Author Topic: Delta IV-H - Parker Solar Probe - SLC-37 - Aug 12, 2018  (Read 194395 times)

Offline High Bay 4

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Ben Cooper’s Launch Photography website now indicating a mid-August TBD launch date.  Anyone know what this latest delay might be about?  This would be putting us awfully close to the end of the launch window for PSP.

Offline Aurora

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May be launch delay up to 12 August - investigation underway of FOD found within PLF.    Date not set until source of FOD determined and any corrective actions required.

Offline DatUser14

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Titan IVB was a cool rocket

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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They’ve now lost more than half of their original launch window, which opened July 31. Window runs until Aug. 19.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1021869594804473861

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Next launch window would be in May 2019, I believe.

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1021875358340136962

Online jacqmans

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Jacques :-)

Offline tyrred

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Should the thread header be refined to the new TBD date of 08/11/18?  It's possible that the FOD issue could be resolved sooner than that, but it's uncertain that the response to any possible resolution could maintain the 08/06/2018 TBD date.
« Last Edit: 07/25/2018 09:57 am by tyrred »

Online mn

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Should the thread header be refined to the new TBD date of 08/11/18?  It's possible that the FOD issue could be resolved sooner than that, but it's uncertain that the response to any possible resolution could maintain the 08/06/2018 TBD date.

There doesn't seem to be anything else on the schedule, perhaps they can have any date they are ready? (i.e. even if they miss the 6th, doesn't necessarily mean they have to wait for the 11th.)

Offline Kim Keller

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There doesn't seem to be anything else on the schedule, perhaps they can have any date they are ready? (i.e. even if they miss the 6th, doesn't necessarily mean they have to wait for the 11th.)

No. There's still work to be done. 8.11 is a NET date.

Offline Welsh Dragon

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Can we please clarify what that date actually means? I take it you don't mean the 8th of November?

Offline AncientU

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NET August 11th.
"If we shared everything [we are working on] people would think we are insane!"
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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TROT TO HOT: @NASA’s solar probe “Parker”, encapsulated inside a faring, is rolling along the 405 tonight from Astrotech in Titusville to @NASAKennedy. It will be mated to a @ulalaunch Delta IV rocket and launched by @NASA_LSP towards our sun for solar research. #Fox35

https://twitter.com/fox35derrolnail/status/1024110781439377413

Edit to add: some clearer shots from Ken Kremer (just 1 attached)
https://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/1024134747117821953
« Last Edit: 07/31/2018 03:33 am by FutureSpaceTourist »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/prepping-to-launch-for-the-sun
Prepping to Launch for the Sun

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has cleared the final procedures in the clean room before its move to the launch pad, where it will be integrated onto its launch vehicle, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy. This is an historic mission that will revolutionize our understanding of the Sun, where changing conditions can propagate out into the solar system, affecting Earth and other worlds. Parker Solar Probe will travel through the Sun’s atmosphere, closer to the surface than any spacecraft before it, facing brutal heat and radiation conditions — and ultimately providing humanity with the closest-ever observations of a star.

Seen here inside one half of its 62.7-foot tall fairing, the Parker Solar Probe was encapsulated on July 16, 2018, in preparation for the move from Astrotech Space Operations in Titusville, Florida, to Space Launch Complex 37 on Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where it will be integrated onto its launch vehicle for its launch that is targeted for August 11, 2018.

Image Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins APL/Ed Whitman

Last Updated: July 31, 2018
Editor: Yvette Smith
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Offline edkyle99

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When the Delta 4 second stage completes its second burn, will Parker Solar Probe/Star 48BV be heliocentric, or will it take the Star 48BV burn to put PSP into actual solar orbit?  In other words, what orbit will the Delta stage be in after its second burn?

 - Ed Kyle

Offline ZachS09

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When the Delta 4 second stage completes its second burn, will Parker Solar Probe/Star 48BV be heliocentric, or will it take the Star 48BV burn to put PSP into actual solar orbit?  In other words, what orbit will the Delta stage be in after its second burn?

 - Ed Kyle

When New Horizons was launched atop the Atlas V 551/Star 48B rocket, the Centaur placed the spacecraft & solid motor on a heliocentric trajectory, leaving the Star 48B to provide the final boost.

With that being said, I'm guessing that the Delta Cryogenic Second Stage will inject the Parker Solar Probe and its solid motor on a similar trajectory before the Star 48B takes over.
Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Offline LouScheffer

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When the Delta 4 second stage completes its second burn, will Parker Solar Probe/Star 48BV be heliocentric, or will it take the Star 48BV burn to put PSP into actual solar orbit?  In other words, what orbit will the Delta stage be in after its second burn?
It will surely be heliocentric.  Here's a quick back of the envelope to show this:

Launch C3 is quoted at 154 km^2/sec^2.  From this chart, that's about 8.75 km/sec from LEO.

Now how much does the Star add?  PSP = 685 kg.  Star 48 initial mass = 2114 kg, end mass = 114 kg (this is not the exact Star variant, but close enough).  So start mass = 685+2114 = 2799, end mass 685+114 = 799.  Delta V at ISP 283 is then 283*9.8*ln(2779/779) = 3477 m/s.  So before ignition, v = LEO + 5273 m/s.

But LEO is about 7.8 ks/sec, add in 5.3 to get 13.1 km/sec.  But Earth escape is only 11.2 km/sec.

So the second stage is well beyond Earth escape, and will be heliocentric.

EDIT: fixed small arithmetic bug.  Conclusion unchanged.
« Last Edit: 08/02/2018 03:35 am by LouScheffer »

Offline edkyle99

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Thanks, Lou.  I should have known.  Delta 4 Heavy can put 6,750 kg directly into geosynchronous orbit.  It can probably put slightly more than that past C3=0.

 - Ed Kyle
« Last Edit: 08/02/2018 02:24 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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How many objects from this launch will end up in heliocentric orbits?  Three?
DCSS
Star-48BV
PSP
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Offline Newton_V

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When the Delta 4 second stage completes its second burn, will Parker Solar Probe/Star 48BV be heliocentric, or will it take the Star 48BV burn to put PSP into actual solar orbit?  In other words, what orbit will the Delta stage be in after its second burn?

 - Ed Kyle

I seem to recall C3 was > 50.
« Last Edit: 08/02/2018 03:43 pm by Newton_V »

Offline LouScheffer

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When the Delta 4 second stage completes its second burn, will Parker Solar Probe/Star 48BV be heliocentric, or will it take the Star 48BV burn to put PSP into actual solar orbit?  In other words, what orbit will the Delta stage be in after its second burn?

I seem to recall C3 was > 50.
This seems reasonable.   The rough calculation above yields LEO+5.3 km/sec.   Using this chart of C3 vs dV from LEO gives a C3 slightly over 50 km2/sec2 for the second stage,  as opposed to 154 km2/sec2 for PSP itself.

Also, PSP plus the Star 48 mass is about 2700 kg together.   Then this plot of Delta IV Heavy performance shows about 55 km2/sec2.   So all is consistent.

EDIT:  Added another way to get the same conclusion.
« Last Edit: 08/02/2018 05:20 pm by LouScheffer »

Offline dsmillman

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