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#900
by
edkyle99
on 27 Jan, 2013 16:35
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One of two images posted on the VAFB site of the January 26 GMD test flight. This was the first GMD (OBV?) launch since December 15, 2010, which suffered an EKV intercept failure. I've wondered what the program was up to. It seems it may have been going through a big redevelopment effort, at least for the EKV.
The "Taurus Lite" family has only flown 11 times since it began in 2003. The good news is that the launch vehicle itself has not failed in flight.
Am I right that this missile's motors harken back to a "Midgetman" heritage, at least in terms of their ancestors?
And does anyone know which launch site was used?
- Ed Kyle
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#901
by
jcm
on 27 Jan, 2013 20:00
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One of two images posted on the VAFB site of the January 26 GMD test flight. This was the first GMD (OBV?) launch since December 15, 2010, which suffered an EKV intercept failure. I've wondered what the program was up to. It seems it may have been going through a big redevelopment effort, at least for the EKV.
The "Taurus Lite" family has only flown 11 times since it began in 2003. The good news is that the launch vehicle itself has not failed in flight.
Am I right that this missile's motors harken back to a "Midgetman" heritage, at least in terms of their ancestors?
And does anyone know which launch site was used?
- Ed Kyle
According to a video on the space command Facebook page it was silo LF-23.
Interesting comment on the Midgetman - I don't know much about that ICBM's solid motors. They were 1.17m dia, built by ATK-Promontory (St 1, Thiokol), Aerojet-Sacramento (St2) and ATK-Magna (St 3, Hercules).
I believe the Orion motors used for the GBI booster, which were first flown on Pegasus, are ATK-Magna heritage. They are somewhat comparable to the SICBM motors but slightly larger diameter and the first stage has a longer burn time but similar total impulse. It would be interesting to know if there was indeed a design link.
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#902
by
catdlr
on 27 Jan, 2013 23:26
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Official Video of the Ground-based Midcourse Defense system launch at VAFB
Launch site is from this silo on the north base.
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=34.855727,-120.596615&hl=en&sll=33.975324,-118.44787&sspn=0.043632,0.077162&t=w&z=16&iwloc=ALaunch VAFB Jan 26, 2013Published on Jan 26, 2013
A Ground-based Interceptor, an element of the overall Ground-based Midcourse Defense system, was launched from North Vandenberg Saturday at 2 p.m. by 30th Space Wing officials and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. The launch was part of a test to improve and enhance the GMD element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System.
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#903
by
Skyrocket
on 28 Jan, 2013 06:51
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#904
by
block51
on 29 Jan, 2013 18:42
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Launch scheduled from WFF today between 5:30 and 6:30 pm eastern. Video stream should go live at 4:30 pm.
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/west129.htmlhttp://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-wallopsThe vehicle is a Mk. 70 Terrier - Improved Orion launching 41.107 West. The payload is a technology demonstrator / development flight for lithium canisters that are to be used on upcoming flights. The lithium canisters produce trails in the sky at altitude that allow for the tracking of upper level winds in the same way that Trimethlaluminum was used most recently on the ATREX launches.
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#905
by
catdlr
on 29 Jan, 2013 20:07
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USTREAM is already broadcasting. Just got done with an interview with one of the project staff.
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#906
by
catdlr
on 29 Jan, 2013 20:42
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1:07 till Launch at 5:50 pm EST
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#907
by
catdlr
on 29 Jan, 2013 21:07
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#908
by
catdlr
on 29 Jan, 2013 21:52
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Launched at 5:50 EST.
(added later) confirmed that Lithium canisters did deploy.
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#909
by
Chris Bergin
on 29 Jan, 2013 21:54
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Well done capturing Tony!
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#910
by
catdlr
on 29 Jan, 2013 22:09
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Well done capturing Tony!
Thanks Chris.
Public reports, of spotting the red lithium tracer, came from as far away as Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia. Public is being requested to submit photos to the Wallops Facebook site.
There seems to be video from perhaps an on board rocket cam but the images were poor. I'll keep an eye for any video replays when made available.
