I was just thinking, someone could have a ton of fun designing random mission patches, printing them up on off those programmable embroidery machines, and tossing them on e-bay ... but I am off topic.
Light weight, large fairing, big antenna? I was just thinking, someone could have a ton of fun designing random mission patches, printing them up on off those programmable embroidery machines, and tossing them on e-bay ... but I am off topic.
I assume with morale activities you mean things like free pizza and coke.
Quote from: kevin-rf on 08/29/2013 06:42 pmI assume with morale activities you mean things like free pizza and coke. picnics and Xmas parties.
The SBIRs HEO-3 payload was shipped to the "host space vehicle program" on June 13 http://www.afspc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123352888Is it reasonable for it to be integrated onto a "host" 6 months before launch?
Is there any history to "Belle" appearing on previous mission patches ?
Are there any launch window reported for this launch yet?
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 11/26/2013 03:52 pmAre there any launch window reported for this launch yet? Past email replies from ULA that i have received regarding launch times for previous NROL-xx launches tend to say that due the request of the customer the times for the launch window are not going to be made public until launch week/a day or two before launch. The NROL-39 launch is currently set to occur on Thursday, 05 December 2013.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 11/26/2013 04:00 pmQuote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 11/26/2013 03:52 pmAre there any launch window reported for this launch yet? Past email replies from ULA that i have received regarding launch times for previous NROL-xx launches tend to say that due the request of the customer the times for the launch window are not going to be made public until launch week/a day or two before launch. The NROL-39 launch is currently set to occur on Thursday, 05 December 2013.OK maybe my query was one or two days too early - I somehow remember that a "launch period" usually shows up on here or other spaceflight news site 1-2 weeks before NRO launches...
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.MISSILES.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0630Z TO 1005Z DAILY 06 THRU 10 DEC IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 33-53N 121-10W, 34-00N 121-16W, 34-40N 120-37W, 34-34N 120-28W. B. 27-41N 125-41W, 29-14N 127-27W, 30-31N 126-00W, 28-56N 124-14W. C. 16-06N 132-54W, 20-14N 137-37W, 22-50N 135-05W, 18-37N 130-22W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 101105Z DEC 13.( 011002Z DEC 2013 )
QuoteEASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.MISSILES.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0630Z TO 1005Z DAILY 06 THRU 10 DEC IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 33-53N 121-10W, 34-00N 121-16W, 34-40N 120-37W, 34-34N 120-28W. B. 27-41N 125-41W, 29-14N 127-27W, 30-31N 126-00W, 28-56N 124-14W. C. 16-06N 132-54W, 20-14N 137-37W, 22-50N 135-05W, 18-37N 130-22W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 101105Z DEC 13.( 011002Z DEC 2013 ) Potential launch window: December 6, 0630 to 1000UTC (in line with William's information of T0= 0713UTC)
Quote from: input~2 on 12/02/2013 07:57 pmQuoteEASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.MISSILES.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0630Z TO 1005Z DAILY 06 THRU 10 DEC IN AREAS BOUND BY: A. 33-53N 121-10W, 34-00N 121-16W, 34-40N 120-37W, 34-34N 120-28W. B. 27-41N 125-41W, 29-14N 127-27W, 30-31N 126-00W, 28-56N 124-14W. C. 16-06N 132-54W, 20-14N 137-37W, 22-50N 135-05W, 18-37N 130-22W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 101105Z DEC 13.( 011002Z DEC 2013 ) Potential launch window: December 6, 0630 to 1000UTC (in line with William's information of T0= 0713UTC)Looks retrograde, like NROL 25, so Topaz 3? - Ed Kyle
What was Topaz 2 launch on since drop zones are different??
Today’s L-2 forecast shows a 20 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.
