LIVE: WGS-2 - Atlas V 421 - April 3, 09

[Ronsmytheiii]

EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Feb. 04, 2009 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has shipped the second in a series of new, high-capacity military communications satellites to Cape Canaveral Air Station in Florida, where it will be readied for a March launch.

The Wideband Global SATCOM satellite, designated WGS-2, is the second of six advanced Boeing 702 satellites being built for the U.S. Air Force to expand communications for military operations worldwide.

http://www.boeing.com/ids/network_space/news/2009/q1/090204a_nr.html

Not much on this one, however since we should be getting within a month of launch thought it would be a good idea to start a thread.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Launch packet for WGS-1, however they should be close enough for WGS-2:

http://www.ulalaunch.com/docs/AV011_MOB.pdf

[Chris Bergin]

From ULA PAO, WGS-2 Booklet:

Plus note:

Good morning, ULA is happy to pass along the mission booklet for the ULA Atlas V launch of the USAF WGS-2 satellite.  The mission is currently scheduled to launch March 13 with the launch window opening at 9:25 p.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla.  As a reminder, there is a prelaunch telecon for the mission Tuesday, Mar. 3, 1:30 p.m. EST/10:30 a.m. PST.  Details of how will participate and how to dial in are listed in the release below.  Happy to discuss all. VR, Mike Rein – 321-730-5646

 

Media Advisory

U.S. Air Force

45th Space Wing Public Affairs Office

1201 Edward H. White II Street, Patrick AFB FL 32925-3237

(321) 494-5933  DSN: 854-5933   [email protected]     FAX (321) 494-7302

 

Feb. 27, 2009

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

ATLAS V/WGS-2 PRE-LAUNCH MEDIA TELECONFERENCE SET FOR MARCH 3

 

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. - A pre-launch media teleconference

is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 3, 1:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the scheduled

launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Wideband

Global SATCOM-2 satellite.  The launch is set to take place Mar. 13 from

Space Launch Complex 41 here, during a launch window that extends from 9:25

- 10:03 p.m. (EDT).

 

      The call in number for the WGS-2 pre-launch press teleconference is

(800) 230-1085. Those interested in participating, please RSVP to 45 SW/PA,

321-494-5933.

 

      WGS is the nation's next-generation wideband satellite

communications system.  It will augment and eventually replace the aging

Defense Satellite Communication System which has been the Department of

Defense's backbone for satellite communications over the last two decades.

 

      The Atlas V rocket consists of a first stage powered by kerosene and

liquid oxygen, which uses a Russian made RD-180 engine, and a liquid

hydrogen-liquid oxygen powered Centaur upper stage. 

                             

Pre-launch news conference participants include: 

 

      45th Space Wing representatives scheduled are: 

      Lt. Col. John Wagner, Commander, 45th Launch Support Squadron

      Lt. Col. David Hook, Commander, 5th Space Launch Squadron

                       

      Space and Missile Systems Center representatives scheduled are:

      Col. William Harding, Vice Commander, MILSATCOM

      Col. Michael Moran, Commander, Atlas Group

 

      United Launch Alliance representative scheduled is:

      Mr. James Bell, ULA Communications

 

      Boeing Spacecraft representative scheduled is:

      Mr. Mark Spiwak, WGS Mission Manager, Boeing

                 

 

Contact: Capt Amber Millerchip, 321-494-5933 (office).

[kch]

2008?  Unless this launched a year ago, the thread title might benefit from a slight change ...

[Ronsmytheiii]

I originally posted this elsewhere, however moving it here because this is the soonest Atlas V launch.  Panorama of the LC-41 site:

[Chris Bergin]

Panorama of the LC-41 site:

Nice work.

[Ronsmytheiii]

Live view of LC-41

[William Graham]

Launch has been delayed 24 hours

[LostInSpace]

Launch has been delayed 24 hours

Do you have a new launch time yet?

[Antares]

If all 3 launches (Kepler, STS, WGS) go within a day or two of when scheduled, when was the last time the Cape had 3 launches in tight succession?

[Rocket Guy]

Launch has been delayed 24 hours

Do you have a new launch time yet?

Same 925-1003.
http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

[William Graham]

If all 3 launches (Kepler, STS, WGS) go within a day or two of when scheduled, when was the last time the Cape had 3 launches in tight succession?

August 2001:
*   6 August, 07:28 - Titan IV - DSP-21 - LC-40
*   8 August, 16:14 - Delta II - Genesis - LC-17A
* 10 August, 21:10 - Discovery - STS-103 105 - LC-39A

[MBK004]

If all 3 launches (Kepler, STS, WGS) go within a day or two of when scheduled, when was the last time the Cape had 3 launches in tight succession?

August 2001:
*   6 August, 07:28 - Titan IV - DSP-21 - LC-40
*   8 August, 16:14 - Delta II - Genesis - LC-17A
* 10 August, 21:10 - Discovery - STS-103 - LC-39A

That would be STS-105 not STS-103. Same orbiter but -103 was in 1999.

[William Graham]

If all 3 launches (Kepler, STS, WGS) go within a day or two of when scheduled, when was the last time the Cape had 3 launches in tight succession?

August 2001:
*   6 August, 07:28 - Titan IV - DSP-21 - LC-40
*   8 August, 16:14 - Delta II - Genesis - LC-17A
* 10 August, 21:10 - Discovery - STS-103 - LC-39A

That would be STS-105 not STS-103. Same orbiter but -103 was in 1999.

Yes. First thing in the morning, I think I copied the OV number by mistake.

[Chris Bergin]

ULA PAO:

here are a couple of nice shots of the WGS-2 satellite being encapsulated in preparation for its March 14 launch aboard an ULA Atlas V.  As a reminder, the launch window is 9:25 -10:03 p.m. EDT and if we scrub for a day the window for 15 March is 9:25-10:02 p.m. EDT. I’ll send a reminder out after the shuttle launch. Photo credit: United Launch Alliance.

[PDJennings]

All right, somebody has to ask it.

Why is there a platypus making the Heisman pose with what looks like the NATO insignia?

[ugordan]

That's not NATO insignia. Or maybe it is.

Looks like a regular star symbol to me. Carrying the 5th star to join the 4 already up?

[William Graham]

All right, somebody has to ask it.

Why is there a platypus making the Heisman pose with what looks like the NATO insignia?

The platypus appears to be the programme logo (I think it goes back to when the programme was called "Wideband Gapfiller Satellite"). The WGS-1 patch showed a platypus with solar panels.

I'm guessing the satellite will be used by NATO as well as the US military, hence the NATO logo.

Not sure about the Heisman pose. Maybe he just likes playing American Footbal...

[Skyrocket]

The platypus appears to be the programme logo (I think it goes back to when the programme was called "Wideband Gapfiller Satellite"). The WGS-1 patch showed a platypus with solar panels.

Possibly the Platypus is there, because Australia is now taking part in the WGS program and is funding the sixth WGS satellite

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Australia_To_Join_With_United_States_In_Defence_Global_Satellite_Communications_Capability_999.html

[William Graham]

The platypus appears to be the programme logo (I think it goes back to when the programme was called "Wideband Gapfiller Satellite"). The WGS-1 patch showed a platypus with solar panels.

Possibly the Platypus is there, because Australia is now taking part in the WGS program and is funding the sixth WGS satellite

http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Australia_To_Join_With_United_States_In_Defence_Global_Satellite_Communications_Capability_999.html

The use of the platypus predates Australian involvement.