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Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => NGIS (Formerly Orbital ATK) - Antares/Cygnus Section => Topic started by: Ronsmytheiii on 04/13/2009 02:27 am

Title: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 04/13/2009 02:27 am
After some issues, seems that a launch is finally near:

Quote
Lift off for Tactical Satellite-3 has been scheduled for May 5, 2009, from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Wallops Island Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.

The program recently encountered challenges with some of the spacecraft's components, but the required repairs have been made and the system has been given the green light for its year-long experimental mission.

"Our program team never gave up, and establishment of the launch date serves as a testimony to their dedication, determination and duty to making TacSat-3's mission a success," said Dr. Thomas Cooley, TacSat-3 program manager. "Obviously, the project has much to do in these next few weeks leading up to lift off, but we now have a firm end date to get on orbit and begin the fun experiment phase."

Led by the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here, the less than 880-pound satellite, originated in 2004 to address military needs for responsible, flexible, and affordable spacecraft operating in the cosmos, consists of three innovative experiments: the Raytheon Company-built Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer hyperspectral imager, the Office of Naval Research's Satellite Communications Package, and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Avionics Experiment.

The trio of trials will provide real-time imagery (within 10 minutes of collection); sea-based information transmitted from ocean buoys; and plug-and-play avionics to advance the technology of rapid spacecraft integration and help enable the responsive space vision.

Program participants include the AFRL's Sensors Directorate, Dept. of Defense's Operationally Responsive Space office, the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Development and Test Wing, Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and the Office of Naval Research.

http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123141387
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 04/13/2009 05:11 pm
The launch will probably be covered on the MARS webcast:

http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast/
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: kermit on 04/13/2009 05:24 pm
I wonder how close one can get to the launch pad for the launch. The visitors center is more than 7 miles from the pad. But there are several roads south of there that are much closer.  One from the town of Assawoman that ends less than 2 miles west of the pad according to Google earth. Will thar road be closed for the launch?

Don
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: antonioe on 04/14/2009 01:41 am
Let me ask the folks at Wallops if they have an "official" spot for the general public to go to.  I guess you can always go to Chincoteague harbor...

I'm told that there is an extraordinary number of "official" visitors for this launch, mostly congressional pu... I mean, staffers, and that the Wallops PAO is trying to figure out what to do with all of them.

I'm going to try to sneak in myself.
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: kevin-rf on 04/14/2009 02:18 am
Wallops PAO is trying to figure out what to do with all of them.
How big is the flame trench? Can they use the stimulus money to rent enough folding chairs?
Quote
I'm going to try to sneak in myself.
Don't get caught ;)
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 04/23/2009 10:33 pm
Have to include this since I used to be in CAP:

Quote
What do Civil Air Patrol planes have in common with Tactical Satellite-3?

Both utilize the same onboard processing.

Adapted for functionality in the cosmos for the upcoming TacSat-3 mission by Space  Computer Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Vehicles Directorate here and Sensors Directorate, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, the Airborne Real-time Cueing Hyperspectral Enhanced Reconnaissance system has been employed by the Civil Air Patrol for search and rescue, homeland security and disaster impact appraisal and aid operations.

http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123145588
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: Freddie on 04/28/2009 04:22 am
I wonder how close one can get to the launch pad for the launch. The visitors center is more than 7 miles from the pad. But there are several roads south of there that are much closer.  One from the town of Assawoman that ends less than 2 miles west of the pad according to Google earth. Will thar road be closed for the launch?

Don

From the Wallops TacSat-3 webpage (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat3.html):

"Viewing the Launch
The launch will be visible in the mid-Atlantic region. Locally, the NASA Visitor Center on Va. Route 175 and the beach at the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge/Assateague National Seashore will be open to view the launch."     


The above two (2) locations are the customary viewing sites.  If you check Google Earth, it will be seen the Assateague National Seashore offers a good viewing area.

Visitors up in Ocean City often watch from the ocean pier at the southern end of town although the launch site is some 60 miles distant.

The launch window is between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m., EDT, on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, with back-up launch windows for the same time period on each successive day thereafter up through Tuesday, May 19, 2009.

Twitter launch schedule updates can be viewed at http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops.

Launch updates are also available on radio station 760AM that has a five-mile broadcast range centered upon the NASA Wallops Visitors Center.

Launch updates are also available by telephone to 757.824.2050.



Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: Jim on 04/28/2009 01:41 pm
5/6 is the requested launch day
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: kermit on 04/28/2009 02:23 pm
5/6 is the requested launch day

Is that 5/6 UTC 0000  ie:5/5 2000 EDT ?
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: Cretan126 on 04/30/2009 04:26 pm
5/6 is the requested launch day

Is that 5/6 UTC 0000  ie:5/5 2000 EDT ?

Yes, 5/5 2000 EDT (http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat3.html)
Title: Re: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 2009
Post by: Cretan126 on 04/30/2009 04:30 pm
I think the GeneSat-2 in the topic title is in error.  The CubeSats listed on the Wallops web page are:  PharmaSat1, CP6 CubeSat, HawkSat-1, and AeroCube
(http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/missions/tacsat3.html)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/04/2009 03:27 pm
http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/webcast/  is looking good for a webcast.

Will be moved for live coverage later.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Jamie Young on 05/04/2009 04:40 pm
Will someone be recording the launch, as I will miss this :(
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/04/2009 04:41 pm
Will someone be recording the launch, as I will miss this :(

Yep, we'll either have it on the free video section or youtube it.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/04/2009 11:45 pm
Weather still a 50/50 chance tomorrow, tornadoes right now in Virginia  :o

http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 01:20 pm
Article and video on the Minotaur launch tonight:

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/05/interactive-explore-minotaur1-and-its-payload
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: kevin-rf on 05/05/2009 01:24 pm
Do we know if this launch is going to hug the east coast or go straight out to sea?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5
Post by: kermit on 05/05/2009 01:32 pm
Do we know if this launch is going to hug the east coast or go straight out to sea?

According to the tracking sites it appears it will be headed south east:

Two down-range tracking sites are supporting the TacSat-3
launch — Coquina and Antigua. At Coquina, located on the
Outer Banks of North Carolina, Wallops deployed mobile ra-
dar, telemetry, and command systems.  The Coquina location
provides an alternative look angle at the vehicle during flight.
This angle is necessary when plume attenuates the RF signal
necessary to track the vehicle. Radar and telemetry systems at
Antigua will also track the vehicle as the spacecraft achieves
orbit.

Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 05:04 pm
"The latest weather forecast shows an 85% probability of violating launch weather constraints. Countdown continues."

http://twitter.com/ATKRocketNews
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 05:25 pm
T-6 hours and 45 minutes. Wallops crews are on station and beginning to test support equipment and systems

http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 05:39 pm
Image of the Tacsat-3 Minotaur:
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 05:49 pm
T-6 hours and counting. 1 p.m.forecast still shows poor weather for launch

http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: faustod on 05/05/2009 06:37 pm
Image of the Tacsat-3 Minotaur:

I think this image is Tacsat-2/Minotaur (please look at the upper logo).
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 07:10 pm
T-5hours counting at 3 p.m. All crews are on station. The launch range is ready to continue the countdown. Still poor weather.

http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 07:14 pm
lightning in area,loop is up
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 07:16 pm
Doors open
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Simonpro on 05/05/2009 07:27 pm
Whilst this may not be the best place to ask (mods please move if so), I've just noticed that the orbital.com webpage doesn't appear to work with firefox. I just get a blank page, both on my laptop at home and my desktop at work. It works fine with IE.
Anyone else experienced this problem?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 07:42 pm
Any meteorologist out there?  Trying to figure out whether I should leave now to try to watch the launch (its a two hour drive through a toll road)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/05/2009 08:01 pm
T-4 hours and counting. Weather still an issue. Looking for rain at the beginning of the window.

Wish me luck, I am off!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5
Post by: tonthomas on 05/05/2009 08:47 pm
Image of the Tacsat-3 Minotaur:

I think this image is Tacsat-2/Minotaur (please look at the upper logo).
Well, it´s equivalent to this
http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code840/multimedia/TacSat.jpg (http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code840/multimedia/TacSat.jpg)
one.

Here´s
http://www.losangeles.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123147523 (http://www.losangeles.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123147523)
the right one.

Thomas
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/05/2009 10:11 pm
I wonder how far they will go with the count, with only a 15 percent chance of acceptable weather?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 5, 09
Post by: DaveS on 05/05/2009 10:15 pm
Launch Conductor has requested the clock to hold at T-1:45:00 due to weather.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/05/2009 11:47 pm
About an hour ago there was a report that they were having difficulty getting one of the range aircraft airborne. There has been no further word on this, I would expect them to call a scrub in the next 15 minutes if this is not resolved.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/06/2009 12:04 am
Polling for OSP site safing
Title: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/06/2009 12:07 am
All stations go for site safing.

Launch scrubbed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/06/2009 12:07 am
Horrible weather.
Title: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/06/2009 12:09 am
Horrible weather.

Hopefully it'll be better tomorrow.

