Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V - AEHF-2 - May 4, 2012 (Read 69701 times)

jacqmans · « **on:** 03/04/2012 07:09 am »

The United States Air Force and Lockheed Martin team successfully delivered the second Advanced Extremely High Frequency Flight communication satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle. AEHF-2 is on track for an April 27 launch.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150665815045379.438188.131613310378&type=1

Salo Ukr · « **Reply #1 on:** 04/17/2012 07:44 pm »

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php

Quote

5/3/2012, 1846-2046Z AEHF 2

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #2 on:** 04/18/2012 03:30 pm »

Quote from: Salo Ukr on 04/17/2012 07:44 pm

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php
Quote
5/3/2012, 1846-2046Z AEHF 2

I agree with the poster on the SpaceX forum who suggested the move was to ensure no mutual interference between the Dragon C2+ and AEHF-2 launch campaigns.

Rocket Guy · « **Reply #3 on:** 04/18/2012 04:34 pm »

They are working towards May 3, according to ULA PAO, and will move up if May 3 is open. Otherwise it will be May 5 (or 4).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #4 on:** 04/23/2012 09:35 pm »

Thanks! Changed the thread title to May 3 for now.

Prober · « **Reply #5 on:** 04/23/2012 10:46 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 04/23/2012 09:35 pm

Thanks! Changed the thread title to May 3 for now.

Just got unconfused......saw the AF notes above "April 27 launch".

This month as been a date mess.

Lewis007 · « **Reply #6 on:** 04/25/2012 06:49 am »

AEHF-2 mission booklet is attached

Prober · « **Reply #7 on:** 04/29/2012 08:11 pm »

Is the "boat tail" considered a fairing?

The load is carried by the parts below it?

Jim · « **Reply #8 on:** 04/29/2012 08:19 pm »

Quote from: Prober on 04/29/2012 08:11 pm

Is the "boat tail" considers a fairing?

The load is carried by the parts below it?

It is considered part of the fairing but it does not come off with the fairing. It stays attached to the first stage.

The boat tail carries the load of the fairing and transmits it to the first stage.

sdsds · « **Reply #9 on:** 04/30/2012 04:24 am »

So the Flight Readiness Review must have already taken place, the Launch Readiness Review must be scheduled for May 1 and roll out scheduled for May 2 in order to support a May 3 launch?

psloss · « **Reply #10 on:** 05/01/2012 03:38 pm »

45th Weather Squadron L-2 forecast attached; link to current version:
http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-070716-027.pdf

Currently only 30% chance of weather violation.

Maciej Olesinski · « **Reply #11 on:** 05/02/2012 11:10 am »

My favourite configuroation!

psloss · « **Reply #12 on:** 05/02/2012 12:36 pm »

L-1 forecast attached; probability of weather violation down to 20%.

Rollout should be coming up in the next couple of hours.

Mapperuo · « **Reply #13 on:** 05/02/2012 02:42 pm »

ULA Twitter says the rockets at the pad.

Sadly all the KSC webcams are either testcards or black, same for the ELV webcams. Pff.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #14 on:** 05/02/2012 10:53 pm »

ULA:

The vehicle Launch Readiness Review was completed today and everything is proceeding towards the Air Force’s Atlas V AEHF-2 launch on Thursday. The launch window opens at 2:46 p.m. EDT and extends until 4:46 p.m. The L-2 weather forecast shows improvement with a 70 percent chance of favorable weather conditions for launch.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #15 on:** 05/02/2012 10:54 pm »

ULA:
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (May 2, 2012) - A United Launch Alliance Atlas V stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-41 with the Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency-2 (AEHF-2) satellite. Launch is scheduled for May 3 with a two-hour window which opens at 2:46 p.m. EDT.

Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #16 on:** 05/02/2012 10:54 pm »

Art LeBrun · « **Reply #17 on:** 05/03/2012 03:15 am »

Just as well to drop the vehicle number since no reference is made to the number. These individual SLV are just "the Atlas 5" or "an Atlas 5" mostly in the media and press

. Hopefully all photos/images will be captioned.

sdsds · « **Reply #18 on:** 05/03/2012 03:38 am »

Atlas is a great launch system, and ULA always keeps focus on the things needed for mission success. They're right to prioritize cosmetic details low but I nonetheless gotta ask, is that an incompletely painted-out NASA logo left over from the MSL launch still visible on the mobile launch platform? The second coat of grey paint would have been ... too expensive? ;-)

mrhuggy · « **Reply #19 on:** 05/03/2012 11:49 am »

Countdown under way. Expected launch time 18:46 UTC, 19:46 BST and 14:46 EST.