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#240
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:28
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spacecraft separation, congratulations ULA, Boeing, the USAF, and the DoD!
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#241
by
Chris Bergin
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:28
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Spacecraft Separation!
Excellent work, especially with them all having to keep their game faces on to the end of the window again.
Go Wideband!
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#242
by
Nick L.
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:28
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Spacecraft separation!
Congrats to ULA! Another great launch (36 launches in 36 months.)
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#243
by
Nick L.
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:30
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#244
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:31
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For those late, Here are the videos:
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#245
by
robertross
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:34
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Way to go ULA! Congrats. Well deserved addition for the troops. Hope commissioning goes just as well.
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#246
by
Antares
on 06 Dec, 2009 01:44
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And the science community is pleased: Load up WISE.
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#247
by
NavySpaceFan
on 06 Dec, 2009 02:02
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Awesome WGS promo. That was a Royal Navy ship launching the cruise. Certainly a coalition assest, not just US.
Sorry Chris, that was a USN ARLEIGH BURKE-class destroyer. The only RN ships that operate TOMAHAWK are the TRAFALGAR and SWIFTSURE class SSNs.
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#248
by
Chris Bergin
on 06 Dec, 2009 02:52
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United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches 36th Mission in 36 Months
Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., (Dec. 5, 2009) – Launching its 36th successful mission in 36 months, a United Launch Alliance Delta IV rocket delivered the Air Force’s third Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS-3) satellite into orbit at 8:47 p.m. EST, today. Launching from Space Launch Complex-37, WGS-3 joins the AF’s two other WGS satellites, which both launched on ULA Atlas V vehicles on Oct. 10, 2007, and Apr. 3, 2009.
ULA was formed on Dec. 1, 2006, as a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and The Boeing Company, bringing together two of the launch industry’s most experienced and successful teams—the Lockheed Martin Atlas and Boeing Delta teams—that had supported America’s presence in space for more than 50 years. ULA’s first launch occurred only 14 days later as a Delta II rocket launched NROL-21 from Vandenberg AFB, Calif., on Dec. 14, 2006. Since then, including today’s mission, 35 more successful launches have occurred from CCAFS and VAFB including 11 Atlas V, 21 Delta II, and four Delta IV missions. It’s noted that two of the four Delta IV missions were the Delta IV Heavy configuration, which launches three common booster cores at once.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our nearly 3,850 ULA employees and our many government partners whom I’m privileged to work with at ULA,” said Michael Gass, ULA President and Chief Executive Officer. “This team of people, with their combined expertise, is the reason for this sustained mission success. When we formed ULA in 2006, our primary mission was to the deliver the highest reliable products for assured access to space for our government and commercial customers. Launching successfully 36 times in our first 36 months of company history is a significant accomplishment as we celebrate our third anniversary.”
The WGS-3 mission is the third installment of the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) system. The WGS satellites are important elements of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to America’s troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. WGS enables more robust and flexible execution of Command and Control, Communications Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions. WGS-3 augments the existing service of the WGS-1 and WGS-2 satellites by providing additional information broadcast capabilities.
Jim Sponnick, ULA Vice President, Delta Product Line stated, “ULA congratulates the Air Force and our mission partners on the successful launch of WGS-3. It was appropriate the Air Force, which was one of the primary customers ULA was created to support, was the customer for today’s 36th launch in 36 months. WGS is also the first of the constellation of satellites to launch on both the Delta IV and Atlas V since the formation of ULA. This operational flexibility was a primary reason ULA was formed and we look forward to providing this capability to our government customers for decades to come.”
The mission was the first time the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) configuration was launched using a single common booster core with a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine, four Alliant Techsystems GEM 60 solid rocket motors, a PWR RL10B-2 upper stage engine and a five-meter diameter upper stage and composite payload fairing.
ULA's next launch, currently scheduled for Dec. 11, is a Delta II carrying the NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission from Space Launch Complex-2 at VAFB with a launch window of 6:09-6:23 a.m., PST.
