performance to allow the Centaur to fully de-orbit into the ocean.
Looks like you were right, as per the mission booklet and the NOTAMs, the Centaur upper stage will be de-orbited on this mission.
« Last Edit: 01/17/2018 11:56 am by eeergo »

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #46 on: 01/17/2018 12:05 pm »
Tory's confirmation of the 411 vs 401 question:

Quote
For prior missions, this customer preferred to place the expended Centaur in the designated disposal orbit (junkyard, from which stages slowly decay into reentry). On this flight, the SRB provides enough energy to allow Centaur to be immediately deorbited.

https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/953606591244390400
« Last Edit: 01/17/2018 12:06 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #47 on: 01/17/2018 01:26 pm »
Airspace closure and launch hazard areas

Offline Norm38

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #48 on: 01/17/2018 02:09 pm »
They're adding the cost/complexity of an SRB just to be able to de-orbit the upper stage faster?  What is the reason for that?  Is this new policy, to be able to target specific disposal areas?

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #49 on: 01/17/2018 02:51 pm »
Quote
The U.S. Air Force is ready to launch the 4th SBIRS Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite on 18 January 2018 #spacestartshere

https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/953654763371024384

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #50 on: 01/17/2018 02:55 pm »
Launch forecast now improved to 90% GO.

(Thanks to https://twitter.com/NASA_Nerd/status/953655577103814656, updated forecast is not yet on the 45th webpage)

Edit to add:

45th have now uploaded to web, forecast now attached
« Last Edit: 01/17/2018 02:59 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #51 on: 01/17/2018 04:36 pm »
Quote
United Launch Alliance’s Atlas 5 rocket is on the move toward Cape Canaveral’s Complex 41 launch pad. The rocket is rolling out ahead of launch with a US Air Force satellite Thursday night. https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/17/av-076-mission-status-center/

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/953680952626204674

Offline Star One

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #52 on: 01/17/2018 04:38 pm »
They're adding the cost/complexity of an SRB just to be able to de-orbit the upper stage faster?  What is the reason for that?  Is this new policy, to be able to target specific disposal areas?

I’d turn the question around and ask what is wrong with taking the responsible course of action, especially if anyone knows about the growing clutter in orbit it’s the USAF.

Offline envy887

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #53 on: 01/17/2018 04:47 pm »
They're adding the cost/complexity of an SRB just to be able to de-orbit the upper stage faster?  What is the reason for that?  Is this new policy, to be able to target specific disposal areas?

I’d turn the question around and ask what is wrong with taking the responsible course of action, especially if anyone knows about the growing clutter in orbit it’s the USAF.

The issue is less about junk in orbit (GTO orbits generally decay in a few months or years) and more about controlling where any debris will fall after surviving reentry.

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #54 on: 01/17/2018 06:03 pm »
Quote
The Atlas 5 rocket has arrived at its launch pad at Cape Canaveral ahead of liftoff Thursday evening with a US Air Force missile-warning satellite. There is a 90% chance of favorable weather for launch. spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/17/av-…

https://twitter.com/stephenclark1/status/953691359919165442

Offline input~2

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #55 on: 01/17/2018 06:16 pm »
WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 190052Z TO 190207Z JAN,
ALTERNATE 200048Z TO 200203Z JAN
IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 28-38N 080-39W, 28-40N 080-33W,
28-40N 080-11W, 28-35N 079-40W,
28-30N 079-11W, 28-23N 079-13W,
28-32N 080-35W.
B. 24-03N 056-45W, 24-13N 056-35W,
23-33N 054-15W, 23-22N 054-25W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 200303Z JAN 18.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE 061534Z JAN 18.

Date: 150338Z JAN 18
Cancel: 20030300 Jan 18

Centaur re-entry area:

NORTH PACIFIC.
DNC 12, DNC 13.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 191014Z TO 191057Z JAN,
ALTERNATE 201010Z TO 201053Z JAN
IN AREA BOUND BY
13-53N 175-27E, 14-20N 174-34W,
12-26N 174-33W, 11-59N 175-34E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 201153Z JAN 18.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE 091816Z JAN 18.

Date: 150403Z JAN 18
Cancel: 20115300 Jan 18
« Last Edit: 01/17/2018 06:46 pm by input~2 »

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #56 on: 01/17/2018 06:19 pm »
Rollout video and photos:

Quote
GEO Flight-4 has rolled out to the launch pad today at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.  The…https://www.instagram.com/p/BeD7aymHdYo/

https://twitter.com/af_smc/status/953702253533253632
« Last Edit: 01/17/2018 06:19 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

Online FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #57 on: 01/17/2018 09:57 pm »
Rollout photos from ULA
« Last Edit: 01/17/2018 10:00 pm by FutureSpaceTourist »

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #58 on: 01/18/2018 12:00 am »
Quote
Beautiful evening at @ulalaunch Space Launch Complex 41, where an Atlas V 411 rocket is poised to launch the @usairforce SBIRS GEO-4 satellite tomorrow night at 7:52pm. Photo: @johnkrausphotos / @AmericaSpace.

https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/953791900221308929

Offline Lewis007

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Re: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Jan 18, 2018 - Canaveral SLC 41
« Reply #59 on: 01/18/2018 07:15 am »
Another launch patch

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