Is it the same window?
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/06/2009 12:09 am
Officially scrubbed for the night.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/06/2009 12:12 am
From NASA:

Quote
We have canceled tonight's launch attempt of the Minotaur 1 rocket because of poor weather conditions. A decision on the next launch attempt will be made later tonight.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/06/2009 12:24 am
Horrible weather.

Hopefully it'll be better tomorrow.

Is it the same window?

Wallops weather shows a better chance at launching on Friday, possibly Thursday.

http://www.wunderground.com/US/VA/Wallops_Island.html

I'll let rdale post and will delete this if he has a forecast that is more accurate than the one above.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/06/2009 02:27 am
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/06/2009 02:30 am
Florida has gators and crocs, we have turkey and deer:
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: DirtyDeeds on 05/06/2009 02:51 am
In a selfish way, I'm happy it was scrubbed tonight. Now I'll maybe get a chance to see it with my own eyes a night or two before heading down to FL to see STS-125. Very good week for me.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/06/2009 07:01 am
Next attempt will be on 8 May (GMT), same window.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:44 am
55% chance of suitable weather tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/07/2009 12:11 pm
"The next launch attempt For tacSat-3 mission is Thursday, May 7. Window is 8 to 11 p.m. 55% probability of good weather for launch."

http://twitter.com/NASA_Wallops
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/07/2009 05:18 pm
http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445.asx?bkup=32644

If weather is good, the gantry should be removed around four hours to launch.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/07/2009 06:47 pm
Blue skies overhead - Wallops just issued a weather forecast with a 60% probablity of good weather for launch.

http://twitter.com/PharmaSat
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 06:57 pm
Blue skies overhead - Wallops just issued a weather forecast with a 60% probablity of good weather for launch.

It's time to change the thread title!
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/07/2009 08:13 pm
Hello!
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur- TacSat-3 - May 5, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 08:14 pm
Tower has been rolled back

T-3 hours 46 minutes and counting.
Title: Minotaur- TacSat-3/GeneSat-2/PharmaSat 1/HawkSat-I/Polysat-CP6 - May 8, 2009
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 08:22 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 08:40 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 08:41 pm
Did someone say they were working an issue with the range?
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 08:47 pm
Did someone say they were working an issue with the range?

They just mentioned it again. It was a downrange tracking issue, should be resolved in the next 30 minutes.

Weather briefing at 21:00 GMT.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 08:47 pm
LSE has been powered down, prelaunch tests complete.

No vehicle or spacecraft issues being worked.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:06 pm
The weather briefing has been conducted. To summarise:
Weakening rain, clear of island, small amount of rain,
A small area of cloud is moving in from Washington, it will be close to WFF at around T-0, and is the main concern at the moment.

A few clouds at 3,000ft, 14,000ft and 25,000ft
Winds blowing 12kts to the SSW, winds aloft to the south and west

At the time of launch there will be scattered clouds at 3,000 and 14,000ft, winds to the SSW of 12kt, and a small chance of rain.

There is a 30% chance of a thunderstorm and 25% chance of being red on clouds. There is also a small chance of anvil clouds.

Overall there is a 30% chance of violation on weather
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:08 pm
Polling for final arming
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:12 pm
Thermal blanket will remain attached until T-0
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:31 pm
Kochina (not sure about spelling) is now green, so the range issue is resolved.

Range is still amber at the moment, but is not working any issue. Everything else is green.

150 minutes until launch.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: usn_skwerl on 05/07/2009 09:36 pm
just heard all sites are green now...
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Cretan126 on 05/07/2009 09:42 pm
Kochina (not sure about spelling) is now green, so the range issue is resolved.

Range is still amber at the moment, but is not working any issue. Everything else is green.

150 minutes until launch.

The spelling is "Coquina"

And the Range being "amber" is normal.  It just means everything is as it should be.  They don't go 'green' until theire radars and command destruct sites are locked on rocket a few minutes prior to launch.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:43 pm
Another weather briefing. In summary:

•Thunderstorms moving to the north of the launch site
•Will clear by end of the window
•Thunderstorms to the south could affect the Coquina tracking station
•Very good conditions
•Winds to the South at low altitude, becoming more westerly at altitude

•14,000ft cloud ceiling with some scattered at 3,000ft predicted at launch
•30% chance of a thunderstorm at T-0

•30% chance of violation at the start of window, rapidly moving
•Less chance of violation later in the window
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 09:53 pm
Tornadoes in the vicinity of Coquina, severe weather predicted there in about an hour. It may need to be temporarily closed, but should be reopened in time for launch.

There is also discussion ongoing on the "engineering anomaly" channel.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:00 pm
T-2 hours and counting
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 10:22 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Stardust on 05/07/2009 10:24 pm
Little tip for the live stream here:

http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445.asx?bkup=32644

Open in Firefox. If you have installed the free VLC player you get a perfect picture. Full screen possible. May be you muß renew the site to get the download window in Firefox. If you go to "open" instead of download the VCL opens if properly installed.

You find the freeware player at www.videolan.org
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:29 pm
T-90 minutes, beginning site safing
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:31 pm
Spacecraft being powered down due to lightning in the area
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:33 pm
Surveillance aircraft returning to base as a precaution.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:35 pm
Countdown will hold at T-1 hour 15 minutes
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:40 pm
MST will be moved back onto the pad.

Delay is due to weather at the start of the window, they are going to try and launch later in the window.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:41 pm
Spacecraft powering down
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:43 pm
Lightning predicted over the launch site in 30-35 minutes
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:44 pm
Spacecraft has been powered down
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:45 pm
T-1 hour, 15 minutes and holding
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: robertross on 05/07/2009 10:48 pm
Sometimes you gotta love these eventful launches  :)

thanks for the coverage, btw!
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:49 pm
MST or "Shelter" is now being moved to cover the rocket.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 10:50 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:53 pm
MST or "Shelter" is now being moved to cover the rocket.

Or at least should be. No sign of movement yet...
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:56 pm
45 minutes required from the aircraft taking off again to launch.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 10:56 pm
MST or "Shelter" is now being moved to cover the rocket.

Or at least should be. No sign of movement yet...

They are doing some kind of work at the base of the rocket...
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 10:57 pm
MST or "Shelter" is now being moved to cover the rocket.

Or at least should be. No sign of movement yet...

They are doing some kind of work at the base of the rocket...

I think they were safing the first stage, and preparing for the arrival of the MST. They did some work there earlier, after the MST had been removed.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: edkyle99 on 05/07/2009 10:58 pm
MST or "Shelter" is now being moved to cover the rocket.

Or at least should be. No sign of movement yet...

They are doing some kind of work at the base of the rocket...
Would this be the "safing" procedures?  A bit of a hassle to have to do this from a cherry picker against the timeline of an approaching thunderstorm...  Why can't this be done from the service tower?

 - Ed Kyle
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 11:00 pm
MST being moved...
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:00 pm
MST is on its way.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:02 pm
Tower just about to move over the rocket now.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:04 pm
MST movement complete
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:05 pm
"End of hazardous operations"
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:07 pm
Continuing to monitor the weather, launch operations will resume once the current storm cell is clear.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 11:11 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 11:13 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 11:15 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/07/2009 11:17 pm
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: edkyle99 on 05/07/2009 11:27 pm
Here's gif movie of the MST rollback.

 - Ed Kyle
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: DirtyDeeds on 05/07/2009 11:37 pm
My internet is being about 20 times slower than dialup in 1996, so I can't really look on the previous pages. Could somebody really quickly tell me at what time the earliest possibility of launch is? Are we on track for 8:00? I want to go outside and watch it from the beach but I have to be somewhere at 8:00. Thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:42 pm
Moving back into launch operations
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:43 pm
My internet is being about 20 times slower than dialup in 1996, so I can't really look on the previous pages. Could somebody really quickly tell me at what time the earliest possibility of launch is? Are we on track for 8:00? I want to go outside and watch it from the beach but I have to be somewhere at 8:00. Thanks a lot.

Absolutely no chance of launch earlier than about 01:00 GMT (09:00 your timezone). It will probably be later than that.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:43 pm
Spacecraft powering back up
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:44 pm
Ready to start final arming, waiting for spacecraft to power up.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:44 pm
Polling controllers on arming
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:46 pm
All controllers are go for final arming.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:47 pm
"Hazardous operations" have resumed.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:49 pm
Still holding at T-01:15:00
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:51 pm
Spacecraft powered up, no power switching.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/07/2009 11:52 pm
Final vehicle closeout in work.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 12:00 am
Moving "Shelter" (MST) back away from the rocket
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 12:01 am
MST is moving
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 12:02 am
MST has cleared the rocket
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 12:04 am
Tower back in the "parked" position. Seemed to move a lot quicker on the way back - never seen an MST move so fast.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 12:05 am
And they're back working at the base of the rocket again.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/08/2009 12:07 am
Still holding at T-75 minutes?
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/08/2009 12:21 am
yes
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/08/2009 12:26 am
Set clock to T-1 and holding
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/08/2009 12:28 am
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/08/2009 12:29 am
standing by for surveillance aircraft (waiting for weather to improve)
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: comethunter on 05/08/2009 12:40 am
Good time to point out that we have a couple of hours left in the window...not to mention a nice moon rising out of the east as seen from inland.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/08/2009 01:12 am
Reports that weather is iffy for Pharmasat launch tonite. May try arouns 10pm EDT tonite - Godspeed

http://twitter.com/worden
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Alpha Control on 05/08/2009 01:27 am
Little tip for the live stream here:

http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445.asx?bkup=32644

Open in Firefox. If you have installed the free VLC player you get a perfect picture. Full screen possible. May be you muß renew the site to get the download window in Firefox. If you go to "open" instead of download the VCL opens if properly installed.