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#249
by
dawei
on 06 Dec, 2009 02:53
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Just watched the replay. Just as the telemetry guy calls 2 min 35 sec there appears to be several objects that fall away from the vehicle. I don't recall seeing something like that before on Delta IV. Any idea what those objects could be or am I just being fooled by some sort of camera/lighting illusion?
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#250
by
Chris Bergin
on 06 Dec, 2009 02:53
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(Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance)
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#251
by
Nick L.
on 06 Dec, 2009 04:38
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Just watched the replay. Just as the telemetry guy calls 2 min 35 sec there appears to be several objects that fall away from the vehicle. I don't recall seeing something like that before on Delta IV. Any idea what those objects could be or am I just being fooled by some sort of camera/lighting illusion?
Three things I've heard various people here say that is - don't know which is right:
-Foam insulation coming off
-Ice
-Something to do with the RS-68's ablative nozzle
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#252
by
sdsds
on 06 Dec, 2009 06:18
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How does the "supersynchronous transfer orbit with a 237-nautical mile (nm) perigee, an apogee radius of approximately 36,167 nm, and an approximately 24-degree inclination" compare with the insertion orbit provided by Atlas V for WGS-1 and WGS-2? Does launching on Delta make it easier or more difficult for the spacecraft to reach its final orbit?
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#253
by
ugordan
on 06 Dec, 2009 10:33
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Three things I've heard various people here say that is - don't know which is right:
-Foam insulation coming off
-Ice
-Something to do with the RS-68's ablative nozzle
My guess is it's #3, nozzle-related. You can see sporadic sparks coming out during night launches from onboard cameras on past launches as well.
Check out the sparks in this DSP-23 video, especially two big ones near the end.
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#254
by
Downix
on 06 Dec, 2009 10:53
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You know this was impressive. Something about the release of all that thrust just.... wow.
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#255
by
Satori
on 06 Dec, 2009 11:32
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Hi!
Did anyone managed to chatch the exact liftoff time in format 0147:XX.XXXUTC? ELV Portal is giving 0600:55.982 launch time...
Thanks!
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#256
by
Jim
on 06 Dec, 2009 12:25
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Just watched the replay. Just as the telemetry guy calls 2 min 35 sec there appears to be several objects that fall away from the vehicle. I don't recall seeing something like that before on Delta IV. Any idea what those objects could be or am I just being fooled by some sort of camera/lighting illusion?
All launch vehicles shed debris. It is the natural of the beast
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#257
by
Jim
on 06 Dec, 2009 12:26
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How does the "supersynchronous transfer orbit with a 237-nautical mile (nm) perigee, an apogee radius of approximately 36,167 nm, and an approximately 24-degree inclination" compare with the insertion orbit provided by Atlas V for WGS-1 and WGS-2? Does launching on Delta make it easier or more difficult for the spacecraft to reach its final orbit?
Just different ways to utilize all the performance of the launch vehicle
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#258
by
Downix
on 06 Dec, 2009 13:23
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Just watched the replay. Just as the telemetry guy calls 2 min 35 sec there appears to be several objects that fall away from the vehicle. I don't recall seeing something like that before on Delta IV. Any idea what those objects could be or am I just being fooled by some sort of camera/lighting illusion?
All launch vehicles shed debris. It is the natural of the beast
I love watching the debris fall from the Saturn V videos.
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#259
by
WHAP
on 06 Dec, 2009 14:53
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How does the "supersynchronous transfer orbit with a 237-nautical mile (nm) perigee, an apogee radius of approximately 36,167 nm, and an approximately 24-degree inclination" compare with the insertion orbit provided by Atlas V for WGS-1 and WGS-2? Does launching on Delta make it easier or more difficult for the spacecraft to reach its final orbit?
Previous coverage indicated roughly the same orbit for WGS-2, but at 20.9 degree inclination. Inclination costs a lot in terms of launch vehicle capability. Given that the Atlas second stage is much smaller, it's hard to believe that both Atlas and Delta ran to depletion. It may be that's just where the AF wanted the payloads, and it will then take WGS roughly the same "effort" to get to its final orbit.
