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?
  
• #20 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:38
• L-1 minute
• #21 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 13:38
• Fin batts activated
• #22 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 13:39
• stuck fin, abort
• #23 by Jonesy STS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:40
• I'm getting a faulty page on the countdown link
• #24 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 13:41
• Looking at a recycle or scrub
• #25 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:42
• Launch coverage is live on NASA TV like any NASA launches.
• #26 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 13:44
• Quote

  DaveS - 15/3/2006  8:42 AMLaunch coverage is live on NASA TV like any NASA launches.

  
  Not everybody gets it at home or the office
  
• #27 by Jonesy STS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:45
• Quote

  DaveS - 15/3/2006  8:42 AM
  
  Launch coverage is live on NASA TV like any NASA launches.

  
  Thanks, as that countdown page was broken for me.
• #28 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:46
• It's availabe through the Internet: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html
• #29 by Jim on 15 Mar, 2006 13:47
• Quote

  DaveS - 15/3/2006  8:46 AMIt's availabe through the Internet: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

  
  or here
  
  
  http://countdown.ksc.nasa.gov/elv/
  
  
• #30 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:47
• It's a scrub for today. The L1011 with Pegasus and ST5 is returning to Vandenberg as the fin battery on the Pegasus has expired. No idea on how long the delay will be.
• #31 by DaveS on 15 Mar, 2006 13:57
• Minimum 48 hour scrub - George Diller, NASA TV.
• #32 by Chris Bergin on 15 Mar, 2006 16:31
• The launch of NASA's ST5 spacecraft aboard an Orbital Sciences Pegasus
  XL rocket was called off today when a locking pin in the rocket's
  flight control service mechanism did not retract just prior to
  launch. Orbital Sciences Corporation and NASA engineers will diagnose
  and correct the problem. A new launch date will be established at the
  earliest opportunity pending resolution of the issue, the
  availability of the Western Range, and acceptable weather conditions
  at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., launch site. The delay will
  be at least 48 hours.
• #33 by Avron on 16 Mar, 2006 04:22
• A battery???
• #34 by Jim on 16 Mar, 2006 11:07
• Quote

  Avron - 15/3/2006  11:22 PMA battery???

  
  Don't understand the comment.
  
• #35 by Avron on 17 Mar, 2006 02:30
• Quote

  Jim - 16/3/2006  7:07 AM
  
  

  Quote

  Avron - 15/3/2006  11:22 PMA battery???

  
  Don't understand the comment.
  

  
  I understand that the power to remove the pins is supplied by a battey that has "limited" life, My question, was the battery not able to provide the power to remove the pin? Maybe a faulty battery or one that had become discharged.
• #36 by John44 on 17 Mar, 2006 05:08
• March 21  ST5 Launch
  
  Launch Window: 5:57:31 a.m. to 7:19:50 a.m. PST
                           8:57:31 a.m. to 10:19:50 a.m. EST
  Target Drop Time: 6:02 a.m. PST/ 9:02 a.m. EST
• #37 by Jim on 17 Mar, 2006 13:08
• Quote

  Avron - 16/3/2006  9:30 PM

  Quote

  Jim - 16/3/2006  7:07 AM

  Quote

  Avron - 15/3/2006  11:22 PMA battery???

  
  Don't understand the comment.
  

  I understand that the power to remove the pins is supplied by a battey that has "limited" life, My question, was the battery not able to provide the power to remove the pin? Maybe a faulty battery or one that had become discharged.

  
  The pin was jammed ,  batteries "issue" was unrelated.   The  batteries, which drive the fins, are thermal batteries.  They are high power but with short lives.  They are used because a hydraulic system would be heavier.  Time just ran out on the battery life.
  
  
  Launch is now schedule for 3/22
  
• #38 by Jim on 17 Mar, 2006 18:25
• Spacex use of range assets is delaying ST-5
• #39 by braddock on 17 Mar, 2006 19:20
• SpaceX's use of _Vandenberg_ range assets, or is there a conflict at Kwajalein for tracking capabilities?
  I didn't think SpaceX was doing much at Vandenberg since the whole Lockheed flare-up last summer.
• #40 by Jim on 17 Mar, 2006 20:09
• Western Range,  Pacific Missile Range