You find the freeware player at www.videolan.org

Thanks for the VLC player tip! Haven't heard of it before.

I am currently watching the live feed from NASA Wallops Flight Facility, which is a first for me. I took the following steps (I'm running Windows XP Home w/Firefox 3.0.10 plus DSL internet connection):

1.  Downloaded & installed the VLC player (from the freeware link provided by Stardust).
2. Tried directly opening the live stream link, but no joy.
3. Opened the VLC player itself, clicked "Media", then "Advanced Open File", then "Network". Selected "HTTP" in the Protocol dropdown, then pasted the live stream link into the Address area. Clicked "Play", and the connection was successful.
 
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/08/2009 01:27 am
Anyone finding the webcast has died?
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/08/2009 01:28 am
Anyone finding the webcast has died?

Hmm, working at SVC
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: catdlr on 05/08/2009 01:30 am
It died on me too, but I just reestablish again by clicking on the link above.  Maybe it's a time out parameter.  We've all been on for sometime now waiting.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 01:32 am
Anyone finding the webcast has died?

Mine cut out for a few minutes, but I've been having problems with my internet connection since my last post (which is why I haven't updated for a while), so I thought nothing of it.

Strange bug, I lost everything except the webcast, then I got that back and lost the webcast. Everything is working now though.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/08/2009 01:37 am
Plane has not departed. Another line of storms getting ready to come through the area....Ugggh!

http://twitter.com/PharmaSat
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 01:46 am
Still holding at T-1 hour
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 01:49 am
About ten minutes left until they run out of window.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/08/2009 01:49 am
Local news update for weather, some cells with lightning, hale, and rotation...
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/08/2009 01:50 am
Feed is working for me...

http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445.asx?bkup=32644
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/08/2009 01:50 am
View from alternate camera
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Alpha Control on 05/08/2009 01:53 am
No audio for quite some time, but the video appears to continue without interruption.  It just changed to a different camera view. As GW mentioned, the T-0 point continues to show as 1 hr and holding.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Alpha Control on 05/08/2009 01:54 am
About ten minutes left until they run out of window.

I thought the window was open for 3 hours (8pm EDT - 11pm EDT)?
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/08/2009 01:56 am
Based on weather and aircraft, will not go tonight
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 01:56 am
SCRUB
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/08/2009 01:57 am
Damn.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/08/2009 01:58 am
Feed switched to another camera angle.

I'm seeing the feed drop regularly...

Spotty audio, maybe off for tonight
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/08/2009 01:58 am
Damn.

Really, I am so sick of the fraking storms.....
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 7, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/08/2009 01:59 am
Shame, I really want to see this LV get back to orbit...
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Blackstar on 05/08/2009 03:13 am
Damn.

Really, I am so sick of the fraking storms.....

Tell me about it.  I live in Virginia.  Last week I was in Hawaii.  Now I'm in the rain...
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 7, 09
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 05/08/2009 03:33 am
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this does use the Eastern Range assets, correct? If so, then they have tomorrow left before standing down for Atlantis on Monday...
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 7, 09
Post by: beachgrinch on 05/08/2009 04:15 am
reschedule is up:

Posted by RCC on 2009-05-07 at 23:52:13 EDT
The launch of the Minotaur rocket from Wallops has been scheduled for Friday, May 8. The launch window is 8 to 11 p.m. The launch was scrubbed this evening due to weather issues. We were not working any problems with the launch vehicle, spacecraft or the range at the time of the decision to stop tonight's launch attempt.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/08/2009 04:49 am
reschedule is up:

Posted by RCC on 2009-05-07 at 23:52:13 EDT
The launch of the Minotaur rocket from Wallops has been scheduled for Friday, May 8. The launch window is 8 to 11 p.m. The launch was scrubbed this evening due to weather issues. We were not working any problems with the launch vehicle, spacecraft or the range at the time of the decision to stop tonight's launch attempt.


Thanks very much - title changed accordinly.

Welcome to the site's forum!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Stardust on 05/08/2009 06:49 pm
Live stream on air!

http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445.asx?bkup=32644

t- 5:11:00 just now.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Freddie on 05/08/2009 08:03 pm
Launch time is now scheduled for 7:35 p.m., EDT (2335 UTC), today.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:29 pm
Tower will be moved in 20 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: block51 on 05/08/2009 08:32 pm
I'm going to try and get some pictures of the launch (I live about 15 minutes away from the launch site). I'm also thinking about trying for a small movie, but it seems like I should probably leave that to people who know what they're doing. At any rate, I'll see how they turn out and if they are any good I'll try and post them. Hopefully we can see this liftoff tonight.

Thanks for all the updates in here.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:35 pm
T-3 hours and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:36 pm
Final arming to begin in 15 minutes.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:45 pm
Final arming step one underway.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:45 pm
Weather briefing will be conducted shortly.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:55 pm
Weather briefing conducted.

To summarise:
One weather cell with no lightning near the border between Virginia and North Carolina. It will be just to the east at the time of launch.

Concern over mid level clouds, but they're not as thick as they thought. Shouldn't be a problem but we'll know more when the next balloon goes up.

Winds SSW at 8 kts, 87% humidity.
Mid level winds 110 kts SSW.

At T-0, Scattered clouds, broken higher up. 20% probability of rain. Slight chance of winds violating - 25% chance of violation, clouds are the main concern at 35% probability of violation.

Overall 35% chance of violation.

Very large storm approaching from Ohio, but it won't arrive until after the window closes.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 08:55 pm
Voice checks underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:00 pm
Thermal blanket will not be removed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:00 pm
"Start of hazardous operations"

Tower will be moved shortly.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:06 pm
Surveillance aircraft is airborne.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:11 pm
Clock has just been set to T-10 minutes. I presume this is for something other than launch because the MST hasn't even been moved yet.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:13 pm
Final arming complete up to (not including) moving the tower. The arming plug has not yet been inserted.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:20 pm
Clock is showing T-0. Obviously not the correct count time.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:22 pm
Discussion regarding MST rollback is ongoing.

"T+2 minutes 30 seconds". Actually T-2 hours 13 minutes.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:24 pm
Weather briefing at T-1 hour 50 mins, tower will be moved after that briefing.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: block51 on 05/08/2009 09:35 pm
The countdown clock on the video stream seems to be correct again.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:35 pm
T-2 hours and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:40 pm
Surveillance aircraft is on station, 150 km (93 miles) from the launch site.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:49 pm
Summary of the latest weather briefing:

Weather looking very good. Small amount of rain in the area but is dissipating, nothing at the pad. Lots of holes in the mid-level cloud. Cloud is thinning out, and is not thick enough to be a problem anyway.

Scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, broken at 12,000 and overcast at 25,000
Maximum winds are 109 kts at 40,000 ft.

Conditions are favourable. 15% chance of a thunderstorm, small chance of rain.

Probability of constraint: 15% for visibility, 20% chance of rain, 30% chance of cloud constraints.



Go to move the tower.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:49 pm
MST is on the move.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:50 pm
Sounds like launch has been moved up another 5 minutes to 23:30 GMT.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:53 pm
Tower movement complete
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:55 pm
Work ongoing at the base of the rocket. I wonder if they are installing the arming plug that was mentioned earlier.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:57 pm
"Shelter roll is complete"
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 09:59 pm
Surveillance helicopter is airborne.

Range is amber and proceeding, no issues at this time.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:04 pm
Timestamps on the various cameras are showing slightly different times.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:15 pm
T-80 minutes and counting. Everything continues to look good.

Rocket, Spacecraft and Range are clear.

Evacuating the launch pad, GSO clearing area for launch.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:17 pm
Pad is clear
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:18 pm
LSE being powered up
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:30 pm
Correction, LSE has not yet been powered up.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/08/2009 10:34 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: block51 on 05/08/2009 10:36 pm
I'm off to see the launch with some friends. Thanks for all the updates here!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:36 pm
One hour to launch
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:39 pm
Timestamp on the feed currently says that it is 07:32:00 on 2 January. Hope they don't plan to use that as part of the countdown timer.

Go for terminal count.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:40 pm
There is an issue powering up the LSE. MAT being formed to address it on Channel 8 (engineering anomaly channel).
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:42 pm
No hold required on the issue at the moment, hold will be at T-20 if needed. T-0 is unchanged for now.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:48 pm
Weather is unchanged.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:50 pm
T-45 minutes and holding.