Ted Molczan's pre-launch observer search assessment http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0017.htmlInteresting note on the time of launch"A couple of weeks ago, Cees Bassa reminded me that the first two FIA Radar orbits are almost precisely 180 deg apart in RAAN. Cees suggested that the present launch might target a plane midway between them. The above orbit falls reasonably close to that separation. Delaying the launch to 07:36 UTC would place the new orbit exactly midway between the first two in RAAN, with the following approximate elements:"
Quote from: Targeteer on 12/03/2013 05:40 amTed Molczan's pre-launch observer search assessment http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0017.htmlInteresting note on the time of launch"A couple of weeks ago, Cees Bassa reminded me that the first two FIA Radar orbits are almost precisely 180 deg apart in RAAN. Cees suggested that the present launch might target a plane midway between them. The above orbit falls reasonably close to that separation. Delaying the launch to 07:36 UTC would place the new orbit exactly midway between the first two in RAAN, with the following approximate elements:"http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0019.htmlUpdated message expanded to include future FIA radar launches and prospective viewing opportunities of the upper stage and payload before re-entry--of the upper stage obviously
!CARF 12/006 (KZAK A5279/13) ZAK AIRSPACE DCC 2 ROPS AIROP DO-1312 STATIONARY ALTITUDE RESERVATION WITHIN AREA DEFINED AS 2741N12541W 2914N12727W 3031N12600W 2856N12414W AND WITHIN AREA DEFINED AS 1606N13254W 2014N13737W 2250N13505W 1837N13022W SFC-UNL 1312060658-1312060909
The patches associated with spacecraft program are provided by the program*. The launch patches are done by the launch base USAF personnel and are part of the a fund raising group for morale activities. Sometimes, there are multiple USAF groups producing patches at the launch site (launch squadron, range squadron, space wing, etc) and even the spacecraft control center groups.For NASA missions, I help sell the USAF launch site patches to spacecraft project personnel.* it is done for a similar reason like the launch site groups, to raise money for morale activities. "Approved/sanctioned" patches are provided by project to its people as morale boosters. They are not for sale in large qualities. You will see 1 or 2 on sale on Ebay but that is individuals selling their own or somebody's who didn't want theirs (the latter is decreasing for NASA and the unwanted patches are used for outreach). The exception is somebody who makes a copies of the official patch and sells them.As for the current mission patches on ebay, those are from somebody who knows somebody with direct access to the morale patches. The fund raising patches cost $5, the ebay ones are what the market can bear.
"A couple of weeks ago, Cees Bassa reminded me that the first two FIA Radar orbits are almost precisely 180 deg apart in RAAN. Cees suggested that the present launch might target a plane midway between them. The above orbit falls reasonably close to that separation. Delaying the launch to 07:36 UTC would place the new orbit exactly midway between the first two in RAAN, with the following approximate elements:"
Quote from: Targeteer on 12/04/2013 04:50 am"A couple of weeks ago, Cees Bassa reminded me that the first two FIA Radar orbits are almost precisely 180 deg apart in RAAN. Cees suggested that the present launch might target a plane midway between them. The above orbit falls reasonably close to that separation. Delaying the launch to 07:36 UTC would place the new orbit exactly midway between the first two in RAAN, with the following approximate elements:"Three satellites orbiting the Earth, spread equidistantly apart. Three tentacles wrapping around the Earth, spread equidistantly apart.
The NRO press release for the NROL-39 mission and the cubesats:http://www.nro.gov/news/press/2013/2013-04.pdf
Quote from: Skyrocket on 12/04/2013 05:03 pmThe NRO press release for the NROL-39 mission and the cubesats:http://www.nro.gov/news/press/2013/2013-04.pdfWhen the opportunities for these auxiliary payloads are announced, how much detail on the planned orbit is provided to the payload providers? Some knowledge would seem to be needed to determine power support, command and control, tracking, etc yet the details of the launch orbit parameters for NRO missions are obviously classified. Government agencies could have some level of security clearance but civilian universities would present a problem.
The most interesting "ride alongs" that I know of are NASA's two TWINS payloads, which are carried aboard two NRO satellites in Molniya orbits. It was a little surprising to me that the NRO would allow that. Having separate auxiliary payloads is one thing, but having them mounted directly to the spacecraft seemed to me like a big step, though clearly they were okay with it.http://twins.swri.edu/index.jspAnyone know of any more like this?
