NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
Commercial and US Government Launch Vehicles => ULA - Delta, Atlas, Vulcan => Topic started by: Chris Bergin on 03/23/2010 03:23 am
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Starting a thread for this launch as Atlantis now holds priority on the range:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/03/sts-132-atlantis-deal-ula-may-14-range-ownership/
Launch preview/overview, by William Graham:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/live-delta-iv-launch-gps-iif-sv-1/
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Hopefully the Shuttle will leave on schedule allowing the Air Force to finally commence its GPS Block IIF modernization program.
Last spring, General Accounting Office projected the GPS effectiveness will soon suffer degradation as old equipment fails. That prediction has yet to materialize. Our GPS system operators have done fantastic work maintaining satellites well past their design life. Remarkably, satellites dating way back to early nineties are still operating.
There must also be some element of 'luck' evolved as many of the Block IIA satellites have, for several years, been just a component away from navigation mission failure.
Experiencing numerous developmental difficulties, GPS IIF-1 is many years delinquent. We really need to get it checked out in space to clear the remaining eleven satellites for delivery. Hopefully, those will sustain the constellation until Block III satellites become available.
Currently thirty satellites are usually available.
--- CHAS
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There's a nice writeup about GPS IIF -1 spacecraft processing and its launch at Spaceflight Now:
http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d349/100429cleanroom/
Liftoff of the GPS 2F-1 spacecraft from pad 37B is targeted for May 20 during a launch window extending from 11:29 to 11:48 p.m. EDT.
--- CHAS
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Note to a mod: we need a thread title change, and the calender needs updating!
It's too bad I leave the day before launch...would have been nice to see it go up.
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Interesting that it requires the solids. Are there any more 'core only' Delta IV launches on the manifest?
P
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Interesting that it requires the solids. Are there any more 'core only' Delta IV launches on the manifest?
P
The weird thing is a base Delta IV can put 3859 lbs excluding PAF to GPS orbit.
The satellite is according to the article 3,400 lbs.
That is 113.5% of the required mass.
A Delta IV 4,2 can put 6,157 lbs excluding PAF to GPS orbit.
That is 181% of the required mass.
I do not know why the Air Force is going with the 4,2 it does not appear to be needed.
Maybe they are planning for the future or launching something else small with it.
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Margin? Enough to completely remove the US from the GPS plane?
Just a guess...
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I do not know why the Air Force is going with the 4,2 it does not appear to be needed.
Maybe they are planning for the future or launching something else small with it.
Piggyback payloads are always a possibility, but removing the upper stage from the GPS orbit seems to be a part of the answer.
- Ed Kyle
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Will that excess propellant be sufficient to actually deorbit the second stage?
--- CHAS
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What inclination will this rocket fly ?
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Wasn't ULA eliminating the no-solids Delta 4 configuration to cut down on the number of CBC variations?
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Sorta.
The plan is/was to use eliminate the 4,0 core, and replace it with the 4,2 core. this only works however with the performance boost given by going with the RS-68A engine.
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Mission booklet:
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Sorta.
The plan is/was to use eliminate the 4,0 core, and replace it with the 4,2 core. this only works however with the performance boost given by going with the RS-68A engine.
I think the plan is to use an equivalent to a 5,4 core, or at least one that could handle any size PLF and up to 4 solids with minimal add-ons, if any, to the structure. As you stated, RS-68A is necessary.
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Will that excess propellant be sufficient to actually deorbit the second stage?
--- CHAS
The mission booklet posted today tells us that the answer to your question is "no". It says that after spacecraft separation the stage will perform a propellant blowdown while aimed 30 degrees out of plane to move the stage "into [a] disposed orbit of approximately 11,000 x 11,600 nautical miles (nmi) and off operational plane inclination".
- Ed Kyle
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All on track - according to ULA - with the launch is set for Thursday, May 20, with a launch window of 11:29-11:48 p.m. EDT. If the launch slips, the next attempt is May 21 with a launch window of 11:25-11:43 p.m. EDT.
Launch Day:
Overall Probability of Weather Constraint Violation: 20%
Primary Concern: Anvil Cloud Rule
24-Hour Delay:
Overall Probability of Weather Constraint Violation: 30%
Primary Concern: Anvil Cloud Rule
Surface and upper level high pressure ridge will slowly build back in from
the west as the upper level trough responsible for yesterday's widespread
thunderstorm activity moves east of the peninsula. Deep layered moisture
will decrease as the high pressure ridge builds in from the west. Afternoon
showers and thunderstorms will still be possible however the amount of
coverage will decrease over the next couple of days. On Thursday deep
layered moisture will continue to decrease but remain sufficient for a
slight chance of isolated afternoon thunderstorm development. Isolated
thunderstorms developing along the east coast sea breeze will be possible
during the launch countdown, mainly over inland areas. There is the
potential for lingering anvil clouds associated with any thunderstorms that
do develop to be in the area during the launch window. The Anvil Cloud Rule
will be the primary concern for both launch day, and the next day in the
event of a 24 hour launch delay.
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According to ulalaunch.com the launch attempt has been rescheduled for May 21, due to trouble with a Fixed Umbilical Tower swing arm.
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Delta IV GPS IIF-SV1 Mission Rescheduled for May 21
Cape Canaveral AFS , Fla. (May 18, 2010) - The launch attempt of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF-SV1satellite (GPS IIF-SV1) has been rescheduled for May 21. During normal processing for launch, mission managers determined a piece of ground support equipment used to control one of the swing arms on the Fixed Umbilical Tower was not operating correctly and needed replacing.
Replacing this GSE component will add one day to launch processing. The Delta IV rocket and GPS IIF-SV1 satellite are safe and secure at this time. The launch is rescheduled for Friday, May 21, with a launch window of 11:25 – 11:43 p.m. EDT.
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Mission booklet:
Thanks for that link, Chris! I found it informative.
One thing that I didn't know about (caveat: I'm a launch newbie) before I read that document was the concept of PCS, second stage Probability of Command Shutdown >= 99.7% (page 12).
For the benefit of anybody else who might wonder what that means, to save them from having to dig, the Delta people's explanation is that "0% PCS means spacecraft orbit insertion at second-stage cutoff always occurs due to a propellant depletion shutdown (PDS) and is never commanded by guidance."
So, apparently, given the various things that fluctuate from nominal on launch day (like weather), and assuming successful launch vehicle operation, you have a 99.7% chance of not running out of "gas" before you've reached your target destination.
I'd be curious if anyone knows more about, on chart 5, which signals are sent to the re-radiating antennae outside the fairing, and which are just leaking through the 14" diameter RF window? I'm assuming the re-rad antennae are for S-band telemetry of the vehicle?
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I'd be curious if anyone knows more about, on chart 5, which signals are sent to the re-radiating antennae outside the fairing, and which are just leaking through the 14" diameter RF window? I'm assuming the re-rad antennae are for S-band telemetry of the vehicle?
Used during ground checkout/test, they allow the customer to verify the operation of the spacecraft RF systems by sending commands and receiving telemetry.
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1. One thing that I didn't know about (caveat: I'm a launch newbie) before I read that document was the concept of PCS, second stage Probability of Command Shutdown >= 99.7% (page 12).
For the benefit of anybody else who might wonder what that means, to save them from having to dig, the Delta people's explanation is that "0% PCS means spacecraft orbit insertion at second-stage cutoff always occurs due to a propellant depletion shutdown (PDS) and is never commanded by guidance."
So, apparently, given the various things that fluctuate from nominal on launch day (like weather), and assuming successful launch vehicle operation, you have a 99.7% chance of not running out of "gas" before you've reached your target destination.