No word yet on why they have decided to hold here.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/08/2009 10:51 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:51 pm
Hold is related to the LSE issue, which is odd because they were planning to run down to T-20 before holding on that if needed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 10:53 pm
Nominal balloon schedule being followed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:06 pm
A boat is being escorted from the avoidance area. Still working the LSE issue.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:07 pm
Sounds like they have a plan to resolve the issue.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/08/2009 11:08 pm
maybe we will get this off today... fingers crossed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:14 pm
Team being sent to the pad to fix the LSE issue. Sounds like its a problem with a fibre optic connection.

Plan is to safe the vehicle and then repair it within the window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:16 pm
Waiting to confirm that LSE is completely powered down.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:23 pm
Red team on the way to the launch pad.

LWO tracking a cell of weather to the West, should not be an issue.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:27 pm
Safe plug has been installed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:32 pm
Possible constraint regarding mid-level clouds in the last 45 minutes of the window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/08/2009 11:42 pm
Nice parting of the couds right over the rocket right now... too bad they couldn't launch right now... lol...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/08/2009 11:44 pm
LSE powerup issue.  MAT opened and in process.

Resetting clock to T-50 minutes when MAT is closed, when the LSE is successfully powered up.  New T-0 will be discussed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:45 pm
Estimating reset to T-50 once the issue is resolved.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/08/2009 11:47 pm
Range is clear.  Still waiting for an ETC on troubleshooting steps to do a weather brief.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:47 pm
"Looking towards the end of the window at this point in time"
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/08/2009 11:56 pm
LSE issue resolved, currently being tested.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/08/2009 11:59 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:15 am
Trying to get a weather briefing for the end of the window in the next 15 minutes.

Troubleshooting continuing,
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:16 am
Briefing in 5 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/09/2009 12:20 am
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 12:22 am
Weather iffy at end of window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Satori on 05/09/2009 12:22 am
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 12:24 am
1AM local convective weather may violate limits- if I'm parsing the briefing correctly.

Gusts max at 52 with storm.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:26 am
Weather briefing:

Most of the convective weather will be well to the west at 03:00 GMT. Small chance of showers. Possible thickening cirrus and mid-level clouds. Potential severe weather at 05:00. The window will be long closed by then, but they need to be able to get the MST back by then. Maximum potential gusts are 52 kts. Following cells have max gusts of 39 kts.

End of window will probably be just okay for cloud thickness.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 12:26 am
Sounds a bit confused interacting with Wx briefer...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 12:29 am
Another camera angle
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:37 am
Issue now seems to be related to a power supply. They are planning to isolate and replace the supply. Should be resolved in 30 minutes. We should know in about 15 minutes whether it can be fixed without scrubbing or not.

Correction: The 30 minutes to resolve the issue is on top of the 15 to confirm whether it can be resolved.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 12:37 am
Update:  LSE fibre problem related to PS at pad, still in work.

Proposed solution is to swap power supply.

Estimated 30 Min to replace PS.

TS complete in 15 minutes, 45 minutes total.

Launch op possible at end of window if TS successful.  LV and SC green, range is green.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 12:46 am
Asking to reset countdown clock to T-50 minutes.

"Still aways away before we can launch, but we may have an opportunity to meet the window."
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:46 am
Resetting clock to T-50
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:46 am
Still some time away from picking up the count.

Should be able to make the end of the window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 12:46 am
Resetting clock to T-50:00 to pickup after LSE problem resolution.

Estimating "a ways" from resolving issue.

And updated...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 12:52 am
Another weather briefing will occur at 01:00.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 01:00 am
Wx brief delayed, ongoing anomaly activity on a non-webcast net.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/09/2009 01:06 am
Control room
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:07 am
Weather briefing delayed to 01:15.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:18 am
Weather briefing has finally been conducted:

Convective complex is weakening, but could regenerate as it approaches.
Predicted time for severe weather (winds and lightning) is 04:30.

Troubleshooting complete, issue resolved. Preparing to re-arm the rocket.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 01:18 am
TS done, problem potentially solved.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:20 am
Final vehicle closeout beginning.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/09/2009 01:21 am
How long left in the window?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:23 am
How long left in the window?

About 1 hour, 35 minutes. (closes at 03:00 GMT / 04:00 BST / 23:00 EDT)

Must resume in the next 45 minutes to make the end.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:25 am
Pad evacuation in work.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:26 am
Standing by to power up the LSE.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:28 am
Pad is clear, LSE powerup in work.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:30 am
Weather briefing continues...

Weather has not changed much in the last hour.

Precipitation still staying to the West.

Looks like the mid-level clouds will not be an issue within the window.

Severe weather will not arrive until 04:30. Gusts aren't very strong.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:31 am
Approaching the end of final arming.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:31 am
Sounds like they're getting ready to pick up the count.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:33 am
Spacecraft powered operations have been resumed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:33 am
Polling to resume the count.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:36 am
Go to proceed with terminal count.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:37 am
New launch time:
02:40:00 GMT
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 01:37 am
Setting new launch time:

2009:129:02:40:00 UTC
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 01:38 am
Pad is clear and all personnel accounted for.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:38 am
Countdown has resumed.

T-1 hour, 2 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 01:38 am
Counting down...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:40 am
LSE powerup complete
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:41 am
MATs closed now that LSE is working.

OSP SLV arming and final closeout complete
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:41 am
Polling for INS alignment
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:42 am
Go for INS alignment

Data recorders on

Avionics on external power
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:43 am
External power nominal

Flight computer checks underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:45 am
It seems that some of the flight controllers have different checklists to others, which could cause a problem later in the count.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:46 am
Decided not to proceed with the hold contingency checklist.

Beginning final launch checklist.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 01:46 am
Powering LV avionics.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:47 am
Checking the avionics again.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:47 am
Flight data files being loaded
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:48 am
Communications tests with the rocket underway.

External power is nominal.

Data nominal.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:49 am
Flight computer checksum test underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:50 am
T-50 again. At least it's counting this time.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:53 am
IMS initialisation setup complete
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:55 am
No issues being worked. Another weather briefing:

Bad weather will be well to the West during the launch window.
Weather is green.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 01:55 am
T- 45:00 and counting wx briefing underway.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:55 am
No mid clouds at all
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:56 am
10% chance of a thunderstorm. 20% of cloud layer violation.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 01:58 am
Severe weather NET 05:00 GMT. That's two hours after the end of the window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:00 am
T-40:00 and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:00 am
T-40 minutes. Closest we've got yet.

Launch site clear, warning light red.

Island is clear and closed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:01 am
VDM internal power on
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:02 am
Transponder checks underway.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:05 am
INS data verified as valid. 
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:07 am
FTS safed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:08 am
FTS arming test
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:09 am
Still going.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:10 am
LV SV and range green.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:10 am
There will be a hold at T-20 minutes if needed, no issues currently being worked.

Sounds like programme have requested the hold.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:10 am
T- 30:00 and counting.  Preparing to hold at T-20:00
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:11 am
T-30 minutes and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:12 am
Hold will be to allow extra time for balloon data processing, and will last 4-5 minutes.

Processing necessary to ensure that winds aloft are go.

It's certainly been an eventful launch attempt, and possibly even campaign.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:12 am
Short term hold will be for balloon data.  Hold 4-5 Minutes.

With good data, will select new T-0 and re-enter count.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:15 am
T-25 minutes and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:20 am
T-20 minutes and holding
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:20 am
Made it to T-20:00 starting hold.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:21 am
New launch time expected "within minutes".
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:23 am
New launch time:
02:45:00
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:23 am
New Launch time 2009 129 02:45:00
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:23 am
2 minutes remaining in the hold
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:25 am
T-20 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:25 am
Counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:25 am
Spacecraft configured for launch
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:26 am
Launch time confirmed as 02:45:00
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:26 am
I'll provide a video of the launch shortly after it happens in the free video section.  I'll also do live coverage (with help from GW_Simulations and everyone else, of course) of launch.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:26 am
Winds are acceptable for flight
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:27 am
Final launch readiness poll underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:28 am
Go for launch!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:28 am
Polling, all go.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:29 am
Hazard area is clear
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:30 am
T-15 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:30 am
T-15:00 and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:32 am
Spacecraft on internal power
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:33 am
SC external power removed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:33 am
T-12 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:33 am
Launch time set into flight computer.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:34 am
Countdown sequencer set to 120 seconds.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:34 am
LN-200 on external power. Voltage and current being evaluated.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:35 am
T-10 mins and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:35 am
T-10:00 and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:35 am
FTS on internal
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:36 am
Arming test
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:36 am
FTS arm enabled
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:36 am
Flight termination system armed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:37 am
T-8 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:38 am
T-7:00 and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:38 am
T-6 minutes, 30 seconds
Final authorisation poll underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:39 am
Final poling.

