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LIVE: Atlas V - NROL-34 - April 14, 2011 by Chris Bergin on 29 Mar, 2011 23:20
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Don't seem to have a thread for this one, so opening with ULA's first e-mail about it showing the launch artwork:
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#1 by ugordan on 29 Mar, 2011 23:24
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Ooh, 2nd Atlas with a single SRB?
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#2 by Jason1701 on 30 Mar, 2011 00:05
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Should be a treat to watch it on liftoff!
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#3 by Rocket Guy on 30 Mar, 2011 00:36
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#4 by bobthemonkey on 30 Mar, 2011 19:17
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Trumpet F/O with the third SBIRS HEO element presumably.
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#5 by DaveJes1979 on 04 Apr, 2011 16:29
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Any word yet on the launch window?
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#6 by AnalogMan on 04 Apr, 2011 20:56
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Any word yet on the launch window?
I have seen a suggestion that the launch time is April 13 (GMT) with preferred lift off time of 0451 GMT and a window from 0451 to 0551 GMT. So local launch time April 12, at 20:51 PST
(correction from an earlier post) -
#7 by Antares on 05 Apr, 2011 01:38
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Except the US is on Daylight time, so 21:51 PDT/local - if your suggestion is based on GMT.
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#8 by AnalogMan on 05 Apr, 2011 10:21
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Except the US is on Daylight time, so 21:51 PDT/local - if your suggestion is based on GMT.
Yes, you're absolutely right - I forgot about clock changes! The GMT times are the basis.
Thanks for catching that. -
#9 by Rocket Guy on 06 Apr, 2011 19:32
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ULA confirms the time:
http://twitter.com/ulalaunch -
#10 by Chris Bergin on 08 Apr, 2011 20:23
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ULA:
UPDATE - April 8, 1 p.m. PDT: The launch of an Atlas V carrying the NROL-34 payload has been rescheduled for April 14, 2011, in order to allow time for the launch team to replace an avionics component on the vehicle. The launch is now scheduled for April 14 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The opening of the launch window is 9:24 p.m. PDT.
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#11 by edkyle99 on 11 Apr, 2011 16:40
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Is anyone besides me missing the good old days, back when secret satellites were launched without fanfare, inside plain, unadorned payload fairings?
- Ed Kyle
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#12 by Chris Bergin on 11 Apr, 2011 16:58
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ULA note that: All launch preparations are progressing in support of the launch date of Thursday, April 14, for Atlas V NROL-34. The opening of the launch window is 9:24 p.m. PDT. The weather forecast looks excellent for launch with a 100% chance of acceptable weather! Satellite coordinates and some important event dates surrounding the launch can be found below.
L-1: Wednesday, April 13
· 1300: Remote camera photographers meet at the South Gate for escort to SLC-3 to set cameras
L-0: Thursday, April 14
· ~1630: MST Roll – I will send pictures shortly after
· 2000: 30 SW/PA meets media at the Main Gate Visitor Control for escort to media launch viewing site
· 2104: The NROL-34 launch will be carried live beginning 20 minutes prior to launch and will conclude approximately 4.5 minutes following launch. A simulcast of the broadcast can be viewed here: http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml
· 2124: Opening of the launch window (9:24 p.m. PDT)
Satellite Coordinates
ALL TIMES PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME
TEST -- APRIL 13, 2011
A 15-MINUTE TEST WILL BE CONDUCTED AT 12:00 P.M. PDT
LAUNCH -- APRIL 14, 2011
BEGIN TRANSMISSION (BARS AND TONE) – 8:30 P.M.
BROADCAST START – 9:04 P.M.
LAUNCH – 9:24 P.M.
SATELLITE: AMC 1
TRANSPONDER: C15
BAND: C Band Analog
ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west
CARRIER: SES Americom
BANDWIDTH: 36 MHz
UPLINK FREQ: 6225 MHz Vertical
DOWNLINK FREQ: 4000 MHz Horizontal
Weather Forecast
Launch Forecast: High pressure will dominate the region creating fair weather conditions and a tight pressure gradient with increased winds throughout the period. Winds at 168 foot will be from the northwest at 15-20 knots gusting up to 28 knots for MST roll. After sunset, wind gusts will dissipate to 10-15 knots for T-0. Temperatures will remain in the low to mid 50’s. Maximum upper-level winds will be west-northwesterly at 70 knots at 37,000 feet. There are no predicted space weather events to affect the launch.
Overall probability of violation at T-0: 0%
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#13 by AnalogMan on 11 Apr, 2011 16:58
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ULA:
UPDATE - April 8, 1 p.m. PDT: The launch of an Atlas V carrying the NROL-34 payload has been rescheduled for April 14, 2011, in order to allow time for the launch team to replace an avionics component on the vehicle. The launch is now scheduled for April 14 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The opening of the launch window is 9:24 p.m. PDT.
Looks like this launch date has a shorter window of only 29 minutes (9:24 to 9:53 pm PDT) compared with 1 hour previously for April 12. -
#14 by Antares on 12 Apr, 2011 00:40
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Probably just giving a little more public fidelity of the actual launch window instead of the launch period. This has been done for most NRO launches.
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#15 by DaveJes1979 on 12 Apr, 2011 18:09
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Does anyone have word on launch windows if they scrub Thursday?
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#16 by Chris Bergin on 13 Apr, 2011 01:43
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ULA:
Everything continues to go well as we progress towards the launch of Atlas V NROL-34 on Thursday night. The launch time is set for 9:24 p.m. PDT. We’ve had a bit of a change in weather, with the possibility of high wind gusts during MST roll and into the launch time. In terms of wind constraints, it is now looking like a 30% chance of acceptable weather for launch. The winds look the same for an attempt on April 15 as well. -
#17 by robertross on 13 Apr, 2011 01:47
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ULA:
Everything continues to go well as we progress towards the launch of Atlas V NROL-34 on Thursday night. The launch time is set for 9:24 p.m. PDT. We’ve had a bit of a change in weather, with the possibility of high wind gusts during MST roll and into the launch time. In terms of wind constraints, it is now looking like a 30% chance of acceptable weather for launch. The winds look the same for an attempt on April 15 as well.
Ah, weather. Quite the change from 0% of probability of launch violation. -
#18 by rdale on 13 Apr, 2011 01:52
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Sorry I wasn't paying close attention to this thread
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#19 by DaveJes1979 on 14 Apr, 2011 03:50
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Any weather updates?