2. I'd be curious if anyone knows more about, on chart 5, which signals are sent to the re-radiating antennae outside the fairing, and which are just leaking through the 14" diameter RF window? I'm assuming the re-rad antennae are for S-band telemetry of the vehicle?
1. Which means the vehicle has reserves for 3 sigma dispersions (99.7%)
2. The re-rad is for the spacecraft telemetry
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Here's a picture of the GPS satellite being prepared for transport to the Cape.
--- CHAS
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Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., (May 21, 2010) - A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System GPS IIF SV-1 (GPS IIF SV-1) satellite sits poised on its Space Launch Complex-37 launch pad ready to launch tonight. The launch is set for 11:25 p.m. EDT with the launch window extending until 11:43 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 90 percent chance of acceptable weather during the launch window. GPS IIF SV-1 is the first in a series of next generation GPS satellites. Following its nearly three hour, 33 minute flight, it will join a worldwide timing and navigation system utilizing 24 satellites approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance
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Moved for live coverage.
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Mission booklet:
Thanks for that link, Chris! I found it informative.
I notice that this mission booklet doesn't give the parking orbit heights - usually the Delta mission books have a few more details than this.
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Mission booklet:
Thanks for that link, Chris! I found it informative.
I notice that this mission booklet doesn't give the parking orbit heights - usually the Delta mission books have a few more details than this.
This GPS satellite is going directly to its operational orbit.
--- CHAS
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All ok with three hours to go, according to ULA.
William's oveview article will be on in around an hour.
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So... I see that NASA PAO is doing some sort of Delta IV coverage here:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan12large.jpg
But I can't find any video feed, and the NASA TV schedule website doesn't mention this launch. Am I missing something?
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So... I see that NASA PAO is doing some sort of Delta IV coverage here:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan12large.jpg
But I can't find any video feed, and the NASA TV schedule website doesn't mention this launch. Am I missing something?
It's not a NASA launch. Webcast will be via www.ulalaunch.com
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So... I see that NASA PAO is doing some sort of Delta IV coverage here:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan12large.jpg (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan12large.jpg)
But I can't find any video feed, and the NASA TV schedule website doesn't mention this launch. Am I missing something?
Yes, not a NASA launch. NASA neither own nor operates the GPS program. That's an engineering feed from ULA as the ULA logo in the lower right corner indicates.
The views on the web-cam page of science.ksc.nasa.gov, are engineering views, none are broadcast on NASA TV unless selected by the NASA TV operator.
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Ground path from Mission booklet:
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Streams with small pictures on
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo1.rm (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo1.rm),
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo2.rm (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo2.rm) and
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo3.rm (http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo3.rm)
Thomas
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Another excellent preview/overview by William Graham:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/live-delta-iv-launch-gps-iif-sv-1/
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webcast started
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window open at 11:28 for 18 minutes
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overview of satellite and GPS system
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Weather is green right now
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t minus 6 minutes
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t minus five minutes and holding, 15 minute duration
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The one that started it all...
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frost forming
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payload processing over view
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Dedicated to the memory of Bevan Whitaker.
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Launch dedicated to Bevan Whitaker.
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Mission booklet:
Thanks for that link, Chris! I found it informative.
I notice that this mission booklet doesn't give the parking orbit heights - usually the Delta mission books have a few more details than this.
This GPS satellite is going directly to its operational orbit.
--- CHAS
There are coast phases between each of the stage 2 burns.
I am guessing the orbits for those phases are around 185 x 200 km x 32.0 deg and 250 x 20460 km x 37 deg, but it would be nice to get real values to reconstruct the profile.
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l minus 10 minutes Conducting Launch Conductor Readiness poll
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telemetry lost on S/c, RCO not go
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Spacecraft LOS, nogo.
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going to target end of the window to troubleshoot telemetry problem
new launch time 11:43 Eastern time
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going to target end of the window to troubleshoot telemetry problem
new launch time 11:43 Eastern time
Ughh...another long night. Poor Chris. lol
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resetting launch sequencer, timer will pick up at L minus 20 minutes
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Time to make the coffee...
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going to target end of the window to troubleshoot telemetry problem
new launch time 11:43 Eastern time
Ughh...another long night. Poor Chris. lol
It's a rocket launch, I'd take as many long nights as they can provide launches for ;D
So we're tracking the end of the window with this one.
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L minus 20 minutes, ground sequencer should be restarting, will do another poll at L minus 10 minutes
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Range is go for the new T-0.
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It's a rocket launch, I'd take as many long nights as they can provide launches for ;D
Just as long as they actually provide launches, and not scrubs. I still remember TacSat-3.
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l minus 15 minutes
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This thing ain't leaving tonight!
--- CHAS
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This thing ain't leaving tonight!
--- CHAS
Waste of a beautiful night if so
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L minus 10 minutes, another Launch Conductor Readiness poll
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Spacecraft is go. Looks like it could still go this morning after all.
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Polling go!
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s/C ready, RCO go, looks like a good night to fly, go to launch
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Polling GO, let's do this!
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Swing arm pins being pulled
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Master script running.
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l minus 6 minutes
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Less than 1 minute to go till we pick up the count.
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spacecraft power internal
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Spacecraft on internal
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L/T minus 5 minutes and counting, in terminal count
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T-5 minutes and counting.
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second stage power internal
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Vehicle going to internal power.
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hold! Sc is no go
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Scrub. No window left.
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HOLD! S/C no-go!
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HOLD!!! That'll be a scrub for the day, as they'll run out of window.
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That's a scrub.
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LV external power
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They where targeting the very end of the launch window.. Scrub confirmed.
Orbiter
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about same window tomorrow, 11:21 pm eastern time to 11:39, weather looks good
webcast ending
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At least the weather looks okay for tomorrow.
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Ok, we'll keep this thread going for attempt 2 tomorrow. I'll reset it as the live thread for the Saturday night attempt during the day.
STS-132 FD9 begins in 90 minutes ;D
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ULA:
Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Mission Tentatively Rescheduled for May 22
Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (May 21, 2010) - The launch attempt of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF SV-1 satellite (GPS IIF SV-1) was scrubbed tonight and has been tentatively rescheduled for May 22. During the final minutes of the launch countdown, the telemetry signal between the Global Positioning System satellite and the satellite ground support equipment was lost. This issue could not be resolved in time to launch during tonight’s 18 minute launch window.
The Delta IV rocket and GPS IIF SV-1 satellite are safe and secure at this time. The launch is tentatively rescheduled for Saturday, May 22, with a launch window of 11:21 – 11:39 p.m. EDT.
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Delayed again, to Sunday:
Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Mission Rescheduled for May 23
Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (May 22, 2010) - The launch attempt of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF SV-1 satellite (GPS IIF SV-1) is rescheduled for Sunday, May 23. Mission managers expect the telemetry signal issue between the Global Positioning System satellite and the satellite ground support equipment that caused the scrub of Friday’s launch attempt to be resolved in time for a launch attempt Sunday.
The Delta IV rocket and GPS IIF SV-1 satellite are safe and secure at this time. Sunday’s launch window is 11:17-11:35 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather during the launch window.
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Live view of Delta IV on the launch pad via KSC webcams.
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan11large.jpg
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So... a problem in telemetry betwen the satellite and the ground. If the problem is a hardware issue on the satellite itself, how serious might that be in terms of delays? How long would it take to get the spacecraft off the LV, back to the clean room and removed from the PLF?
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So... a problem in telemetry betwen the satellite and the ground. If the problem is a hardware issue on the satellite itself, how serious might that be in terms of delays? How long would it take to get the spacecraft off the LV, back to the clean room and removed from the PLF?