All are go.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:39 am
Go for launch
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:39 am
Go for launch.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:39 am
T-6 minutes
Data archiving underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:40 am
New camera angle.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:40 am
T-5 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:40 am
Avionics on internal power, external off
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:40 am
Auto sequencer enabled
Flight computer armed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:41 am
Transponder trackable on internal power.
T-4 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:41 am
T-4:00 and counting.

Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:41 am
IMS in free inertial navigate mode
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:41 am
Range is green
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:42 am
T-3 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:42 am
FTS power on
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:42 am
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:42 am
Hold
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/09/2009 02:43 am
HOLD!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:43 am
HOLD
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:43 am
HOLD HOLD HOLD
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:43 am
Hold called at T-02:13
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:43 am
Disarming and safing
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:44 am
Vehicle is safe.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:44 am
Switching back to external power
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:44 am
Unlikely to get another shot this window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:44 am
FTS safed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:45 am
FTS on external power
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:46 am
10 minute recharge required
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:46 am
14 minutes left in this window.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: jimvela on 05/09/2009 02:47 am
Darn...

I'm out for the evening.  Better luck next try.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/09/2009 02:47 am
10 minutes to recharge the batteries, and they've only just started to discuss the anomaly, so reckon they've lost this opportunity.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:48 am
Controllers discussing the cause of the hold on channel 8.

At the time the hold was called, I think someone mentioned low voltage or low power.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:50 am
Controllers discussing the cause of the hold on channel 8.

At the time the hold was called, I think someone mentioned low voltage or low power.

"HOLD HOLD HOLD, ATC levels are LOW."

That's what I have from what I was recording.  Any info on what the ATC is and we'll be set!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/09/2009 02:50 am
SCRUB
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:50 am
Scrubbed tonight.  Low ATC levels in the FSO.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:52 am
Launch team proceeding to launch site to safe the vehicle and spacecrafts.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: catdlr on 05/09/2009 02:52 am
Will they lose the range till after STS-125?
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Andrewwski on 05/09/2009 02:52 am
This is from Wallops, not KSC.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 02:52 am
Will they lose the range till after STS-125?

This launch is from Wallops, Virginia, I wouldn't see why they would have range issues.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/09/2009 02:54 am
As soon as I grabbed the camcorder, the hold was called :(
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: DirtyDeeds on 05/09/2009 02:59 am
As soon as I grabbed the camcorder, the hold was called :(

Ditto. But add binoculars to that.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 03:01 am
No launch opportunity tomorrow.

"Do you want to give Eastern Range the good news or shall I?" - over the network, trying to send the above news.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 03:02 am
May 19th is the next earliest opportunity, pending clearances.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: DirtyDeeds on 05/09/2009 03:03 am
Well, something to look forward to in a week and a half.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 03:06 am
MAT being opened for ATC voltages being lower than 4.00 volts and causing launch abort.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: catdlr on 05/09/2009 03:08 am
No launch opportunity tomorrow.

"Do you want to give Eastern Range the good news or shall I?" - over the network, trying to send the above news.

That's what I meant by losing the Range in my post.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 03:10 am
Seems the Wallops feed has been cut, or I can't get to it anymore..
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Dalon on 05/09/2009 03:16 am
As soon as I grabbed the camcorder, the hold was called :(

Ditto. But add binoculars to that.

What is the estimate as to how many miles away the launch could have been seen?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Jim on 05/09/2009 03:19 am
Will they lose the range till after STS-125?

This launch is from Wallops, Virginia, I wouldn't see why they would have range issues.

It used ER assets for launch.  Antigua
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/09/2009 03:21 am
Also I am not sure for STS-125, but Wallops is used to track the shuttle during liftoff (helps us get those lovely ET camera shots)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/09/2009 03:23 am
Will they lose the range till after STS-125?

This launch is from Wallops, Virginia, I wouldn't see why they would have range issues.

It used ER assets for launch.  Antigua

Ah, had forgotten about the ER bit until they said it on the airwaves.  Thanks again.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: ChrisGebhardt on 05/09/2009 03:48 am
Also I am not sure for STS-125, but Wallops is used to track the shuttle during liftoff (helps us get those lovely ET camera shots)

It does for ISS flights. But it won't for STS-125 as that's a due east launch from KSC. We're actually going to lose the ET feedline camera video 7-minutes 30-seconds after Atlantis' launch.
Title: Re: SCRUB: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - May 8, 09
Post by: Antares on 05/13/2009 04:40 am
Does Wallops have spectrum management like KSC?
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/13/2009 04:22 pm
Updated the thread title.
Title: Re: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Antares on 05/16/2009 02:45 pm
Hypothesis that it might have been an AWACS out of Pax River interfering.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 12:10 am
Appears to be still tracking tomorrow evening. How's the weather looking?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/19/2009 12:52 am
Appears to be still tracking tomorrow evening. How's the weather looking?

Most forecasts showing 10-15mph wind during the day, but 5-10mph during the night.  Mostly clear all day.  If rdale or anyone else has a better forecast, go ahead and post.  :)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:42 am
Quote from: RCC on 2009-05-18 at 20:00:39 GMT
The launch team received permission today to proceed towards the launch attempt of the TacSat-3 mission on May 19. The launch window is 7:35 to 11:30 p.m. Today's afternoon forecast shows a 90% probability of acceptable weather for launch. There is one issue that we are following. There is a possibility of a conflict with the air space we need for the launch. If there is a conflict, we will move the launch to Wednesday, May 20. We should know the status of this issue early Tuesday morning.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/19/2009 02:51 pm
Apparently the "airspace conflict" (I don't know what that meant) was cleared - we are go for tonight.  Azimuth from McLean, VA is 139 magnetic, distance 194 km.  Will have my HD videocamera ready.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 03:47 pm
Apparently the "airspace conflict" (I don't know what that meant) was cleared - we are go for tonight.  Azimuth from McLean, VA is 139 magnetic, distance 194 km.  Will have my HD videocamera ready.

Excellent, and that explains why we gained a note saying "Scrub" then 10 minutes later "Unscrub"!

It's time for this bird to fly.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/19/2009 04:01 pm
Apparently the "airspace conflict" (I don't know what that meant) was cleared - we are go for tonight.  Azimuth from McLean, VA is 139 magnetic, distance 194 km.  Will have my HD videocamera ready.

Excellent, and that explains why we gained a note saying "Scrub" then 10 minutes later "Unscrub"!

It's time for this bird to fly.

I like "Unscrub"  ;D
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/19/2009 04:06 pm
Let's hope we don't "De-unscrub"...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/19/2009 04:14 pm
Let's hope we don't "De-unscrub"...
"Re-scrub"?

But yes: Good luck for the launch!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: kevin-rf on 05/19/2009 05:32 pm
"Re-scrub"?

Just as long as it leaves a clean an shiny launch pad behind ;)

Go Orbital, light up that sky...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: DaveS on 05/19/2009 07:35 pm
MST removal ops in work for tonight's lift-off.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: penguinsix on 05/19/2009 08:38 pm
Weather is pretty nice.  I heard an update while listening to the webcast and they have no storms in the area, possibly a few showers down in the Carolinas but nothing major.  A few clouds at 14,000 (or 16,000 feet) but visibility is basically unlimited.

I'm on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay and it's blue skies as far as the eye can see.  Should be visible to many in the DC area I hope.

btw, while watching the webcast stream it disconnects pretty regularly every five minutes.  Anyone else getting something like that?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: penguinsix on 05/19/2009 08:40 pm
Also, fwiw, NORAD was conducting air defense exercises over DC last night with a couple of F-16s and a Cessna, and today the Blue Angels were in Annapolis doing a practice routine.  Don't think either of those would be the airspace interference problem they were concerned about but both were slightly out of the ordinary events for the DC area.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Stardust on 05/19/2009 08:48 pm
Little question: Live link? Must be another as on last try.

This is seemingly not working:

http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445.asx?bkup=32644

Shortened Link http://mfile.akamai.com/18569/live/reflector:59445  ==> access denied.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 08:49 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 08:52 pm
Let's hope we don't "De-unscrub"...

Was it so bad that I was star struck when I talked the the orbital representative last time?  Still, you werent there to get my crabcakes....
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 08:53 pm
final arming ad vehicle closeout
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 08:57 pm
Same T-0 as the last attempts?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 08:58 pm
"4:35p.m. T-3hours and counting"  so about 30 minutes early
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 09:01 pm
"4:35p.m. T-3hours and counting"  so about 30 minutes early

Thanking you.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 09:02 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 09:06 pm
"4:35p.m. T-3hours and counting"  so about 30 minutes early

Thanking you.

I might have to retract that, forgot about any holds
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Stardust on 05/19/2009 09:07 pm
OK. Problem solved. With the help from reply to my earlier post. For all here- it works in this way if you have this player.

I am currently watching the live feed from NASA Wallops Flight Facility, which is a first for me. I took the following steps (I'm running Windows XP Home w/Firefox 3.0.10 plus DSL internet connection):

1.  Downloaded & installed the VLC player (from the freeware link provided by Stardust).
2. Tried directly opening the live stream link, but no joy.
3. Opened the VLC player itself, clicked "Media", then "Advanced Open File", then "Network". Selected "HTTP" in the Protocol dropdown, then pasted the live stream link into the Address area. Clicked "Play", and the connection was successful.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 09:07 pm
Begin site evacuation, we might be going today!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: mfoster on 05/19/2009 09:19 pm

Thanks for the VLC player tip! Haven't heard of it before.

