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LIVE: Delta II - COSMO-4 - November 5, 2010
by
Chris Bergin
on 19 Oct, 2010 13:48
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Don't see a thread for this one yet.
ULA PAO note:
A historically significant launch is going to take place Oct. 29 when a United Launch Alliance Delta II carries the COSMO-4 satellite into space from Vandenberg’s Space Launch Complex-2 scheduled for 7:20 p.m. PDT. This will be the 350th launch in Delta program history and it will occur during our year long 50th anniversary celebration of the program. The mission was procured by Boeing Launch Services and was launched for the Italian Space Agency, the Italian Ministry of Defence and Thales Alenia Space. The first Delta launch occurred on May 13, 1960.
Mission Booklet:
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#1
by
Chris Bergin
on 19 Oct, 2010 13:49
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ULA also sent on a handy fact sheet on history of Delta II launches from SLC-2:
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#2
by
edkyle99
on 19 Oct, 2010 13:56
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This will be the 350th launch in Delta program history ....
Note that this will only be the 337th Thor-derived Delta launch. The 350 total includes 13 Delta IV launches, which is a whole 'nother rocket.
This will be the 716th Thor-family launch attempt (and 603rd orbital attempt), if one includes the NASDA "Thors" and excludes the Thors that blew up on the pad prior to T-0.
- Ed Kyle
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#3
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 19 Oct, 2010 15:02
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A Shame to see this LV winding down, remember when one practically went off every month? Now not so much
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#4
by
Art LeBrun
on 19 Oct, 2010 15:37
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Thor 103 is probably classified as NO TEST..........
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#5
by
edkyle99
on 19 Oct, 2010 15:47
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Thor 103 is probably classified as NO TEST..........
That's right. I don't count Thor 103 or "Discoverer Zero" among the launch totals.
- Ed Kyle
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#6
by
Art LeBrun
on 19 Oct, 2010 15:53
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I could NEVER understand Discoverer "Zero" getting any mention at all. Wasn't in a countdown for flight I am pretty sure.
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#7
by
edkyle99
on 19 Oct, 2010 16:22
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I could NEVER understand Discoverer "Zero" getting any mention at all. Wasn't in a countdown for flight I am pretty sure.
A pre-launch test, not on launch day, as I recall. Ullage motors fired, damaging Agena enough for a write-off, but the Thor later flew.
- Ed Kyle
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#8
by
Chris Bergin
on 28 Oct, 2010 15:18
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Delay:
Delta II COSMO - SkyMed 4 Mission Rescheduled for Oct. 31
Vandenberg AFB, Calif., (Oct. 28, 2010) - The launch of Delta II COSMO-SkyMed 4 (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation) mission has been rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 31 with a launch time of 7:20 p.m. PDT. Previously, the launch was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29. During final preparations Wednesday to ready the Delta II rocket for flight, a sample from the propellant to be loaded into the Delta II to power it during flight failed to meet established standards.
To allow engineers the additional time required to correct this issue, the scheduled Friday launch attempt was delayed 48 hours. Updates to the COSMO SkyMed-4 mission status will be issued as new information becomes available. United Launch Alliance provides the Delta II launch vehicle and mission services under a commercial launch service contract administered by Boeing Launch Services for Thales Alenia Space-Italia (TAS-I).
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#9
by
Satori
on 31 Oct, 2010 17:34
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#10
by
neilh
on 31 Oct, 2010 18:03
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Anyone know what the launch direction will be? Will the launch likely be visible from the LA area?
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#11
by
Jim
on 31 Oct, 2010 18:05
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Space launches are always visible from LA
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#12
by
psloss
on 31 Oct, 2010 18:08
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Anyone know what the launch direction will be?
In the Mission Booklet that Chris posted in the original thread post.
Flight azimuth: 196 degrees. (Page 6)
Attached screenshot of Page 13.
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#13
by
Art LeBrun
on 31 Oct, 2010 18:16
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Anyone know what the launch direction will be? Will the launch likely be visible from the LA area?
Possibly if you are very close to the mountains you might miss the solids burning which might be necessary to see and track after jettison. Good hunting!
The direction is southward.
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#14
by
neilh
on 31 Oct, 2010 19:19
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Anyone know what the launch direction will be? Will the launch likely be visible from the LA area?
Possibly if you are very close to the mountains you might miss the solids burning which might be necessary to see and track after jettison. Good hunting!
Thanks! I'll probably be in a meeting, but I've advised my photographer brother. We're in Pasadena, so the mountains may be problematic.
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#15
by
sdsds
on 31 Oct, 2010 19:34
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Anyone know what the launch direction will be? Will the launch likely be visible from the LA area?
For Vandenberg launches Brian Webb is something of an expert. He writes, "Liftoff probably occurs too long after sunset for sunlight to illuminate the first stage exhaust plume (in other words, there will probably not be a Twilight Effect)."
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbsked.htmHis page on viewing VAFB launches in general:
http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm
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#16
by
Chris Bergin
on 31 Oct, 2010 22:56
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Vandenberg AFB, Calif., (Oct. 31, 2010) - An United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket with the COSMO-SkyMed 4 (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation) mission sits poised ready for launch on its Space Launch Complex-2 launch pad here. The Delta II is set for liftoff at exactly 7:20:07 p.m. PDT with a one second launch window. COSMO-SkyMed is an end-to-end Earth observation dual-use (civil and military) system comprised of four medium-sized satellites and supporting ground stations for orbit control systems and data reception and processing. United Launch Alliance provides the Delta II launch vehicle and mission services under a commercial launch service contract administered by Boeing Launch Services for Thales Alenia Space-Italia (TAS-I). Photos by Thom Baur, The Boeing Company.
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#17
by
Art LeBrun
on 31 Oct, 2010 23:04
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Somehow 3 solids are not quite the same show as 9 solids.............but I love the one second window.
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#18
by
Chris Bergin
on 31 Oct, 2010 23:44
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#19
by
robertross
on 31 Oct, 2010 23:57
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Somehow 3 solids are not quite the same show as 9 solids.............but I love the one second window.
I guess not, but considering the talent behind these launches, it will always be a pleasure to see
