Author Topic: LIVE: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - October 31, 2017  (Read 95094 times)

Offline The Phantom

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - NET October 2017
« Reply #60 on: 10/16/2017 05:17 pm »
No vehicle or spacecraft issues. This mission is being treated as a return-to-flight for Taurus XL/Minotaur-C, so a thorough paper review is being conducted.
Please do not post my comments elsewhere, either on this site or elsewhere on the web. L2 only!

Offline input~2

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - NET October 2017
« Reply #61 on: 10/17/2017 02:23 pm »
The present FCC license expires November 9

Offline Helodriver

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - NET October 2017
« Reply #62 on: 10/18/2017 04:13 pm »
First stage has been stacked on the launch mount at site 576E. This is the first use of this bare bones site in quite a few years.

Standard construction cranes and off the shelf scaffolding are used to stack and support the vehicle out in the open. There is no MST.

The site was originally a test silo for Atlas ICBMs, which can be seen as the fenced off area immediately behind the Minotaur launch mount.


Offline Kim Keller

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - NET October 2017
« Reply #63 on: 10/18/2017 06:22 pm »
First stage has been stacked on the launch mount at site 576E. This is the first use of this bare bones site in quite a few years.

Yeah, I was there for that last launch, T9/Glory. And the one before, T8/OCO. Bummers, both.

To refresh everyone's memory of this vehicle, the Castor 120 is referred to as 'Stage 0' by OATK. The rest of the stages are basically a Pegasus without the wing.

Offline The Phantom

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - NET October 2017
« Reply #64 on: 10/19/2017 04:19 pm »
Looks like this mission is going on the calendar for 10/31
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - NET October 2017
« Reply #65 on: 10/19/2017 09:11 pm »
Confirmed:

Quote
Our #MinotaurC upper stack w/ @PlanetLabs spacecraft is prepped for transport to the pad for a 2:37 p.m. launch Oct. 31 from VAFB

https://twitter.com/orbitalatk/status/921120379371843584

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #66 on: 10/23/2017 05:38 pm »
Quote
OrbitalATK's commercial #MinotaurC rocket is stacked on the pad, ready to launch @planetlabs spacecraft on Oct. 31 from VAFB @30thSpaceWing

https://twitter.com/orbitalatk/status/922508602010513409

Offline Helodriver

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #67 on: 10/25/2017 12:50 am »
As unseasonable record high 100 degree F temperatures bake Vandenberg AFB today, the Minotaur C vehicle being readied for launch on 31 October glistens in the bright sun at its seaside launch pad 576E.

Image MIN3 and MIN4: The road to space is long with many a winding turn.

Image MIN7 shows the larger SLC-2W looming behind, the launch site of the JPSS aboard a Delta II scheduled for November.

Image MIN12 shows the distant coastline of Vandenberg South Base, with SLC-4 and SLC-6 clearly visible on a rare hot clear marine layer free day.

Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #68 on: 10/26/2017 09:23 pm »

[2] Brings up the obvious question, what does the "C" stand for?  Why isn't there a "Minotaur-B", or a "Minotaur-A"?
Commercial.

Online ZachS09

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #69 on: 10/27/2017 12:42 pm »
As near as I can tell, this is the one and only Minotaur-C launch on the books[1][2].  Has anyone run across differing information?

 - Ed Kyle

If Minotaur-C was still called "Taurus", then technically, this would be the tenth flight of this rocket.
Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Offline Sam Ho

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #70 on: 10/27/2017 02:05 pm »
As near as I can tell, this is the one and only Minotaur-C launch on the books[1][2].  Has anyone run across differing information?

 - Ed Kyle
If Minotaur-C was still called "Taurus", then technically, this would be the tenth flight of this rocket.
As per Orbital ATK's Minotaur-C fact sheet, the official name of the vehicle being launched next week is 3210 Minotaur-C XL.

OA seems a little conflicted about what to call Minotaur-C.  The Minotaur webpage says "To date, our Minotaur rockets have completed 26 missions out of every major U.S. spaceport with 100% success," which conveniently excludes three Taurus failures.

Meanwhile, the Minotaur-C fact sheet on that page says "All major Minotaur-C configurations (SSLV, Standard and XL) have launched," which counts Taurus as a Minotaur-C configuration, since all of those launches were Taurus launches.

https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/default.aspx
https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/Minotaur-C_Factsheet.pdf

Online ZachS09

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #71 on: 10/27/2017 02:14 pm »
Right.  What I'm asking is if it might be the last.

 - Ed Kyle

I'm not sure if it's the last one ever.

There's a possibility that some future payload contracts could be manifested for Minotaur-C.
Liftoff for St. Jude's! Go Dragon, Go Falcon, Godspeed Inspiration4!

Online catdlr

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #72 on: 10/28/2017 03:49 am »
The following is a news item from Vandenberg AFB:

Minotaur-C Scheduled to Launch

30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published October 27, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch the Skybox imaging satellite aboard the Orbital ATK Minotaur-C rocket from Space Launch Complex 576-E here, Tuesday, Oct. 31, at 2:37 p.m. PDT.

Col. Greg Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander, is the space launch commander.

"Our unique geographic location makes Vandenberg an ideal place to launch commercial imaging satellites," said Wood. "We are excited to partner with Orbital ATK to make this mission a reality."