More often than not these problems end up being on the "ground" side. A spacecraft problem would probably cause a much longer delay.
- Ed Kyle
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Reverted back to a live thread for tomorrow night's attempt.
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For how long does Delta own the range?
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Until the Shuttle tries to land. NET 5/26. So the 24th is clear. Then NASA and USAF would get together to decide if there's really a chance to land the Shuttle on 5/26. If not, Delta would get 5/25. And so on. Not sure if SpaceX has the Range after Shuttle or not.
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Until the Shuttle tries to land. NET 5/26. So the 24th is clear. Then NASA and USAF would get together to decide if there's really a chance to land the Shuttle on 5/26. If not, Delta would get 5/25. And so on. Not sure if SpaceX has the Range after Shuttle or not.
Range requires 36-48 hours to reconfigure between vehicles. Delta on 5/24 would be ~2300 EDT with Atlantis coming home 0848 EDT 5/26. That's 34-hours. Therefore, 5/24 may NOT be a possibility for Delta.
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Landings are not the same as launches and require much less range resources.
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Landings are not the same as launches and require much less range resources.
That may be true, but the Range still required 48 hours between the last Shuttle landing and the Atlas OTV launch. Once upon a time, it was only 24 hours.
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I guess they got the telemetry fixed. The rocket is still standing outside. If they found a major problem with the GPS satellite I'd assume the service structure would have been moved back around the the rocket.
I'm curious about what went wrong. Assuming they monitor the radio data link:
a) The satellite transmitter somehow shut off
b) Ground station equipment failure or setup problem
c) An obstruction moved into the beam
d) Radio interference
I've seen references to RF interference signals holding back launches.
--- CHAS
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I guess they got the telemetry fixed. The rocket is still standing outside. If they found a major problem with the GPS satellite I'd assume the service structure would have been moved back around the the rocket.
I'm curious about what went wrong. Assuming they monitor the radio data link:
a) The satellite transmitter somehow shut off
b) Ground station equipment failure or setup problem
c) An obstruction moved into the beam
d) Radio interference
I've seen references to RF interference signals holding back launches.
Spacecraft use ground links while on the pad. The RF is for during flight.
Power, commanding and telemetry are providing to the spacecraft through electrical connectors called inflight disconnects or spacecraft umbilicals which are mounted on the payload adapter or draped from the fairing. The wiring for these connectors comes from a panel on the upperstage which is connected to an liftoff umbilical on the outside of the launch vehicle. The wiring runs down the umbilical tower to a room at the base of the pad. The tower wiring is connected to spacecraft EGSE racks (power and comm) in this room. The racks communicate to the spacecraft control center over range provided fiber and copper comm circuits.
So here are some of the links and nodes
Spacecraft inflight disconnects
launch vehicle mission unique wiring to standard electrical interface panel
launch vehicle standard wiring to LV umbilical
Umbilical tower wiring
tower interface panel
spacecraft EGSE to tower panel wiring
spacecraft EGSE to pad/range interface wiring
now there are multiple circuits in the range, most ending up going through the XY building and then out.
The range circuits then arrive at the spacecraft control center facility, which could be on the Cape, KSC or ASO. There may be other nodes in between or less depending on the location. (NASA missions goes through Hangar AE or there are some direct circuits to ASO)
The spacecraft control center facility may have a central comm room and a specific mission circuits are then routed to the spacecraft control center room node.
The spacecraft control center EGSE is connected to this node
With the advent of ethernet and fiber circuits, comm with the control centers are no longer RF.
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Range requires 36-48 hours to reconfigure between vehicles. Delta on 5/24 would be ~2300 EDT with Atlantis coming home 0848 EDT 5/26. That's 34-hours. Therefore, 5/24 may NOT be a possibility for Delta.
Sigh. 30 hours is the stated requirement for this one.
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Scrubbed for Sunday
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On the count Friday night where T-0 was at the close of the window they preceded past the point where they had held when T-0 was at the opening of the window. That is, the response during the second launch conductor's poll was "go". Did that mean that had regained contact with the spacecraft, or at that point were they relying on the launch director to call "hold" at the last moment?
Re: "Scrubbed for Sunday"
Sigh.
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Typically, if it's the latter, you'll hear some discussion about proceeding with a known issue. It's been done before, for instances where weather is expected to clear, or other situations that might be fixed in time. I don't know what the circumstances were on this one.
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So much for getting a nap in beforehand...
Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Mission Scrubbed for May 23
Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (May 23, 2010) - The launch attempt of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF SV-1 satellite (GPS IIF SV-1) has been scrubbed for tonight. Mission managers require additional time to validate the modified approach to monitor the Global Positioning System satellite telemetry signal.
The Delta IV rocket and GPS IIF SV-1 satellite are safe and secure at this time. The next launch attempt has been set for Monday with a launch window of 11:13-11:31 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather during the launch window.
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Anyone Cape side hearing if this is looking good tonight?
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ULA have just sent out a media statement saying all is "GO" for tonight. Woo!
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What are the oddsmakers in Vegas saying about a 'Go' tonight? ;D
--- CHAS
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From the NASA ELV page...
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According to the ULA mission booklet, GPS IIF-1 will be released to its operational orbit somewhere over the South China Sea with spacecraft separation occurring at about 3 AM. It is going into Plane B transmitting PRN25.
I fast forwarded my satellite tracking to that time. Apparently, the new satellite will orbit close to the GPS Space Vehicle 49 launched last March. That satellite hasn't been set usable because it exhibits an antenna pattern anomaly.
---CHAS
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Until the moment we have a quiet countdown with no problems reported.
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Filming the Moon surface during the webcast on the NASA ELV page...
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Coming up on L-60 minutes:
ALL TIMES EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME
Test Signals 10:15 p.m.
Broadcast Start 10:48 p.m.
SATELLITE – Galaxy 19
TRANSPONDER – G19C-08
BAND – C-band Analog
ORBITAL POSITION – 97 degrees
CARRIER – INTELSAT
BANDWIDTH – 36 MHz
DOWNLINK FREQ – 3860 MHz (Horizontal)
WEBSITE FOR SIMULCAST:
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml
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Not working any issues right now
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GPS 2f-1 overview, weather looking good
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t minus 6 minutes
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t minus 5 minutes and holding, 15 minute hold
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payload processing review
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Vehicle configuration for this mission...
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Mission profile...
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Sat configuration inside payload fairing...
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L-10 minutes.
Reminder of William's article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/05/live-delta-iv-launch-gps-iif-sv-1/
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performing launch conductor readiness poll
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Polling go.
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lock pins pull of umbilical arms, master script running
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S/C in internal power
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T-5 minutes and counting.
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Vehicle going internal.
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Launch Vehicle switching to internal power
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T-4 minutes. Second stage transfer internal complete, and first stage.
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Vehicle is internal power, ordinance arming
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Propellant tanks securing.
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Heading into pressurization, following securing.
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T-120 seconds. HTPA spin-up, hydraulic pressure at 4000 psi.
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Second stage ready.
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T-60 seconds.
RSO Range GO for launch.
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T-60 seconds - let's go!
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Flight lock-in.
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Green board!
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HOLD!
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HOLD HOLD HOLD!! About T-7 seconds I think.
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Hold!
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ROFIs (sparkers) kept going for about 20 or so seconds there...
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Wow...that hold was post ROFI ignition and about about T-5 seconds or so, I think.
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Past the critical hold point. Definite scrub, I don't think even a 24 hour recycle will be possible.
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Can they turn this around within such a short window - with a hold that late?
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ROFIs still going!
Just like on STS-93. Once lit, the ROFIs cannot be shut down. Which was a driver for the scrub turn-around schedule.