I am currently watching the live feed from NASA Wallops Flight Facility, which is a first for me. I took the following steps (I'm running Windows XP Home w/Firefox 3.0.10 plus DSL internet connection):

1.  Downloaded & installed the VLC player (from the freeware link provided by Stardust).
2. Tried directly opening the live stream link, but no joy.
3. Opened the VLC player itself, clicked "Media", then "Advanced Open File", then "Network". Selected "HTTP" in the Protocol dropdown, then pasted the live stream link into the Address area. Clicked "Play", and the connection was successful.


thanks for the tip, have the stream working again :)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 09:42 pm
Check the "copyright" tag on the stream - NASA don't know what "NASA" stands for.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 09:52 pm
Working a range tracking issue at the moment.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:07 pm
T-90 mins, powering up LSE. ETC 20 mins.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:08 pm
Pathfinder radar issue has been waived, US Coastguard will provide tracking instead. Ships are being dispatched downrange.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:09 pm
Possibility of a delay due to time taken to deploy Coastguard ships.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ronsmytheiii on 05/19/2009 10:12 pm
Possibility of a delay due to time taken to deploy Coastguard ships.

Send in the Navy, Norfolk is close by!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 10:17 pm
sky looks nice and clear - -I guess that 1 hour 18 minutes to go
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:17 pm
Possibility of a delay due to time taken to deploy Coastguard ships.

Send in the Navy, Norfolk is close by!

But from the discussion after the last scrub, an E-2 might not be the best way of providing downrange tracking...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:19 pm
LSE powered up, OSP SLV Minotaur I Final Arming checklist complete
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:20 pm
Coastguard chasing a ship out of the downrange hazard area, go for launch on time.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:21 pm
Correction, count will not proceed beyond T-60 mins until the ships are in position.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 10:25 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 10:33 pm
mission control
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:35 pm
Plan in place, range is go to proceed with count for current T-0.

No hold at T-60.


T-1 hour and counting, in final launch checklist.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 10:42 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:45 pm
0% probability of weather violation

Much better than the last few attempts
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 10:48 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:48 pm
IMS alignment complete
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:48 pm
No issues being worked
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 10:57 pm
Range confirms that the contingency plan is working
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:02 pm
coming up on 30 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:08 pm
Past T-30, still go
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:08 pm
FTS test completed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:15 pm
T-20 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:15 pm
Spacecraft payload configured for launch.

Launch time confirmed as 23:35:00
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:16 pm
Winds are go
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:16 pm
Looks like lovely weather there. And the upper level winds are acceptable.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:18 pm
Final poll underway
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:19 pm
Hold
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:19 pm
Violation of the downrange hazard area.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:20 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:20 pm
T-15 minutes, 35 seconds and holding
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:21 pm
Violation is a boat downrange.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:21 pm
I hope Ron didn't go out in his speedboat for a closer vantage point! ;) Send in the Navy!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Stardust on 05/19/2009 11:24 pm
Quote
Violation is a boat downrange.

These East coast bankers!! They have too much time now. :D :D
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:25 pm
Boat is turning round
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:25 pm
Should be clear in 5 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:25 pm
I wonder what it looks like when they go out and intercept the violators. Do they come screaming in with megaphones yelling at the violators or what?  :D
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:26 pm
New launch time: 23:45:00 GMT
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:26 pm
Reset to T-18 minutes and holding. Final readiness poll will be conducted again.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: charlieb on 05/19/2009 11:26 pm
I'm downrange in Kitty Hawk NC - and hoping to catch this baby as it clears the horizon up to the north from here.  Camera ready - and will post some pics (if they're any good) after it launches....  1/4 of 8 local or so..
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:27 pm
Ok good, only 20 minutes away from a launch all being well.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:27 pm
Resumed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: TJL on 05/19/2009 11:27 pm
I'll be looking south from Long Island, N.Y.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:27 pm
Holding again
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:27 pm
Come on Coastguard, get it together!

Count had resumed, but holding again at T-18 mins.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:28 pm
Back to T-18 minutes and holding again, Coastguard wasn't sure if the boat would be clear in time.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:29 pm
Come on Coastguard, get it together!

Where are those damned exocet's when you need them!!!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:33 pm
5 minutes until he is clear again.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:33 pm
5 minutes until boat out of hazard area.

New launch time 23:55 UTC.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:33 pm
New launch time: 23:55:00 GMT
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:34 pm
T-21 mins and holding
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:34 pm
No, they've changed their minds...

T-20 minutes and holding

Picking up the count in 30 seconds
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:35 pm
T-20 minutes and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:35 pm
T-20 minute limit checks are go
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:35 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:35 pm
Spacecraft configuration in work
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:36 pm
lets hope that is the last delay... we are going in the wrong direction.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:36 pm
Winds are go.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:37 pm
T-18 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:37 pm
S/C configured.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:38 pm
"Final" poll underway (again)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: TJL on 05/19/2009 11:39 pm
They poll more groups than the Shuttle program.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:40 pm
T-15 mins and counting, go for launch
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:40 pm
All restricted areas clear.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:41 pm
They poll more groups than the Shuttle program.

They have polled several controllers two or three times for the same thing.

Spacecraft on internal power.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:43 pm
T-12 mins and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/19/2009 11:44 pm
I'll have a video located in the Free Video section shortly after launch.  Thanks for the updates, guys.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:44 pm
Countdown sequencer set to -120 seconds
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:44 pm
LN-200 (?) voltage and current good.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:44 pm
Rocket, spacecraft and range are green.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:45 pm
T-10 minutes.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:45 pm
T-10 minutes and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:45 pm
T-10 minute limit checks are go

LN-200 data nominal

Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/19/2009 11:46 pm
LN-200 (?) voltage and current good.

Inertial Measurement Unit
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:46 pm
FTS on internal power
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:46 pm
FTS external power off
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:46 pm
FTS arming test
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:46 pm
FTS current and voltage good.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:47 pm
Test completed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:47 pm
T-8 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:47 pm
FTS armed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:47 pm
S&As to armed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:48 pm
T-7 mins and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:48 pm
T-7.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:48 pm
Final authorisation for launch has been given.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:49 pm
Final polling (again?)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:49 pm
T-6 mins and counting, ground ordnance armed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:49 pm
Ground ordnance enabled.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:50 pm
PT-5 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:50 pm
Avionics on internal power
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:50 pm
Avionics transferring internal.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:50 pm
Avionics external power off
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:50 pm
Auto sequencer enabled
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
Flight computer armed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
Flight computer armed. C-Band transponder trackable.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
C-band transponder trackable on internal power

T-4 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
Limit checks are go
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
INS in NAV mode.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
INS in nav mode
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:51 pm
Range is green
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:52 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:52 pm
PT-3 minutes and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:52 pm
T-150 seconds and counting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:53 pm
T-120 seconds and counting
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: charlieb on 05/19/2009 11:53 pm
hate to ask - anyone know the inclination of the launch??
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:53 pm
T-120 seconds.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:53 pm
Auto sequencer has started
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:53 pm
Limit checks go

Ordnance armed
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:53 pm
Orion S&As armed.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:54 pm
PT-60 seconds and counting.

One minute away from launch.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:54 pm
T-60 seconds. Go Minotaur!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:54 pm
T-45 seconds
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:54 pm
good luck.... fingers crossed...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:54 pm
T-30
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:55 pm
LIFTOFF
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:55 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:55 pm
Get up there!!

Nominal first stage flight.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:55 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:55 pm
MAXQ
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:56 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Lee Jay on 05/19/2009 11:56 pm
What a beautiful sight into the clear blue sky!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:56 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:56 pm
Staging
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:56 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:56 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
Now 5500 mph.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
Staging
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
2-3 sep.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
Fairing sep.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/19/2009 11:57 pm
5,500mph
62 miles altitude.
Staging - stage three ignition.
Fairing Sep.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Fairing sep, hope it was better than the last time OSC tried that
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
T+3 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Stage 3 tailing off
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Burnout
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Third stage burnout. Now coasting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:58 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
Calculating S4 ignition time
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
T+4 mins
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: charlieb on 05/19/2009 11:59 pm
man - that rose up off the horizon and was gone.........
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: mikes on 05/20/2009 12:00 am
hate to ask - anyone know the inclination of the launch??

40.5 degrees according to http://spaceflightnow.com/minotaur/tacsat3/timeline.html
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/20/2009 12:00 am
pretty much a blue screen from here on in... have to read the commentary (obviously no rocket cam.... :( )
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: TJL on 05/20/2009 12:00 am
Got a view of launch from Long Island!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: generic_handle_42 on 05/20/2009 12:00 am
man - that rose up off the horizon and was gone.........