NROL-39 is last launch for 33 year program veteran http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/year-employee-to-bid-farewell-after-one-last-liftoff/article_4fb13442-5d7d-11e3-9251-001a4bcf887a.html?comment_form=true
Quote from: Targeteer on 12/05/2013 08:41 pmNROL-39 is last launch for 33 year program veteran http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/year-employee-to-bid-farewell-after-one-last-liftoff/article_4fb13442-5d7d-11e3-9251-001a4bcf887a.html?comment_form=trueNice story....wonder if any of nsf users know him or if he is a user?
William Graham's extensive launch overview - again a very informative read:http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/atlas-v-launch-nrol-39-vandenberg/Going to get some sleep and back for live coverage.
ULA @ulalaunchThe NROL39 count has just entered a planned 30-min hold. This is the first of two planned holds in the count.
ULA @ulalaunch 1mNew launch time for #NROL39: 11:14:30 pm PST.
Did anyone catch the time they said for that?
Looked incredible from the Orange County area. Bet a lot of surprised people on the ground wondered what that was.
Quote from: craigcocca on 12/06/2013 06:23 amLooked incredible from the Orange County area. Bet a lot of surprised people on the ground wondered what that was.And they'll keep wondering until it gets declassified
And we're off the air. Congratulations to ULA and all the cubesat teams!
Slightly different version of the patch image posted earlier in the thread from a ULA Facebook post "The NROL-39 mission will be launched for the National Reconnaissance Office in support of national defense."
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 12/06/2013 09:53 amAnd we're off the air. Congratulations to ULA and all the cubesat teams!Thanks for covering all of that Steven!
Atlas V NROL-39 Launch HighlightsPublished on Dec 6, 2013A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex-3 on Dec. 5 at 11:14 p.m. PST. Designated NROL-39, the mission is in support of national defense.
Thanks for covering all of that Steven!
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/06/2013 12:47 pmThanks for covering all of that Steven!My pleasure Chris. Here's a capture of the fairing separation animation. Is that Topaz or a different spacecraft?
Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 12/08/2013 04:54 amQuote from: Chris Bergin on 12/06/2013 12:47 pmThanks for covering all of that Steven!My pleasure Chris. Here's a capture of the fairing separation animation. Is that Topaz or a different spacecraft?The animation shows (as usual for military launches) a generic spacecraft, which has nothing to do with the real spacecraft.
Update on the orbit of the payload and rocket. Included below is the spacing assessment of the 3 Topaz satellites as indicated pre-launch.http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0061.html FIA RAAN PrecessionRadar Desig Cat # deg deg/d 1 10046A 37162 143.2120 3.10287 3 13072A 78817 232.6376 3.13830 2 12014A 38109 323.2252 3.10307
Quote from: Targeteer on 12/10/2013 01:02 amUpdate on the orbit of the payload and rocket. Included below is the spacing assessment of the 3 Topaz satellites as indicated pre-launch.http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0061.html FIA RAAN PrecessionRadar Desig Cat # deg deg/d 1 10046A 37162 143.2120 3.10287 3 13072A 78817 232.6376 3.13830 2 12014A 38109 323.2252 3.10307FIA Radar 3 catalog ID is 39462
NRO finally made The Daily Show.
Quote from: Blackstar on 12/10/2013 03:55 pmNRO finally made The Daily Show.An article on this.http://www.animenewsnetwork.co.uk/interest/2013-12-10/henneko-tsukiko-makes-unfortunate-cameo-on-the-daily-show
I hope the forum members don't mind me dredging up an old thread.This is follow-up on the NROL-39 patch design.Mark Robinson on SeeSat-L reports on a FOIA request submitted by Runa Sandvik to the NRO re: the NROL-39 logo approval.http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2015/0115.htmlThe reply document is found athttps://muckrock.s3.amazonaws.com/foia_files/6-23-14_MR9834_RES.pdf