LIVE: ST5 Mission - March 22 2006

LIVE: ST5 Mission - March 22 2006 by John44 on 13 Mar, 2006 10:15
ST5 Mission

NASA's Space Technology 5 (ST5) Project is building and testing three smaller satellites called micro-satellites. These micro-sats will test and validate new technologies for future science missions.

- Launch Vehicle: Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL
- Launch Date: March 14, 2006

Launch Window: 8:57 a.m. to 10:19 a.m.

Target Drop Time: 9:02 a.m.

- ST5 Pre Launch Media Briefing (video)
- ST5 Mission Science Media Briefing (video)

http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147&Itemid=2

website ST5 Mission :

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/st-5/main/index.html
http://nmp.jpl.nasa.gov/st5/index.html

NASA TV: 7:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. - ST5 Launch Coverage Begins (Launch Scheduled 9:02 a.m.) - Vandenberg (Mission Coverage)
All times Eastern (EDT).
#1 by Chris Bergin on 13 Mar, 2006 12:45
Nicely done John. I'll make this the live launch thread as it's a good opening post of reference.

Also note the pre-mission thread: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=1158&posts=21#M24920
#2 by jcm on 13 Mar, 2006 13:04
But no press kit as far as I can see? Does anyone have one?
I assume the planned drop point is the usual 36.0N 123.0W ?
#3 by Jim on 13 Mar, 2006 14:47
Quote
jcm - 13/3/2006 8:04 AMBut no press kit as far as I can see? Does anyone have one?I assume the planned drop point is the usual 36.0N 123.0W ?

Right here
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/143648main_ST5PressKit.pdf
#4 by DaveS on 13 Mar, 2006 16:11
Mission delayed 24 hrs to Wednesday due to predicted unfavorable weather conditions on Tuesday. 80% chance of favorable weather on Wednesday.
#5 by Chris Bergin on 13 Mar, 2006 16:55
Quote
DaveS - 13/3/2006 5:11 PM

Mission delayed 24 hrs to Wednesday due to predicted unfavorable weather conditions on Tuesday. 80% chance of favorable weather on Wednesday.

We can live with that.
#6 by jcm on 13 Mar, 2006 22:36
Thanks. I see the link on the NASA HQ site now. Could have sworn it wasn't there
when I looked this morning :-). Oh well...

Some nice things in the press kit. Spacecraft dimensions 0.53m dia 0.48m high stowed, mass 25 kg fully fuelled. Planned orbit 300 x 4500 km x 97 deg.
Drop at 12.2 km altitude.
Timeline: Drop+0:05 stage 1 burn, +1:17 stage 1 burnout at 55 km, +1:31 stage 2 burn at 72 km, +2:11 fairing sep at 115 km, +3:06 stage 2 burnout at 156 km,
+5:03 stage 3 burn at 283 km, +6:11 stage 3 burnout at 302 km, +9:31 ST5-FWD sep, +12:41 ST5-MID sep, +15:51 ST5-AFT sep.
GSFC has in-house prime contractor/integrator role, as far as I can tell.

