Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (23:14 PST)  (Read 104734 times)

Offline input~2

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013
« Reply #20 on: 12/02/2013 07:57 pm »
Quote
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 )

Potential launch window: December 6, 0630 to 1000UTC (in line with William's information of T0= 0713UTC)
« Last Edit: 12/02/2013 08:07 pm by input~2 »

Offline edkyle99

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #21 on: 12/02/2013 08:46 pm »
Quote
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 )

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
« Last Edit: 12/02/2013 08:50 pm by edkyle99 »

Offline William Graham

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #22 on: 12/02/2013 08:51 pm »
I've overlaid the NOTAMS for L-25 onto the L-39 NOTAMS. If it goes down the middle it's more or less the same track. Clearly another TOPAZ.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #23 on: 12/02/2013 09:54 pm »
Quote
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 )

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??

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #24 on: 12/02/2013 10:50 pm »
What was Topaz 2 launch on since drop zones are different??

It was launched on a Delta-IVM+(5,2) rocket.

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #25 on: 12/03/2013 05:40 am »
Ted Molczan's pre-launch observer search assessment

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0017.html

Interesting 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:"
« Last Edit: 12/03/2013 05:41 am by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #26 on: 12/03/2013 06:42 pm »
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."

« Last Edit: 12/03/2013 06:47 pm by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Chris Bergin

ULA: Everything is progressing for the National Reconnaissance Office (NROL-39) launch. The mission is set to liftoff on a ULA Atlas V rocket on Thursday, Dec. 5 from Space Launch Complex 3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Today’s L-2 forecast shows a 20 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.

--


That's another "fun" patch. I see on twitter it's "upset" some people.....they should see some of the other ones! ;D
« Last Edit: 12/03/2013 10:58 pm by Chris Bergin »
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Today’s L-2 forecast shows a 20 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.

Not exactly something usually seen for California launches!  :o
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Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #29 on: 12/04/2013 04:50 am »
Ted Molczan's pre-launch observer search assessment

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0017.html

Interesting 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.html

Updated 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  :D
« Last Edit: 12/04/2013 04:50 am by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Star One

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #30 on: 12/04/2013 06:38 am »

Ted Molczan's pre-launch observer search assessment

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Dec-2013/0017.html

Interesting 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.html

Updated 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  :D

Thanks. I wonder why he would expect them to swap launchers, is there any pressing reason I wonder to do this?

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #31 on: 12/04/2013 05:03 pm »
The NRO press release for the NROL-39 mission and the cubesats:

http://www.nro.gov/news/press/2013/2013-04.pdf

Offline input~2

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #32 on: 12/04/2013 09:52 pm »
Quote
!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

Offline Blackstar

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #33 on: 12/04/2013 09:53 pm »
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.


You can learn a lot about the patches from here:

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1197/1

Offline Blackstar

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #34 on: 12/04/2013 09:56 pm »

"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.
« Last Edit: 12/04/2013 09:57 pm by Blackstar »

Offline Prober

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #35 on: 12/04/2013 10:19 pm »

"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.
but is each tentacle the same size and thickness?
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Offline William Graham

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #36 on: 12/04/2013 10:27 pm »

"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.


Agreed, I think the two raised tentacles are the two satellites already in orbit, with this one in between - the tentacle going around the earth. Two more tentacles are just visible in the bottom corners - the two satellites still awaiting launch?

Offline Targeteer

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #37 on: 12/04/2013 10:56 pm »
The NRO press release for the NROL-39 mission and the cubesats:

http://www.nro.gov/news/press/2013/2013-04.pdf

When 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.
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Jim

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #38 on: 12/04/2013 11:44 pm »
The NRO press release for the NROL-39 mission and the cubesats:

http://www.nro.gov/news/press/2013/2013-04.pdf

When 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 basic orbital parameters are given and that is all they need.  Cubesat by definition doesn't need anymore.  It is self contained and quiescent until deployed.   

Offline Nick L.

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Re: Atlas V 501 - NROL-39 - December 5, 2013 (ETD 23:13 PST)
« Reply #39 on: 12/05/2013 01:37 am »
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.jsp

Anyone know of any more like this?
« Last Edit: 12/05/2013 01:38 am by Nick L. »
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