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Did anyone catch what happened?
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Ordinance safe
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The the NASA ELV countdown clock stoped at T-2s...
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Did anyone catch what happened?
I only heard script abort.
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What defines the critical hold point? ROFI's aren't on the vehicle, and the engine may not have been started yet. I think with the window length, they only really get one shot. I suppose two is possible, but unlikely (and not with an abort this late).
Next attempt is....?
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Going back to external power.
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What defines the critical hold point? ROFI's aren't on the vehicle, and the engine may not have been started yet. I think with the window length, they only really get one shot. I suppose two is possible, but unlikely (and not with an abort this late).
Next attempt is....?
Critical hold point is T-8.5 seconds when the TCSR (terminal countdown sequencer rack) takes over - not sure why that is "critical".
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What defines the critical hold point? ROFI's aren't on the vehicle, and the engine may not have been started yet. I think with the window length, they only really get one shot. I suppose two is possible, but unlikely (and not with an abort this late).
I don't know, I just remember it being mentioned during an earlier launch. GOES 13 I think. Could be part of the prestart sequence.
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Did anyone catch what happened?
I only heard script abort.
I thought I heard "map" or "mapi" or something similar in the background. Any idea what that might be?
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Don't know what time the hold occurred, but the call was a tad delayed (not a surprise). I noticed the first stage LO2 tank venting just before he said it. ..."after SRM blowdown"... (just heard)
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reset to t-minus 5 minute hold, going to post test secureing item
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They've not officially called a scrub yet, that's for sure.
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If this is an abort/scrub, think that they will not try again until Atlantis lands
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Did anyone catch what happened?
I only heard script abort.
I thought I heard "map" or "mapi" or something similar in the background. Any idea what that might be?
It's MAP or MAPS scripts. Don't know what the acronym stands for, maybe something like Master Auto Program - probably just a name.
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We have 8 minutes of window time remaining...
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I hear detanking, so scrub
PAO confirms
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Yep, it's a scrub.
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Detanking.
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Well, that's all for today :(
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L9PwGXYHxg
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If this is an abort/scrub, think that they will not try again until Atlantis lands
They don't have a choice. Range has to reconfigure for Atlantis' landing.
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IIRC 48 hr scrub to recycle the SRB hydraulics. Serious pucker factor in the DOC tonight.
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Yep, "MAP script abort" was what it was.
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If this is an abort/scrub, think that they will not try again until Atlantis lands
Agreed - but will that be after SpaceX? If this was the last attempt before the landing, and SpaceX has the 28th, I don't see Delta having the chance to go until the 30th. Of course, they could always negotiate with SpaceX - assuming Falcon is ready to go.
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If this is an abort/scrub, think that they will not try again until Atlantis lands
Agreed - but will that be after SpaceX? If this was the last attempt before the landing, and SpaceX has the 28th, I don't see Delta having the chance to go until the 30th. Of course, they could always negotiate with SpaceX - assuming Falcon is ready to go.
SpaceX wont be ready by then
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Looking at ron's capture, looks like venting started right at T-10 seconds (my guess for the abort time). They counted further, but the abort may not have registered at the announcer's console yet. Not sure if that's really possible, though.
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Well that was interesting!
What do we reckon for the hold time? I had them down to about T-7 seconds, but that's the time the controller gave the hold call.
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Did the vehicle/ground computer initiate the venting on its own, upon recognizing the problem?
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Did the vehicle initiate the venting on its own, upon recognizing the problem?
Probably not without a signal for the abort from the ground. But I don't know how Delta's vent valve is controlled.
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Did the vehicle/ground computer initiate the venting on its own, upon recognizing the problem?
It's unlikely that the vent valve has any other control source than the vehicle or the ground.
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From Larry who was at the Press Site: "There was a LARGE flame out from the H2 burnoff flame stack just before the HOLD, HOLD, HOLD call came through."
This sounds very similar to a Delta IV-Heavy abort I witnessed in January 2009 when a LARGE flame out of the H2 burnoff stack was seen followed immediately by a "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" call.
Any thoughts?
EDIT: Obviously not a cause as Chris B has just posted the cause. But still, what could cause this "Flame out."
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ULA/USAF Joint Statement:
Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Mission Tentatively Rescheduled for May 27
Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. (May 24, 2010) - The launch attempt of the United Launch Alliance Delta IV with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF SV-1 satellite (GPS IIF SV-1) was scrubbed tonight. During the final seconds of the launch countdown, an anomalous data signature with the thrust vector control system on one of the two solid rocket motors mounted to the Delta IV booster was detected. The thrust vector control system is used to steer the SRMs during flight. The data signature triggered an automatic abort in the launch countdown scrubbing tonight’s launch attempt. Mission managers are currently studying the situation to determine a corrective action plan.
The Delta IV rocket and GPS IIF SV-1 satellite are safe and secure at this time. The next launch attempt has been tentatively set for Thursday. When a decision is made determining the next launch attempt it will be announced. The launch window for Thursday is 11:00 -11:19 p.m. EDT.
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From Larry who was at the Press Site: "There was a LARGE flame out from the H2 burnoff flame stack just before the HOLD, HOLD, HOLD call came through."
This sounds very similar to a Delta IV-Heavy abort I witnessed in January 2009 when a LARGE flame out of the H2 burnoff stack was seen followed immediately by a "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" call.
Any thoughts?
Sounds like gaseous hydrogen being vented immediately after an abort.
- Ed Kyle
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Deleted
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Deleted
I'm going to pick on this a bit.
This is exactly the problem. Too many in this industry want to draw lines where none should exist. This happens on both sides with SOME commercial folks thinking they are immune to anything and everything and can do more for fractions of a penny and the SOME government folks like to think that everyone else is incompitent and they are superior for some reason, even though the development track record says otherwise.
ALL rockets, all spacecraft, have problems now and then.
It is time people on both sides of the aisle grow up and work together and let go of the damn ideological extremes. Otherwise we're going nowhere and the future, whatever the hell that turns out to be, will never happen.
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Frankly I really appreciate that the Delta MAP script can't get "go fever". Essentially the decision to hold at that point was made long ago by (presumably calm-headed) folk who considered what should be done in just this contingency.
So yes, I'd say this scrub is the sign of a great launch system, even if a particular piece of hardware wasn't ready to fly tonight.
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Deleted
I'm going to pick on this a bit.
This is exactly the problem. Too many in this industry want to draw lines where none should exist. This happens on both sides with SOME commercial folks thinking they are immune to anything and everything and can do more for fractions of a penny and the SOME government folks like to think that everyone else is incompitent and they are superior for some reason, even though the development track record says otherwise.
ALL rockets, all spacecraft, have problems now and then.
It is time people on both sides of the aisle grow up and work together and let go of the damn ideological extremes. Otherwise we're going nowhere and the future, whatever the hell that turns out to be, will never happen.
Good post, OV.
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Deleted
Almost as interesting as the last 15 seconds of tonights count... ;D
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It took Shuttle 12 flights for an on-pad abort. Delta IV got to 13. And yet, somehow, I don't care. The ability to do the right thing up until the very last 1/25th of a second counts for a lot.
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From Larry who was at the Press Site: "There was a LARGE flame out from the H2 burnoff flame stack just before the HOLD, HOLD, HOLD call came through."
This sounds very similar to a Delta IV-Heavy abort I witnessed in January 2009 when a LARGE flame out of the H2 burnoff stack was seen followed immediately by a "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" call.
Any thoughts?
EDIT: Obviously not a cause as Chris B has just posted the cause. But still, what could cause this "Flame out."