Due to the remoteness of the launch site, the Hawk's Nest on Hwy 1 south of Vandenberg Air Force Base's main gate will not be open.
« Last Edit: 10/28/2017 03:55 am by catdlr »
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #73 on: 10/28/2017 08:04 am »
Quote
The fog rolls in at VAFB as the team finishes preps on the #MinotaurC launching Oct. 31 at 2:37 pm PDT @planetlabs @30thSpaceWing @FAA news

https://twitter.com/orbitalatk/status/924095780721266689

Offline Star One

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #74 on: 10/28/2017 08:43 am »
Right.  What I'm asking is if it might be the last.

 - Ed Kyle

I'm not sure if it's the last one ever.

There's a possibility that some future payload contracts could be manifested for Minotaur-C.

Surely that depends if NG decides to stay in the launcher business.

Offline rayleighscatter

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #75 on: 10/29/2017 02:14 pm »
Right.  What I'm asking is if it might be the last.

 - Ed Kyle

I'm not sure if it's the last one ever.

There's a possibility that some future payload contracts could be manifested for Minotaur-C.

Surely that depends if NG decides to stay in the launcher business.

Well yes, but this is true of any launch vehicle and any launch service provider though. Nothing says ULA or SpaceX or any other has to keep launching their rockets either.

Offline savuporo

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #76 on: 10/29/2017 10:01 pm »
As many of these launch threads don't call out why the payloads are significant for space technology, let me call this one out a bit.

Quote
Abstract: On-Orbit commissioning of High Performance Green Propulsion (HPGP) in the SkySat constellation

In late 2012 Skybox Imaging selected HPGP technology for implementation of their second generation (propulsive) SkySat small Earth observation satellite platform. During 2013 ECAPS worked to design a complete, compact and 'modular' HPGP propulsion system; the first (protoflight) version of which was delivered in 2014. A total quantity of nineteen SkySat HPGP propulsion systems have been ordered thus far, and 'assembly line' manufacturing is ongoing at ECAPS - with multiple deliveris accomplished in 2015 & 2016, and continuing into 2017.

The first five SkySat satellites with HPGP propulsion systems were launched during 2016 and an additional six SkySat satellites with HPGP systems are scheduled for launch in 2017 from Vandenberg AFB on Orbital ATK's Minotaur-C. SkySat-3 was launched in June 2016 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Antrix's PSLV and SkySat-4 through SkySat-7 were launched in September 2016 from the Guiana Space Centre on Arianespace's Vega. Each satellites' HPGP system has been successfully commissioned and is now being operated in-orbit.

This paper will begin by providing a brief introduction of HPGP technology; with a more in-depth description of the SkySat HPGP propulsion system design. A summary of the PSLV and Vega launch campaign fueling operations will also be provided, followed by the process and results of the post-launch propulsion system commissioning activities, and a performance overview of nominal on-orbit maneuvers executed to-date.

Finally, a short update will be provided regarding the continued progress and improvement of HPGP technology, including maturation of the 5N & 22N HPGP thrusters to TRL-6 and the development of a new lower-cost 'next generation' 1N HPGP thruster.

Welcome to commercial smallsat technology revolution !

Between this and increased drive for more and more electric propulsion by commercial GEO birds, the retirement of good old hydrazine is maybe not so far off anymore.
« Last Edit: 10/29/2017 10:09 pm by savuporo »
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Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #77 on: 10/30/2017 05:42 am »
Quote
It's a beautiful night at the pad as our #MinotaurC rocket stands ready for its Halloween launch at 2:37 pm PDT @planetlabs @30thSpaceWing

https://twitter.com/orbitalatk/status/924859192560590848

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #78 on: 10/30/2017 03:17 pm »
Will there be any Halloween-themed goings-on on-camera during tomorrow's launch? :)

EDIT: No webcast link yet at www.orbitalatk.com .  They do promise "Watch the live broadcast here beginning 20 minutes before the launch window opens."

EDIT2: Added file attachments: Minotaur-C factsheet, Minotaur Mission History, and SkySat Ortho Scene Product Spec Sheet.
From https://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/MinotaurC_SkySat_Mission-Page/default.aspx?prid=283

EDIT3: Added links to said documents.
https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/Minotaur-C_Factsheet.pdf
https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/MinotaurMissionHistory.pdf
https://assets.planet.com/marketing/PDF/SkySat-Ortho-Scene-Product-Spec-Sheet.pdf
« Last Edit: 10/30/2017 07:09 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline jcm

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Re: Minotaur-C - SkySat x6 (S/N 8-13) - Oct. 31, 2017
« Reply #79 on: 10/30/2017 05:11 pm »
As near as I can tell, this is the one and only Minotaur-C launch on the books[1][2].  Has anyone run across differing information?

 - Ed Kyle
If Minotaur-C was still called "Taurus", then technically, this would be the tenth flight of this rocket.
As per Orbital ATK's Minotaur-C fact sheet, the official name of the vehicle being launched next week is 3210 Minotaur-C XL.

OA seems a little conflicted about what to call Minotaur-C.  The Minotaur webpage says "To date, our Minotaur rockets have completed 26 missions out of every major U.S. spaceport with 100% success," which conveniently excludes three Taurus failures.

Meanwhile, the Minotaur-C fact sheet on that page says "All major Minotaur-C configurations (SSLV, Standard and XL) have launched," which counts Taurus as a Minotaur-C configuration, since all of those launches were Taurus launches.

https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/default.aspx
https://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/Minotaur-C_Factsheet.pdf

I'm confused, doesn't this one have the 63" fairing per earlier in the thread? Which would make it 3110 not 3210 [Edit:  I misremembered the earlier part of the thread. It's the large 92" fairing, so indeed 3210, correct?]
« Last Edit: 10/30/2017 05:16 pm by jcm »
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