She's a mover, that's for sure!  8)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:00 am
S4 ignition will be at T+550 seconds
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:00 am
T+5 minutes.

Stage 4 calculated start time is T+550 sec.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:01 am
Everything continues to look good
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/20/2009 12:01 am
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:01 am
Looks like there is a fire near the pad.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:02 am
2 minutes to S4 ignition
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:02 am
Now 13200 mph. Fourth stage ignition in about 2 minutes.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:02 am
"Vehicle flight path and attitude are nominal"
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:02 am
All systems nominal.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:03 am
1 minute to S4 ignition.

I think we can remove the "NET" from the thread title now
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:03 am
1 minute to fourth stage ignition.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/20/2009 12:03 am
Looks like there is a fire near the pad.

That's the boat that wandered into the range ;)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:03 am
Battery activation, S4 ignition in ~11 seconds.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:04 am
S4 ignition
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:04 am
Fourth stage ignition!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:04 am
T+9 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:04 am
T+9 minutes. Attitude and systems are good.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:05 am
S4 burnout
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:05 am
T+10 minutes
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:05 am
LOS
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:05 am
T+10 minutes. LOS.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:05 am
Acquisition by Antigua.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Ford Mustang on 05/20/2009 12:06 am
Launch video from T-5 to third stage burnout and into the coast phase.  Let me know if you have problems (in that thread) with the launch video, as noted.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17119
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:06 am
T+11 minutes.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:06 am
T+11 mins, systems appear nominal
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:07 am
20 seconds to S/C sep.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:07 am
TacSat-3 separation
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/20/2009 12:07 am
Phew....!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Nick L. on 05/20/2009 12:07 am
TacSat-3 sep!

Congrats to Orbital!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:08 am
Firefighters appear to have arrived at LP-0B
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/20/2009 12:08 am
well done.. great launch.. good coverage as well...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Lee Jay on 05/20/2009 12:08 am
Phew....!
Congrats!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:10 am
Planned Antigua LOS at T+13:07 (00:08:07 GMT)

PharmaSat separation will be 13:00 (not sure of time zone), CubeSats will be deployed at 14:00 (presumably the same time zone)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/20/2009 12:11 am
Nice work!

Launch video:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17119
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Stardust on 05/20/2009 12:13 am
Congrats from Germany at 02:11 after midnight. Bed is calling! Always a joy to see a sucessfull lift-off and orbital insertion. Keep the idea of space rockin!!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/20/2009 12:14 am
Number 56...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: penguinsix on 05/20/2009 12:18 am
Here are the pics from my house on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, about 75 miles from the launch site.

(http://www.penguinsix.com/images/IMG_9179.jpg)

(http://www.penguinsix.com/images/IMG_9182.jpg)

(http://www.penguinsix.com/images/IMG_9183.jpg)

(http://www.penguinsix.com/images/IMG_9188.jpg)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/20/2009 12:18 am
Number 56...

And counting. Congratulations!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:19 am
All stations and consoles are released.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Mattoco on 05/20/2009 12:20 am
Congratulations on a great launch! Good to see the first stateside launch for our new PolySat, as well as having it and the other CubeSats reach orbit!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 12:22 am
Secondary and tertiary payloads should have separated by now.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Peter NASA on 05/20/2009 12:40 am
Number 56...

Many congratulations!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Hunt101 on 05/20/2009 12:42 am
Can be a real test when you recycle so many times. Easy to take your eye off the ball. Deserves praise.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: TJL on 05/20/2009 12:45 am
Great shots, penguinsix...thanks for sharing.
View from Long Island was (surprisingly) pretty amazing!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: robertross on 05/20/2009 12:59 am
Number 56...

Well done!

Thanks for the coverage everyone. Neat to follow.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: stockman on 05/20/2009 01:16 am
Looks like there is a fire near the pad.

That's the boat that wandered into the range ;)

I just read this... lol... I was just kidding about the exocets!!  :o 
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: block51 on 05/20/2009 01:36 am
Yeah, I was about 1.5 miles away and saw the fire going pretty fiercely until the red flashing lights showed up. It was a great launch!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: CViMac on 05/20/2009 01:37 am
We were able to see the launch all the way up here in central NY (Cortland).  We looked south and saw the rocket traveling east at around 10-20 degrees altitude.  Saw a bright flare during a separation??  Just looked like a white speck for the most part.  Still VERY cool to see though!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Andrewwski on 05/20/2009 01:42 am
That's cool.  I looked out here from Buffalo but no joy.  Must have been below the treeline. which covers 4 or 5 degrees of the horizon I'd estimate.

If it had been delayed a few more days, I might have been able to see it, as we'll be in Watkins Glen for the weekend.  Oh well.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: charlieb on 05/20/2009 01:42 am
Took this 40 or so minutes back from Kitty Hawk beach some 120 miles south from Wallops...  Sky was too bright to capture the launch very well - the smoke trail was hairline thin - and when it plumed - it vanished into the background...
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: CJM on 05/20/2009 01:47 am
Watched this rise above the capitol in Washington DC - was a pretty amazing sight. Can't wait until the Taurus 2 launches start up... 
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: block51 on 05/20/2009 01:51 am
Watched this rise above the capitol in Washington DC - was a pretty amazing sight. Can't wait until the Taurus 2 launches start up... 
Those are going to be really cool! Should be sometime next year no?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: beachgrinch on 05/20/2009 02:55 am
from the webcast:

Posted by RCC on 2009-05-19 at 22:41:58 EDT
One last note: Both the TacSat-3 and PharmaSat spacecraft have communicated with their ground stations.

that is all
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: jcm on 05/20/2009 03:06 am
from the webcast:

Posted by RCC on 2009-05-19 at 22:41:58 EDT
One last note: Both the TacSat-3 and PharmaSat spacecraft have communicated with their ground stations.

that is all

And two objects cataloged so far by STRATCOM as 2009-28A and 28B, in 432 x 467 km x 40.5 orbit - probably Tacsat and the Minotaur final stage.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: MKremer on 05/20/2009 03:28 am
Awesome. Congratulations to antonioe and the entire Orbital team. :)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/20/2009 04:16 am
Awesome. Congratulations to antonioe and the entire Orbital team. :)

Appreciate the kudos, but *I* didn't have anything to do in this launch (maybe that's why it worked?  ::) ).  The team that assembled and flew the vehicle is entirely from Chandler.  However, in their name, thank you.  Minotaur 1 is so far 8 for 8.  Let me see if I can collect and post a few names and mug shots so you can meet the REAL Minotaurers...

The big gulp comes in a few months when we fly the first Minotaur IV with a multi-hundred-million satellite on its FIRST FLIGHT!!!  :o
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: William Graham on 05/20/2009 09:19 am
According to the CalPoly CubeSat Community Website, contact has been established with all three CubeSats.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Lawntonlookirs on 05/20/2009 01:44 pm
Thanks for the coverage.  It is always to follow the launches on NSF.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: jacqmans on 05/20/2009 01:48 pm
RELEASE: 09-114

NASA FLIGHT FACILITY SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES NANOSATELLITE

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. -- NASA's PharmaSat nanosatellite successfully
launched at 7:55 p.m. EDT Tuesday from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility
and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport located at Wallops Island,
Va. PharmaSat rode to orbit aboard a four-stage Air Force Minotaur 1
rocket. Also aboard were the Air Force Research Laboratory's TacSat-3
satellite and other NASA CubeSat Technology Demonstration
experiments, which include three four-inch cubed satellites developed
by universities and industry.

PharmaSat will investigate the effects of antifungal agents on the
growth of yeast in microgravity. This research could improve
understanding of how microbes may become resistant to the drugs used
to treat sick astronauts on long-duration space missions.

"After a spectacular launch as a hitchhiker on the Tacsat-3 mission,
we made contact with PharmaSat and confirmed that the spacecraft
deployed successfully," said Bruce Yost, PharmaSat mission manager at
NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "The PharmaSat
mission and science teams are now preparing to complete the
experiment on the yeast cultures."

Approximately 20 minutes after launch, PharmaSat separated from the
Minotaur 1 rocket and entered low Earth orbit at an altitude of
approximately 285 miles. About an hour after launch, NASA spaceflight
engineers made contact with PharmaSat. After a spacecraft checkout
period, ground controllers will command PharmaSat to initiate its
biological experiment, which will last approximately 96 hours.

Now that PharmaSat is activated and has begun transmitting radio
signals to ground control stations at SRI International in Menlo
Park, Calif., and Santa Clara University in California, it will send
mission data to the NASA Mission Management Team at NASA's Ames
Research Center. The nanosatellite could transmit data for as long as
six months.

The TacSat-3 launch was the third Minotaur vehicle launched from the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's launch pad 0B on the southern end
of Wallops Island. Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile
Systems Center's Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland AFB,
N.M., has overall management of the mission.

The Exploration Technology Development Program in NASA's Exploration
Systems Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington funded
the PharmaSat project.

For information about PharmaSat, visit:



http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/smallsats/pharmasat.html

Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: edkyle99 on 05/20/2009 03:40 pm
Number 56...