Once the topping has stopped and the tanks are secured for flight, all the trapped LH2 in the lines between the vehicle and supply tank has to be vented.
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Frankly I really appreciate that the Delta MAP script can't get "go fever". Essentially the decision to hold at that point was made long ago by (presumably calm-headed) folk who considered what should be done in just this contingency.
So yes, I'd say this scrub is the sign of a great launch system, even if a particular piece of hardware wasn't ready to fly tonight.
So this is just another point that there is nothing special to manrating since much of the same practices are used in unmanned systems.
And it is hypocritical of people who make disparaging comments about other programs when the center that they support is responsible for the death of 14 astronauts.
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Mobile Service tower has been moved back over the Delta IV
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Frankly I really appreciate that the Delta MAP script can't get "go fever". Essentially the decision to hold at that point was made long ago by (presumably calm-headed) folk who considered what should be done in just this contingency.
I like this post. Must take a really calm head to come over the loop and call the hold that late. I know it's training, but still.
Anyhoo, *might* start a new thread for the next attempt. Getting a bit convoluted on this one.
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Multithreaded Automatic Procedures System
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I like this post. Must take a really calm head to come over the loop and call the hold that late.
Why, if it's an automatic cutoff and "all" he does is announce it to everyone else. It's not as if he himself initiated the hold, at least that's my impression.
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From Larry who was at the Press Site: "There was a LARGE flame out from the H2 burnoff flame stack just before the HOLD, HOLD, HOLD call came through."
This sounds very similar to a Delta IV-Heavy abort I witnessed in January 2009 when a LARGE flame out of the H2 burnoff stack was seen followed immediately by a "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" call.
Any thoughts?
EDIT: Obviously not a cause as Chris B has just posted the cause. But still, what could cause this "Flame out."
Once the topping has stopped and the tanks are secured for flight, all the trapped LH2 in the lines between the vehicle and supply tank has to be vented.
Thanks Jim. Figured it was something 'like' a drainback of fluid lines, but in this case was just a final purge so there is no risk of fire or explosion from trapped gas.
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I like this post. Must take a really calm head to come over the loop and call the hold that late.
Why, if it's an automatic cutoff and "all" he does is announce it to everyone else. It's not as if he himself initiated the hold, at least that's my impression.
Correct. Chances are it was the person whose sole job is to report an (automatic) MAPS hold. Now, another older rocket with a planetary on board and a Fill & Drain somewhere between open and closed at T-5s, that's another story.
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From Larry who was at the Press Site: "There was a LARGE flame out from the H2 burnoff flame stack just before the HOLD, HOLD, HOLD call came through."
This sounds very similar to a Delta IV-Heavy abort I witnessed in January 2009 when a LARGE flame out of the H2 burnoff stack was seen followed immediately by a "HOLD, HOLD, HOLD" call.
Any thoughts?
EDIT: Obviously not a cause as Chris B has just posted the cause. But still, what could cause this "Flame out."
Once the topping has stopped and the tanks are secured for flight, all the trapped LH2 in the lines between the vehicle and supply tank has to be vented.
Thanks Jim. Figured it was something 'like' a drainback of fluid lines, but in this case was just a final purge so there is no risk of fire or explosion from trapped gas.
Ed had it exactly right:
Sounds like gaseous hydrogen being vented immediately after an abort.
It goes like this:
Red line violated - script senses it - script starts initiating abort/safing commands including opening the fuel vent valves and depressurizing the tanks - fuel gas flows through the umbilicals into the vent stack and burns - human slower than computer calls HOLD.
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Atlantis is home, so Thursday, May 27 with a launch window of 11:00 – 11:19 p.m. EDT is on.
The launch broadcast will begin 10:35 p.m. EDT.
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Hope you all have your "no scrub" hats and coffee on standby for tonight ;)
Will add in the scrub history to bring William's article up to date.
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Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., (May 27, 2010) - A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System GPS IIF SV-1 (GPS IIF SV-1) satellite sits poised on its Space Launch Complex-37 launch pad ready to launch tonight. The launch is set for 11 p.m. EDT with the launch window extending until 11:19 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather during the launch window. GPS IIF SV-1 is the first in a series of next generation GPS satellites. Following its nearly three hour, 33 minute flight; it will join a worldwide timing and navigation system utilizing 24 satellites approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance
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SLC-37B with Delta-IV at 1807UTC...
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Other view of the SLC-37B...
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What's the beehive building for?
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It is the blockhouse for when they used to launch the Saturn I off that pad. After the Delta II accident some years ago, they moved most, if not all, launch control complexes further away from the pad.
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Atlas II still controlled from the LC-36 blockhouse. It was better fortified than the one at LC-17.
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Atlas II still controlled from the LC-36 blockhouse.
How loud would it typically get inside one of those, being heavily fortified, but still pretty close to the pad?
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Permission has been given for cryo load...
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LOX chilldown
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Briefing on winds
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Live views of Delta IV from KSC webcams:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan11large.jpg
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/countdown/video/chan12large.jpg
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Delta-IV launch complex at Cape Canaveral. 2231UTC
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At this time we are on the process of fuelling the Delta-IV with the cryogenic propolents.
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T-3h 55m
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There seems to be some kind of problem related to the first stage liquid hidrogen post-fuelling procedures.
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The problems related with the post-fuelling of the liquid hidrogen sequence has been resolved...
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For those wanting to stream the video in VLC or other player:
Three KSC EELV webcams:
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo1.rm
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo2.rm
http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/rrg2.pl?encoder/aevideo3.rm
Webcast from ULA: Both reflectors seem to work in VLC - Currently only the splash screen up - I think the webcast starts at 10:30pm Eastern
mms://a49.l2973058048.c29730.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/49/29730/v0001/reflector:58048
mms://a228.l2973058227.c29730.g.lm.akamaistream.net/D/228/29730/v0001/reflector:58227
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survey
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Targeting the opening of the window...
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No COLA's for todays launch window.
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Weather:
No changes from earlier briefing
Thunderstorms clearly out of the area
Cells well outside 50 nm west and south
Even if an anvil produced, 2 hours away
Ground winds not a concern
10 % chance of violation
SE wind peaking 5 kt
73 deg at T0
"Green"
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Atlas II still controlled from the LC-36 blockhouse.
How loud would it typically get inside one of those, being heavily fortified, but still pretty close to the pad?
I'd say most of the time it was quieter than being a few miles away.
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Bad elevator music has started on ULA feed.
The command voice loop is coming through on KSC feeds 1 and 3.
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ULA Webcast started...
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L-20 minutes.
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T-5m and holding (for 15 minutes)
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Boeing wants us to know that their new buzzword, "pulse line", is awesome.
Take that Henry Ford! This isn't your father's assembly line. It's different somehow.
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5 minutes to resume count...
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Polling is all GO so far!
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L-6 minutes. Proceed with terminal count.
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Resuming count...
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Second stage on internal power.
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Transfering vehicle internal.
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Ordnance arming.
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Ordnance armed.
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Propellant tanks securing.
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Securing tanks - pre-press for flight pressure.
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T-120 seconds. HTPA spin up, hydraulic pressure at 4000 psi.
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T-90 seconds.
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Range go!
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T-60 seconds! Go Delta Go!
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Range is go.
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Green board. Flight lock-in.
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Launch enable. Fingers crossed!
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LIFTOFF!!
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LAUNCH!!
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Good engine control, pitch and yaw.
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Mach 1, max-Q.
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SRM sep!
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Solids burnout and sep.
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32 miles altitude.
7,000 fps
45 miles downrange.
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Less than 1 minute to go until MECO.
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Now 13,100 fps.
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Down to 58% thrust.
