LIVE: Atlas V 501 - X-37B OTV-3 - Dec 11, 2012

[Kim Keller]

Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined?  Have the details been released?  Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.

An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.

[Star One]

Range Approval for date 11 December 2012 appears to have gone through as Launch is no longer listed as pending approval on ULA website.

This is the date Spaceflight Now are now reporting as well.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av034/status.html

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Time to remove the "NET" from the thread title! On ULA's launch page (http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/33/) they have reported that the Launch Readiness Review has been completed, clearing the way for launch on December 11 at 1:03 pm EST (18:03 UTC)!

[Chris Bergin]

United Launch Alliance Clears X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle for

Dec. 11 Launch

 

Centennial, Colo., (Dec. 7, 2012) – Today, United Launch Alliance (ULA) cleared the next launch of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) for Dec. 11, after a thorough flight clearance process was executed following a flight data anomaly that occurred on the Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 launch on Oct. 4.

            "Although the GPS mission was successful and the satellite was delivered to a precise orbit, ULA and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (PWR) are executing an extremely robust investigation into the cause of the reduced engine performance on the recent Delta IV mission,” said Jim Sponnick, ULA vice president, Mission Operations. “Our 50-year heritage of launch experience and decades of launch data have enabled the robust investigation processes we perform for any flight conditions that differ from our nominal predictions, in order to continue the critical focus on mission success that our customers demand.”         

            The ULA investigation has concluded that a fuel leak occurred in a specific area of the interior of the thrust chamber, and that this leak started during the first engine start sequence.  Although the investigation into the flight data anomaly continues, all credible crossover implications from the Delta anomaly for the OTV-3 Atlas vehicle and engine system have been thoroughly addressed and mitigated, culminating in the flight clearance decision for the OTV-3 launch.

            “Our flight data anomaly investigation includes substantial involvement and oversight from senior industry technical advisors, as well as our Air Force OTV customer, Air Force EELV customer, and NASA customers,” said Sponnick. “We thank the OTV customer for their patience and participation throughout the flight clearance process for this important mission.”

            Following the OTV-3 launch, ULA’s next launch is the TDRS-K mission for NASA, which is planned for Jan. 29, 2013.         

ULA program management, engineering, test, and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo.  Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., and Harlingen, Texas. Launch operations are located at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., and Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA Web site at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch and twitter.com/ulalaunch.

[Targeteer]

Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined?  Have the details been released?  Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.

An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.

An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945

[Chris Bergin]

Good linkage! I think I'll write something up

[Kim Keller]

Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined?  Have the details been released?  Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.

An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.

An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945

I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.

[Targeteer]

Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined?  Have the details been released?  Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.

An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.

An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945

I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.

You might be surprised.  For those who have not seen one, I suggest the 28 Mar 12 F-15E report available here to see how detailed they can--and are required to be--by AF instructions.

http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY12.html

[Chris Bergin]

Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic )

But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/

[Lee Jay]

Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic )

But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/

Great article.  I am left with a question.

Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions?  The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.

[Jim]

Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined?  Have the details been released?  Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.

An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.

An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945

I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.

You might be surprised.  For those who have not seen one, I suggest the 28 Mar 12 F-15E report available here to see how detailed they can--and are required to be--by AF instructions.

http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY12.html

There are ITAR and propriety implications that will limit the detail in the public report

[Jim]

Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic )

But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/

Great article.  I am left with a question.

Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions?  The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.

Different

[russianhalo117]

Bit later than planned due to having to rescue a drunk friend who managed to get lost in what is the city he's lived in all his life, yet still remembered my phone number (don't reply to that or we'll go way off topic )

But put something together:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/atlas-v-green-light-rl-10-exonerated-delta-iv-review/

Great article.  I am left with a question.

Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions?  The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.

Atlas-V/Centaur currently uses: RL10A-4-2
Atlas-V/Centaur is planned to switch to: RL10C which is a derivative of RL10B-2
----
Delta-IV currently uses: RL10B-2

[edkyle99]

Are the RL10 versions the same between the mentioned Atlas and Delta versions?  The commonality reference seems to imply they are different.

Thrust, mixture ratio, chamber pressure, and specific impulse differ between the two models.  RL10B-2 has a big extendible nozzle that RL10A-4-2 does not have.  Here's how the manufacturer describes its products.
http://www.pw.utc.com/Content/RL10_Engine/pdf/B-4-4-4_pwr_rl10b-2.pdf
http://www.pratt-whitney.com/Content/RL10_Engine/pdf/B-4-4-4_pwr_rl10a-4.pdf

 - Ed Kyle

[Targeteer]

Since there are dates waiting for range approval, does that mean a root cause on the low thrust has been determined?  Have the details been released?  Because an accident board was convened, they probably will/should be.

An accident board was not convened; an anomaly investigation team was. Don't expect to see much detail emerge from this investigation.

An AIB was, in fact, convened by the AF Space Command Commander, Gen Shelton.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123321945

I stand corrected, and very surprised. Still, I wouldn't expect too much detail when the findings are released.

You might be surprised.  For those who have not seen one, I suggest the 28 Mar 12 F-15E report available here to see how detailed they can--and are required to be--by AF instructions.

http://usaf.aib.law.af.mil/indexFY12.html

There are ITAR and propriety implications that will limit the detail in the public report

Thanks for the clarification.  I think it can be safe to say the report will say (much) more than just "a fuel leak occurred in a specific area of the interior of the thrust chamber"

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Am I the only one who have noticed these photos for the launch at the ULA site?

[Prober]

when did those go up?   I would have posted those.

Thx for finding them & hope more come out.

[sdsds]

If I'm reading the mission booklet correctly, roll to the pad is scheduled for T-32 hours. For a launch at 13:03 EST Tuesday that would be 05:03 EST Monday. EST is UTC - 5 hours. So roll should be at 10:03 UTC, or 5 hours and 15 minutes from now.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

If I'm reading the mission booklet correctly, roll to the pad is scheduled for T-32 hours. For a launch at 13:03 EST Tuesday that would be 05:03 EST Monday. EST is UTC - 5 hours. So roll should be at 10:03 UTC, or 5 hours and 15 minutes from now.

I spy something that looks like Atlas V tail AV-034 at SLC-41..... 

[Star One]

Weather forecast doesn't seem all that good for either Tuesday or Wednesday sitting at 30% probability of launch for either day.