Some things not in the press kit, but maybe someone here knows:
- Dry mass of spacecraft (or equally good, mass of propellant loaded)
- Drop point coords
- Nominal delta-v of stage 3 burn
- Span of spacecraft once boom is deployed (I guess about 1.0 meter)
- WHAT ARE THE THREE S/C GOING TO BE CALLED ONCE ON ORBIT? The only hint in the press kit is the
diagram calling them FWD, MID and AFT. But maybe they have serial numbers like S/N 1,2,3? and maybe they will be
given individual names (Larry, Curly, Moe? :-)). Any clues?
#7 by Jim on 14 Mar, 2006 01:05
Quote
jcm - 13/3/2006 5:36 PMThanks. I see the link on the NASA HQ site now. Could have sworn it wasn't therewhen I looked this morning :-). Oh well... Some nice things in the press kit. Spacecraft dimensions 0.53m dia 0.48m high stowed, mass 25 kg fully fuelled. Planned orbit 300 x 4500 km x 97 deg.Drop at 12.2 km altitude.Timeline: Drop+0:05 stage 1 burn, +1:17 stage 1 burnout at 55 km, +1:31 stage 2 burn at 72 km, +2:11 fairing sep at 115 km, +3:06 stage 2 burnout at 156 km,+5:03 stage 3 burn at 283 km, +6:11 stage 3 burnout at 302 km, +9:31 ST5-FWD sep, +12:41 ST5-MID sep, +15:51 ST5-AFT sep.GSFC has in-house prime contractor/integrator role, as far as I can tell.Some things not in the press kit, but maybe someone here knows: - Dry mass of spacecraft (or equally good, mass of propellant loaded) - Drop point coords - Nominal delta-v of stage 3 burn- Span of spacecraft once boom is deployed (I guess about 1.0 meter)- WHAT ARE THE THREE S/C GOING TO BE CALLED ONCE ON ORBIT? The only hint in the press kit is thediagram calling them FWD, MID and AFT. But maybe they have serial numbers like S/N 1,2,3? and maybe they will begiven individual names (Larry, Curly, Moe? :-)). Any clues?

56 lbs
#8 by Jim on 14 Mar, 2006 01:36
GN2 is the propellant
#9 by John44 on 14 Mar, 2006 05:09
NASA'S ST5 LAUNCH POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST

Predicted weather conditions postponed Tuesday's scheduled launch of
NASA's Space Technology 5 (ST5) spacecraft. It will launch Wednesday,
March 15, at 9:02 a.m. EST.

The forecast improves on Wednesday with only a 20 percent chance of
not having acceptable weather.

ST5 launch coverage on NASA TV begins Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. EST. NASA
TV's Public
#10 by jcm on 14 Mar, 2006 13:01
| 56 lbs
Are you sure? , 56 lbs is the fully fuelled mass according to the sources I've seen, not the dry mass.
#11 by Jim on 14 Mar, 2006 15:26
Quote
jcm - 14/3/2006 8:01 AM| 56 lbsAre you sure? , 56 lbs is the fully fuelled mass according to the sources I've seen, not the dry mass.

For the size of the spacecraft, how much GN2 do you think they can compress to really make a difference? There isn't a "dry" or "wet" mass, since it uses GN2.
#12 by John44 on 14 Mar, 2006 16:55
Live Vandenberg video feed ST5 mission (realplayer): http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/stream/Vandenberg_Select_TV.php
#13 by Jim on 14 Mar, 2006 17:48
Better yet

Actual countdown status and events with 4 video feeds

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/index-vafb.html
#14 by jcm on 14 Mar, 2006 22:01
Quote
Jim - 14/3/2006 11:26 AM

Quote
jcm - 14/3/2006 8:01 AM| 56 lbsAre you sure? , 56 lbs is the fully fuelled mass according to the sources I've seen, not the dry mass.

For the size of the spacecraft, how much GN2 do you think they can compress to really make a difference? There isn't a "dry" or "wet" mass, since it uses GN2.

Ahh, good point. Wasn't thinking straight.
#15 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 11:19
Everything looking good for a a launch today. L-1011 take-off is planned for 8:04 am EST, 1304 UTC. Weather is predicted to be 100% go at Pegasus XL drop time.
#16 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 12:16
Trying to watch all the feeds on

http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/index-vafb.html

plus NASA select

Is there anyway of opening more than one Realplayer window?
#17 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:33
Pegasus drop-4 minutes.
#18 by Chris Bergin on 15 Mar, 2006 13:35
Keep on it Dave. I've got no feed here, for some reason.
#19 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 13:37
Quote
Chris Bergin - 15/3/2006 8:35 AMKeep on it Dave. I've got no feed here, for some reason.

Are you on the countdown page?