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MECO!
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MECO.
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Launch time at 0300:00,319UTC (according to ELV launch page).
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1-2 sep, nozzle extend and second stage start!
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Staging 1-2 sep.
Second stage ignition.
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Fairing sep!
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Fairing sep.
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Good engine control.
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The first Delta...
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T+10 minutes. Chamber pressures good.
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172 miles altitude
24,000 fps
1,500 miles downrange.
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SECO-1.
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SECO
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Seven minute gap in coverage during coast. I wonder if we'll get some Sea Launch Jazz.
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Haha, I wish... :D
CRDs turned off.
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Second stage restart.
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Second burn under way.
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Engine steering good.
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SECO-2.
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EMAs locked. Now for an extended coast (a little under three hours).
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ill repost the launch again now that it is over, deleted first
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94Sh8RKumCQ
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Webcast ending.
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Third burn completed; spacecraft separation pending.
Spacecraft separation confirmed; launch phase complete and apparently a full success.
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ULA Marks Delta 50th Anniversary with Successful Delta IV GPS IIF SV-1 Launch
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., (May 27, 2010) – Celebrating 50 years of launch for one of the most successful rocket programs in U.S. history, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV successfully launched the Air Force’s Global Positioning System IIF SV-1 spacecraft at 11 p.m. EDT today from Space Launch Complex-37. GPS IIF SV-1 marked the 349th launch in the Delta program’s 50 year history, which began with its first launch on May 13, 1960.
“We congratulate the Air Force and our mission partners on the successful launch of the first of the new generation of GPS satellites,” said Jim Sponnick, vice president, Delta Product Line. “Today’s launch comes just one week after the 50th anniversary of the first Delta launch and was the 13th mission success for the newest Delta launch vehicle, the Delta IV. The partnership between the Air Force and the Delta team has resulted in the successful launches of many national security missions directly supporting our troops on the battlefield. Launching the first of the next generation of GPS satellites is a great way to start our next 50 years.”
GPS IIF SV-1 is the first in a series of next generation GPS satellites, and following its nearly three hour, 33 minute flight, it joined a worldwide timing and navigation system utilizing 24 satellites, in six different planes, with a minimum of four satellites per plane, positioned in orbit approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth’s surface.
During the past five decades, the Delta family of expendable launch vehicles has achieved one of the most successful flight records of any rocket currently in use, with a success rate of 95.7 percent. The Delta II, since its first launch in February 1989 has an incredible 98.6 percent success rate. The December 2009 launch of the NASA WISE mission was the 92nd consecutive successful launch with the Delta II system. The Delta IV, making its debut in November 2002, continues this legacy with 100 percent mission success for its 13 missions in the last eight years.
“Our ULA team is proud of the Delta success record and the contributions it has made to scientific exploration, national defense, and economic prosperity,” Sponnick said. “Delta has been so successful for the last 50 years because of tremendous support from our government mission partners as well as our outstanding suppliers and commercial customers.”
Delta launched some of America’s most famous and successful missions. NASA’s Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity, along with the Phoenix Mars Lander, were launched by Delta. Additionally, NASA missions such as Mars Odyssey, Messenger, Dawn, GLAST and THEMIS all began their journeys on a Delta. Numerous national defense missions, the recent GOES series of weather satellites and all current operational GPS satellites on orbit were launch by Delta.
ULA’s next launch is the U.S. Air Force Advanced Extremely High Frequency-1 (AEHF-1) mission scheduled for July 30, aboard an Atlas V from Space Launch Complex-41
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/DeltaIVGPSIIFSV-1.shtml
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Congrats ULA. Missed this launch unfortunately...had an early rise requirement
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Just a quick request: Could anyone point me to a bio (official or otherwise) of Steve Agid, ULA's announcer? I've heard him on countless D-IV and A-V launches but it occurs to me that his voice is just about all I know. Call me curious. :)
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Just a quick request: Could anyone point me to a bio (official or otherwise) of Steve Agid, ULA's announcer? I've heard him on countless D-IV and A-V launches but it occurs to me that his voice is just about all I know. Call me curious. :)
He isn't an announcer just a telemetry engineer, who worked shuttle payloads before Delta IV. Doesn't work Atlas
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Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., (May 28, 2010) - A United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System GPS IIF SV-1 (GPS IIF SV-1) satellite blasts off from its Space Launch Complex-37 launch pad at 11 p.m. EDT Thursday night. GPS IIF SV-1 is the first in a series of next generation GPS satellites. Following its nearly three hour, 33 minute flight; it will join a worldwide timing and navigation system utilizing 24 satellites approximately 11,000 miles above the Earth’s surface. Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance
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Here's the official launch notice:
NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2010098
SUBJ: SVN 62 (PRN 25) LAUNCH JDAY 148
1. NANU TYPE: LAUNCH
NANU NUMBER: 2010098
NANU DTG: 280634Z MAY 2010
SVN: 62
PRN: 25
LAUNCH JDAY: 148
LAUNCH TIME ZULU: 0300
2. GPS SATELLITE SVN 62 (PRN 25) WAS LAUNCHED ON JDAY 148 THIS SATELLITE
WILL UNDERGO EXTENSIVE ON-ORBIT CHECK OUT AND TESTING PRIOR TO BEING SET
HEALTHY. FORCE DEVELOPMENT EVALUATION WILL OCCUR PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE
SPACE VEHICLE IS SET HEALTHY.
A USABINIT NANU WILL BE SENT WHEN THE SATELITTE IS SET ACTIVE TO
SERVICE.
3. POC: CIVILIAN - NAVCEN AT 703-313-5900, HTTP://WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV
MILITARY - GPS OPERATIONS CENTER AT
HTTP://gps.afspc.af.mil/GPSOC, DSN 560-2541,
COMM 719-567-2541, [email protected],
HTTP://gps.afspc.af.mil/GPSOC/GPS
MILITARY ALTERNATE - JOINT SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER, DSN 276- 3514.
COMM 805-606-3514.
[email protected]
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Has its USA designation been confirmed yet? I'm assuming it'll be USA-213.
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Delta 349 was the third Delta 4 flight in less than six months from SLC 37B, a Delta 4 launch tempo not previously achieved from a single pad.
- Ed Kyle
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Delta 349 was the third Delta 4 flight in less than six months from SLC 37B, a Delta 4 launch tempo not previously achieved from a single pad.
- Ed Kyle
But there won't be another until October, and given the past record I doubt if that will go on time.
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Just a quick request: Could anyone point me to a bio (official or otherwise) of Steve Agid, ULA's announcer? I've heard him on countless D-IV and A-V launches but it occurs to me that his voice is just about all I know. Call me curious. :)
He isn't an announcer just a telemetry engineer, who worked shuttle payloads before Delta IV. Doesn't work Atlas
Jim - *just* a telemetry engineer? I think some of us here would rank "engineer" above "announcer" :-)
(yes, I know you didn't mean it that way, and yes, PAOs are important too and I love you all ;-)) - jcm
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I think some of us here would rank "engineer" above "announcer" :-)
*raises hand*
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Has its USA designation been confirmed yet? I'm assuming it'll be USA-213.
Confirmed as USA 213. But Spacetrack also calls it Navstar 65,
despite the NANU labelling it SVN 62 - I am puzzled, can anyone enlighten?
Space-Track gives transfer orbit of 252 x 20464 km x 43.3 deg,
and Delta stage orbit of 20457 x 21674 x 54.7 deg, but no final orbit yet
for the payload. Based on ground track and other data I infer initial parking orbit was around 200 x 300 km, 37.5 deg, with large error bars.