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#911
by
catdlr
on 29 Jan, 2013 22:27
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Launch of Terrier-Improved Orion from Wallops on Jan 29th
Published on Jan 29, 2013
A Terrier-Improved Orion sounding rocket blasted off from Wallops Island today, January 29th 2013 at 22:50 UTC in support of a NASA mission. The rocket released coloured vapours which were filmed and will be analysed to see which is better to use for upcoming launches this year.
From NASA Wallops
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#912
by
block51
on 30 Jan, 2013 17:19
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#913
by
Lewis007
on 08 Feb, 2013 08:14
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#914
by
block51
on 08 Feb, 2013 12:46
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Ha! Great photo set. I just forwarded it to a bunch of people actually in the photos (well, posted it to our private facebook group for sounding rocket folk at wallops). Thanks!
Everything we've heard about the mission has been very positive. Dr. Rowland was "very happy" about his data despite a slight under performance on apogee (~1 sigma, which isn't bad for a 4 stage sounding rocket). Also it was the first a successful launch of this vehicle. We had a test flight of a Talos-Terrier-Oriole-Nihka simulator (steel tube) last year, but this was the first one with a live Nihka.
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#915
by
Skyrocket
on 08 Feb, 2013 14:08
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Ha! Great photo set. I just forwarded it to a bunch of people actually in the photos (well, posted it to our private facebook group for sounding rocket folk at wallops). Thanks!
Everything we've heard about the mission has been very positive. Dr. Rowland was "very happy" about his data despite a slight under performance on apogee (~1 sigma, which isn't bad for a 4 stage sounding rocket). Also it was the first a successful launch of this vehicle. We had a test flight of a Talos-Terrier-Oriole-Nihka simulator (steel tube) last year, but this was the first one with a live Nihka.
Are there any photos showing the whole Talos-Terrier-Oriole-Nihka vehicle pre launch (before the insulation boxes were fitted)
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#916
by
block51
on 08 Feb, 2013 14:33
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Are there any photos showing the whole Talos-Terrier-Oriole-Nihka vehicle pre launch (before the insulation boxes were fitted)
Hmmm, pre insulation might be tough. I have a feeling they never had it elevated without insulation due to concerns with getting the motors too cold. They probably had it in a shelter, and thus no really good views of the vehicle without boxes. I'll see what I can do though.
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#917
by
Skyrocket
on 08 Feb, 2013 14:56
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NASA sounding rocket mission codes:
On
http://sites.wff.nasa.gov/code810/files/Sounding_Rockets_Annual_Report_2012.pdf there is a lineup of the current sounding rocket stable, but, alas, it is has a very low resolution and the lables are hardly legible.
Can anyone (perhaps block51
) tell me, what the lables of the vehicles of the Oriole vehicles are?
45 = Oriole ?? (= Terrier Oriole)
47 = Oriole ?? (= Terrier Oriole Nihka)
48 = Oriole ?? (= Talos Terrier Oriole)
49 = Oriole ?? (= Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka)
What are the vehicles with number 43 and 44, which are not present on this diagram?
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#918
by
block51
on 08 Feb, 2013 17:00
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Give me a few minutes and I'll see what I can get you!
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#919
by
block51
on 08 Feb, 2013 17:08
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45 = Oriole ?? (= Terrier Oriole)
47 = Oriole ?? (= Terrier Oriole Nihka)
48 = Oriole ?? (= Talos Terrier Oriole)
49 = Oriole ?? (= Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka)
What are the vehicles with number 43 and 44, which are not present on this diagram?
Per the diagram supplied to me by our vehicles group a few years back
43 = Talos-Tarus-Oriole
44 = Talos-Oriole
Per the poster in our hallway
45 = Oriole II (= Terrier Oriole)
47 = Oriole III-A (= Terrier Oriole Nihka)
48 = Oriole III (= Talos Terrier Oriole)
49 = Oriole IIII (= Talos Terrier Oriole Nihka)
) tell me, what the lables of the vehicles of the Oriole vehicles are?