? 56 what?

My guess would be orbital launch attempts by Orbital.  There've been 40 Pegasus launches, and 8 launches each by Minotaur 1 and Taurus.

 - Ed Kyle
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/20/2009 03:44 pm
Correct, that's what I meant.

I asked Chandler to send me a launch team photo(s) for this launch.  I'll post it as soon as I get it.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/22/2009 01:00 am
In the meanwhile, here's some pictures that Orbital's Carlos Niederstrasser and Lori Brooks and CalPoly's Jon Brown took of the launch from Downtown DC.  They used STK to predict the rocket's trajectory from a selected spot in front of the Capitol building, then placed a Nikon D60 with an 18-55 mm lens at that location, with the sensitivity at ISO400 to account for the illumination.  Due to U.S. Capitol Police regulations, they could NOT use a tripod (!)

Photos were taken approx 5 minutes from liftoff.  Photoshop was used to enhance the contrail, due to the very unfavorable lighting conditions.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/22/2009 01:01 am
Also, here's a high-res shot of the launch:
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Chris Bergin on 05/22/2009 01:02 am
Oh very nice indeed!

Meanwhile, the Air Force are happy...
http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123150517
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: kevin-rf on 05/22/2009 01:12 pm

Due to U.S. Capitol Police regulations, they could NOT use a tripod (!)


And we are safer for that ??? Great shots, thankyou and them for sharing. So how did they hold the camera steady? Or is that Itar'd ;)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/23/2009 01:12 pm
O.K. - Here's the list of the Orbital People that launched TACSAT-3:

Electrical: Kathryn Miller (Avionics lead and Vehicle Manager, call sign VM), Chennault Slaughter, Justin Makinen, my fellow basques Rocio Jauregui and Rick Arvizu, Joe  Taliva'a, Rob Czeranko, Bill Kellett and contract employees Marcus Cole and Travis Parker.

Mechanical: Eric Draves (Mechanical lead, call sign ME), Mike Rempe (Launch Pad Chief, call sign PAD), Kevin Alber, Richard Dail, Steve  Rabideau, JD Martin, Larry Nelson and Bill Nelson.

Systems: Kelly Fitzpatrick, Ken Gregory and Matt Orlando.

GNC: Dan Cheke, Brian Reich (Call sign GCN) and Joseph Kokes.

Ordnance: Mike Powers and Zachary Adland.

Safety/QA/Other: Michael Riley, Dan Varner, Brandon Thau, Dana Frederic, the indefaticable Karl Seelandt (Launch Conductor, call sign LC -  other vehicles call that position “TC”), Frank Lopez, Mike Motola (Chief Engineer, call sign CE), Kevin Wilder (Program Manager and backup LC, call sign LCA) and my very good and old friend Dan Givens.

I hope I have not missed anyone.  Thanks and well done to all!

As you can see, a total of 35 people traveled from either Chandler or Vandenberg: the first ones arrived at Wallops March 23, the last ones will depart Wallops today, Saturday May 23 (after packing and cleaning up) for a well-deserved Memorial Day weekend with their families.

Not everybody was there all the time: looking at their travel matrix, I count 1157 person-days (including travel) for an average team size of only 19 people during the entire 62-day campaign.  the average stay at Wallops was 33 days, not in a single stretch (most people came back home and returned after the first try).  Indeed, had the weather and the range problems not postponed the launch, the campaign would have been 51 days long, for a total of 962 person-days and an average stay of 28 days.  Average team size would still have been 19 people.

You may find these statistics interesting.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Spiff on 05/27/2009 09:59 am
You may find these statistics interesting.

Yes I do. They're giving me a nice rough insight in the actual costs of a launch campaign and the cost of any delays.
Very rough, but to an amateur like me it's nice to get at least some actual cost data. ;)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/27/2009 10:27 am
Just be careful extrapolating this data to other vehicles/circumstances; this is more in the vein of "the art of the possible".  It represents the culmination of the "Keep It Simple, Stupid" small solid-motor approach that started with Scout in the 60's and 70's and culminated in Pegasus and Minotaur in the 90's and 00's.

You go to liquids, especially large liquids, and the bets are off.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Spiff on 05/27/2009 11:14 am
Yes, I had a feeling the numbers were a bit low. Which is good for you and your business obviously.
Of course there are other major cost driving factors of which I have admittedly no idea about how high they might be. To name a few:
Manufacturing costs
Payload integration costs
Range rental fees
Amortization on development costs
All kinds of general management and commercial overhead costs
Etc. etc. etc.

Truth is, I don't have the slightest idea about the true cost of any launch. But the data you provided gives me at least some things to clutch onto. ;)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/27/2009 02:32 pm
Back 10-15 years ago, the cost of launch averaged anywhere between 50% to 100% of the cost of the spacecraft.  Indeed, a classical "Mission Costs Rule of Thumb" used to say there are five nearly-equal pieces of the pie: Spacecraft Bus, Instrument(s), Launch, Ground Equipment and the Systems Engineering/Program Management glue that hold it together.

That is no longer true.

Today, ratios of 10:1 in the cost of spacecraft:cost of launch are not uncommon; two examples: the first SBRS GEO spacecraft will cost over $2B, and ride on a $175M EELV.  The first Minotaur IV, priced around $50M, will launch the SBSS spaceraft that  cost over $500M. (http://www.space.com/spacenews/archive07/sbss_0611.html)

I don't know the cost of the TACSAT-3 spacecraft, but it probably was several times what Orbital got for that launch!!!

Corollary 1: while given two identical rockets with identical reliability and performance customers will prefer the cheaper one ("relative price elasticity" is high) a FREE rocket will not increase the demand for rockets more than 10-20%, given the cost of the rest of the mission ("absolute price elasticity" is very low.)

Corollary 2: customers will gladly pay a significant premium on the launch service if it is PERCEIVED to increase its reliability in any significant amount.

These are two lessons we learned the hard way.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/27/2009 05:44 pm
Update: according to AW&ST the TACSAT-3 spacecraft cost more than 5x the Minotaur 1 that launched it.

Given that flight operations add to this cost, a FREE launch would have reduced the TACSAT-3 mission cost by less than 20%!

And that is for a low-cost spacecraft!!!
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Spiff on 05/28/2009 12:29 pm
I'm glad to hear you say that. There always seem to be a lot of people on internet fora claiming that 'we must develop a low cost mass produced booster that will dramatically decrease launch costs and therefore increase flight rates and that this will lead to the final commercialization of space!' or some such words.
Not true of course, and your words prove it. Not only because launch costs are a 'minor' item in the budget of any space mission, but also because
1) if it had been true it would already have happened, and
2) it's a case of switching cause and effect. The cause is the market for satellites, the effect is the market for launchers. Not vice versa.
If there would be a good reason (read: a way to make lots of money) to launch many more satellites to LEO, GEO, or whereever then this <MIGHT> lead to lower launch costs due to higher flight rates. But the price elasticity example that you provide already tells us that it won't be as impressive as some people like to dream it will be.
Good to hear from a pro that my amateur views weren't too far off the mark. ;)

Well anyway, just my 2 cents. I guess it doesn't even belong in this topic so I'll shut up now. ;)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/28/2009 01:24 pm
Corollary 1: while given two identical rockets with identical reliability and performance customers will prefer the cheaper one ("relative price elasticity" is high) a FREE rocket will not increase the demand for rockets more than 10-20%, given the cost of the rest of the mission ("absolute price elasticity" is very low.)
Antonio,

while I see your general point taken to extremes this is definitely wrong.
If you give me FREE rockets (OK: FREE launches) I guarantee you that I will personally double your 56 launch track record although I can not guarantee you that all of the stuff you will be launching for me is really space-worthy  8)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: pippin on 05/28/2009 01:28 pm
2) it's a case of switching cause and effect. The cause is the market for satellites, the effect is the market for launchers. Not vice versa.
Wrong. They are mutually dependent. See my example above at one extreme (and I'm serious: give me free launches and I'll fill them) and the other extreme is equally obvious (if you have no launch capability at any ost you will not have launches). So the whole question is: how does the elasticity function in between look like.
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: antonioe on 05/29/2009 11:19 am
If you give me FREE rockets (OK: FREE launches) I guarantee you that I will personally double your 56 launch track record although I can not guarantee you that all of the stuff you will be launching for me is really space-worthy  8)

Yeah, I see your point; there are several individuals within my company that come to mind... ::)
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: kevin-rf on 05/29/2009 12:44 pm
Yeah, I see your point; there are several individuals within my company that come to mind... ::)

Chosing words out of Joe Bidens play book I see ;) Where did that teleprompter go again?
Title: Re: LIVE: Minotaur-1 - TacSat-3 - NET May 19, 09
Post by: Satori on 06/09/2009 01:52 pm
Hi!

I'm writing an article about this launch and I need the exact launch time in format 2355:00,XXXUTC. Did anyone managed to get it? I know that on the launch video we can ear a technitian saying the launch time but is voice gets confuse by the launch comentator.

Any help is apreciated, thanks!