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Confirmed as USA 213. But Spacetrack also calls it Navstar 65,
despite the NANU labelling it SVN 62 - I am puzzled, can anyone enlighten?
Could be a typo. It is also PRN-25, so they could have got the two mixed up.
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Delta 349 was the third Delta 4 flight in less than six months from SLC 37B, a Delta 4 launch tempo not previously achieved from a single pad.
- Ed Kyle
But there won't be another until October, and given the past record I doubt if that will go on time.
That will be a Heavy with an NRO payload. The Heavies seem to be vastly different animals than the Mediums. The shortest flight gap preceding a Heavy launch (to date) was one year and seven days. More than a year passed without a launch from 37B prior to all three Delta 4 Heavy launches!
- Ed Kyle
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"Long-range" launch video from the KSC MOCOP Twitter account (http://twitter.com/KSC_MOCOP):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVjzzCykVZ4
Attached are launch photos from the KSC MOCOP Twitter account.
Image 1 Hi-res: http://twitpic.com/1rp8zj/full
Image 2 Hi-res: http://twitpic.com/1rp87f/full
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Delta 349 was the third Delta 4 flight in less than six months from SLC 37B, a Delta 4 launch tempo not previously achieved from a single pad.
- Ed Kyle
But there won't be another until October, and given the past record I doubt if that will go on time.
That will be a Heavy with an NRO payload. The Heavies seem to be vastly different animals than the Mediums. The shortest flight gap preceding a Heavy launch (to date) was one year and seven days. More than a year passed without a launch from 37B prior to all three Delta 4 Heavy launches!
- Ed Kyle
Seems like these NRO payloads are at least as much to blame for delays as the launcher itself.
Apart from having to beef up the core, why would the Heavy be significantly different from the Mediums? Parts/systems commonality was supposed to be a big advantage of the Delta 4 family's concept.
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Delta 349 was the third Delta 4 flight in less than six months from SLC 37B, a Delta 4 launch tempo not previously achieved from a single pad.
- Ed Kyle
But there won't be another until October, and given the past record I doubt if that will go on time.
That will be a Heavy with an NRO payload. The Heavies seem to be vastly different animals than the Mediums. The shortest flight gap preceding a Heavy launch (to date) was one year and seven days. More than a year passed without a launch from 37B prior to all three Delta 4 Heavy launches!
- Ed Kyle
Seems like these NRO payloads are at least as much to blame for delays as the launcher itself.
Apart from having to beef up the core, why would the Heavy be significantly different from the Mediums? Parts/systems commonality was supposed to be a big advantage of the Delta 4 family's concept.
One of the Delta managers likened it to "launching three rockets at the same time" - the interaction of all three makes things more challenging.
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Well, the second Delta IV-Heavy launch was significantly delayed after the liquid oxygen leak damaged the pad. The third launch was for a super-expensive NRO SIGINT bird, so there may have been payload-specific work. Then there's the need to check out and mate three cores instead of one.
This was also the 10th Delta IV-M launch, while there have only been 3 Delta IV-H launches to date.
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Delta 349 was the third Delta 4 flight in less than six months from SLC 37B, a Delta 4 launch tempo not previously achieved from a single pad.
- Ed Kyle
But there won't be another until October, and given the past record I doubt if that will go on time.
That will be a Heavy with an NRO payload. The Heavies seem to be vastly different animals than the Mediums. The shortest flight gap preceding a Heavy launch (to date) was one year and seven days. More than a year passed without a launch from 37B prior to all three Delta 4 Heavy launches!
- Ed Kyle
Seems like these NRO payloads are at least as much to blame for delays as the launcher itself.
Apart from having to beef up the core, why would the Heavy be significantly different from the Mediums? Parts/systems commonality was supposed to be a big advantage of the Delta 4 family's concept.
One of the Delta managers likened it to "launching three rockets at the same time" - the interaction of all three makes things more challenging.
Oh great. They didn't think about that aspect of three cores during the design process for the Heavy? I wonder how responsive they would be with the seven-core Super Heavy concept they talk about from time to time. One launch every five years???
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There was a report earlier this year stating that a contract extension of something like $9 million extra was given to ensure the Heavy launches this October. I cannot remember where I saw it anymore.
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Apart from having to beef up the core, why would the Heavy be significantly different from the Mediums? Parts/systems commonality was supposed to be a big advantage of the Delta 4 family's concept.
There are 6 separate core configurations.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15541.msg357064#msg357064
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Before I venture off-topic a bit, does anyone know how long before checkout of this GPS sat starts?
Oh great. They didn't think about that aspect of three cores during the design process for the Heavy? I wonder how responsive they would be with the seven-core Super Heavy concept they talk about from time to time. One launch every five years???
Why in the world would you want 7 D-IV cores?
If anything, find a way to put two large solids on the side and you have a heavy lifter ala the titan...
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If anything, find a way to put two large solids on the side and you have a heavy lifter ala the titan...
D-IV H already exceeds Titan IV's lift. And Titan wasn't exactly cheap, probably in large part due to those same solid motors.
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Oh great. They didn't think about that aspect of three cores during the design process for the Heavy? I wonder how responsive they would be with the seven-core Super Heavy concept they talk about from time to time. One launch every five years???
Why in the world would you want 7 D-IV cores?
If anything, find a way to put two large solids on the side and you have a heavy lifter ala the titan...
FWIW, I think that the largest Delta-IV configurations that we're likely to see is the tri-core heavy with two GEM-60 SRMs on each core and the 4 x RL-10B-2 common upper stage. That would be about 50t IMLEO, pretty much sufficient for an LEO mission module and good enough for a two-launch or depot-supported single-launch of a BEO mission module and EDS.
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Oh great. They didn't think about that aspect of three cores during the design process for the Heavy? I wonder how responsive they would be with the seven-core Super Heavy concept they talk about from time to time. One launch every five years???
Why in the world would you want 7 D-IV cores?
If anything, find a way to put two large solids on the side and you have a heavy lifter ala the titan...
FWIW, I think that the largest Delta-IV configurations that we're likely to see is the tri-core heavy with two GEM-60 SRMs on each core and the 4 x RL-10B-2 common upper stage. That would be about 50t IMLEO, pretty much sufficient for an LEO mission module and good enough for a two-launch or depot-supported single-launch of a BEO mission module and EDS.
Also, add in the RS-68A there. Maybe even prop cross-feed. I wonder what such a monster could launch on a ballistic trajectory to EML1/2? Or TLI? Or Earth Escape?
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Apart from having to beef up the core, why would the Heavy be significantly different from the Mediums? Parts/systems commonality was supposed to be a big advantage of the Delta 4 family's concept.
There are 6 separate core configurations.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15541.msg357064#msg357064
I see. The answer is "It's not that simple. It never is."
Oh, well...
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Oh great. They didn't think about that aspect of three cores during the design process for the Heavy? I wonder how responsive they would be with the seven-core Super Heavy concept they talk about from time to time. One launch every five years???
Why in the world would you want 7 D-IV cores?
If anything, find a way to put two large solids on the side and you have a heavy lifter ala the titan...
FWIW, I think that the largest Delta-IV configurations that we're likely to see is the tri-core heavy with two GEM-60 SRMs on each core and the 4 x RL-10B-2 common upper stage. That would be about 50t IMLEO, pretty much sufficient for an LEO mission module and good enough for a two-launch or depot-supported single-launch of a BEO mission module and EDS.
Also, add in the RS-68A there. Maybe even prop cross-feed. I wonder what such a monster could launch on a ballistic trajectory to EML1/2? Or TLI? Or Earth Escape?
It should be enough to send an Orion on a free-return trans-lunar trajectory.
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Checkout of GPS IIF-1 is completed and the new GPS satellite was set usable on 27 Aug 2010.
According to the Air Force, the satellite performs in accordance with its design specifications. However, it doesn't pass the 'nitpick' tests. There have been signal anomalies detected by the international bodies that monitor the constellation. These include phase and waveform distortions of new L5 band signal.
Also frequency variations of the atomic frequency standards have been observed at the Naval Research Laboratory. On first analysis, these effects seem to relate to thermal cycling .. the satellite was operating during an eclipse season.
Here's the official announcement:
NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2010113
SUBJ: SVN62 (PRN25) USABLE JDAY 239/0410
1. NANU TYPE: USABINIT
NANU NUMBER: 2010113
NANU DTG: 270416Z AUG 2010
REFERENCE NANU: N/A
REF NANU DTG: N/A
SVN: 62
PRN: 25
START JDAY: 239
START TIME ZULU: 0410
START CALENDAR DATE: 27 AUG 2010
STOP JDAY: N/A
STOP TIME ZULU: N/A
STOP CALENDAR DATE: N/A
2. CONDITION: GPS SATELLITE SVN62 (PRN25) WAS USABLE AS OF JDAY 239
(27 AUG 2010) BEGINNING 0410 ZULU.
3. POC: CIVILIAN - NAVCEN AT 703-313-5900, HTTPS://WWW.NAVCEN.USCG.GOV
MILITARY - GPS OPERATIONS CENTER at HTTP://GPS.AFSPC.AF.MIL/GPSOC, DSN 560-2541,
COMM 719-567-2541, [email protected], HTTPS://gps.afspc.af.mil
MILITARY ALTERNATE - JOINT SPACE OPERATIONS CENTER, DSN 276-3514,
COMM 805-606-3514, [email protected]
Here is the current status of the modernized civil signals:
NOTICE ADVISORY TO NAVSTAR USERS (NANU) 2010115 NANU TYPE: GENERAL
*** GENERAL MESSAGE TO ALL GPS USERS ***
For SVN 62/PRN 25 GPS Modernized signal, defined in interface control documentation as L2C and L5, are now available with the following caveats:
-Availability and quality of these signals are not guaranteed as we complete the development of these new capabilities
-Any use of these signals at this time is at the user's own risk
*** GENERAL MESSAGE TO ALL GPS USERS ***
--- CHAS
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50th Space Wing gains control of new GPS satellite.
The 50th Space Wing's 2nd Space Operations Squadron here accepted command and control of the first Global Positioning System Block IIF satellite at 9 a.m. today.
The 45th Space Wing at Patrick AFB successfully launched a United Launch Alliance Delta IV-Medium rocket carrying the first Boeing-built Global Positioning System IIF satellite at 11 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex 37 May 27.
The Global Positioning Systems Wing, a joint service effort directed by the U.S. Air Force and managed at the Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., remained in control of the satellite during the test period before the hand-off today to 2 SOPS.
"I'm extremely honored to accept command and control of the first GPS Block IIF satellite," said Lt. Col. Jennifer Grant, 2 SOPS commander. "We are excited to have the privilege of being the first to control the next generation in global positioning satellite technology as we continue to provide our warfighters and civil users the most accurate position, navigation and timing signal available. Fielding newer and more capable systems enables GPS to remain the world's gold standard."
The next-generation GPS IIF satellites will provide improved accuracy through advanced atomic clocks, a longer design life than legacy GPS satellites, and a new L5 civil signal (third civil signal) that will benefit civil aviation and other safety-of-life applications. Even though the L5 civil signal meets all requirements, per plan it will stay in development status broadcasting test data until initial operational capability is reached. A message regarding this caveat will be sent out to GPS users worldwide.
It will also continue to deploy the modernized capabilities that began with the eight modernized GPS IIR satellites, including a more robust military signal. GPS IIF satellites will provide improved signals that will enhance the precise global positioning, navigation and timing services supporting both the warfighter and the growing civilian needs of our global economy. The GPS constellation remains the most robust and capable system in the history of space.
The members of 2 SOPS operate the largest Department of Defense spacecraft constellation via the Master Control Station and a worldwide network of monitor stations and ground antennas. The MCS also houses a customer interface, the GPS Operations Center, which is a 24/7 user-focused center of excellence supporting a wide variety of military, civil and commercial users and applications.
Source. (http://www.schriever.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123219269)
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1st Boeing-built GPS IIF Satellite Enters Service with US Air Force.
Boeing today announced that the first of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites the company is building for the U.S. Air Force has entered service. GPS IIF-1 is the newest member of the active 31-satellite GPS constellation, which provides accurate navigation, positioning and timing information to more than 1 billion military and civilian users around the world.
GPS IIF satellites offer new and enhanced capabilities, including a jam-resistant military signal, greater accuracy through improved atomic clock technology, and a protected civilian L5 signal to aid commercial aviation and safety-of-life applications. According to Air Force officials, on-orbit testing shows that the L5 signal meets all requirements. Based on program plans, the signal will remain in development status, broadcasting test data until initial operational capability is declared. The Air Force will send a message about this to GPS users worldwide.
"Putting the first next-generation GPS IIF satellite into operation is a significant step forward for the Air Force and the millions of warfighters and civilians who depend on this vital system," said Air Force Col. Bernard Gruber, commander, GPS Wing. "Now that IIF-1 is operational, military and commercial receivers around the world can begin using the satellite's improved signals to more accurately determine their position."
Launched on May 27, 2010, GPS IIF-1 has undergone three months of comprehensive on-orbit testing to validate its operations with the ground control system, other GPS satellites and a wide range of military and commercial GPS ground receivers. The satellite’s testing regimen was longer and more rigorous than usual because it is the first of the series.
A Boeing space vehicle operations team based in Colorado helped the GPS Wing monitor and evaluate test results as GPS IIF-1 went through many of its first on-orbit operations. With testing complete, the GPS Wing has officially transferred Satellite Control Authority to the Air Force 50th Space Wing and the 2nd Space Operations Squadron, which will operate the satellite on its mission.
"Boeing has built 40 of the 61 GPS satellites launched since 1978, and GPS IIF is a great addition to that long legacy," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. "These satellites make a difference by adding new levels of power and precision to GPS services. The IIF series will be the backbone of the constellation for the next 12 to 15 years."
Boeing is producing the next 11 GPS IIF satellites using an innovative pulse-line manufacturing approach adapted from the company's aircraft and helicopter assembly lines. The line enables faster, more efficient development of several satellites at once. The company also developed the current GPS ground control infrastructure, called the Operational Control Segment (OCS), which has supported an expanding set of GPS services and capabilities since 2007.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
Source. (http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1392)
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Florida Today's "The Flame Trench" Blog: "GPS, weather satellites launched this year ready for service". (http://space.flatoday.net/2010/09/gps-weather-satellites-launched-this.html)
Two satellites launched this year from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station have successfully completed on-orbit testing and are ready for service.
The first in a $1.6 billion program of new Global Positioning Systems satellites, known as Block IIF, launched late May 27 on its fourth attempt atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket.
The Air Force today announced that the spacecraft called GPS IIF-01 became operational Aug. 26., flying 11,000 nautical miles above Earth in the constellation's "B-2" slot.
The satellite joined 30 others in orbit, several of which are aging an nearing the end of their operational lives. The constellation uses a minimum of 24 satellites to provide precision location, navigation and time information for military and civilian users.
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GPS 2F-1 is getting a software patch:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/asd/2010/09/02/03.xml
According to Saceflight Now, GPS 2F-2 will launch aboard an Atlas next year. Its launch was scheduled for November.
--- CHAS