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#20
by
Chris Bergin
on 02 Oct, 2012 15:25
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ULA @ulalaunch
The ULA Launch Readiness Review is complete, and we are go for #GPSIIF3 launch! Thursday's launch window opens at 8:10 am EDT.
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#21
by
HIPAR
on 02 Oct, 2012 22:26
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The mission patch. Arcturus is a commonly used navigation star so I suppose that's the tie-in.
--- CHAS
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#22
by
Jim
on 03 Oct, 2012 00:28
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The mission patch. Arcturus is a commonly used navigation star so I suppose that's the tie-in.
--- CHAS
That isn't the mission patch, it is the processing/spacecraft patch.
This is the mission/launch patch
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#23
by
input~2
on 03 Oct, 2012 11:34
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#24
by
input~2
on 03 Oct, 2012 12:12
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More restricted airspace from NOTAMs
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#25
by
input~2
on 03 Oct, 2012 14:20
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#26
by
input~2
on 03 Oct, 2012 14:29
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Initial ground trace (from mission booklet)
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#27
by
jacqmans
on 03 Oct, 2012 17:29
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3rd Boeing GPS IIF Satellite Ready for Oct. 4 Launch
SVN-65 to further enhance constellation's power, precision and capacity
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Oct. 3, 2012 -- The third of 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellites Boeing [NYSE: BA] is building for the U.S. Air Force is ready to make the GPS system even more accurate, reliable and secure after successfully completing final checkout for launch.
SVN-65 is scheduled to lift off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Oct. 4 at 8:10 a.m. Eastern time aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle.
"As the GPS IIFs become operational, they are ensuring that the Air Force can meet the current and future needs of both military and civilian users," said Col. Bernie Gruber, director of the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Global Positioning Systems Directorate.
GPS is a global utility providing highly accurate position, navigation and timing services to billions of people around the world. The GPS IIF satellites are sustaining and modernizing the network with a number of enhancements, including improved atomic clock technology, a more jam-resistant military signal and a protected and more powerful civilian signal. The satellites also feature a 12-year design life for long-term service and reduced operating costs.
"Boeing has worked alongside the Air Force for many years to continuously sustain and improve the GPS constellation," said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. "This new fleet of 12 GPS IIFs will form the core of the GPS constellation for the next decade."
SVN-65 was shipped to the Cape from El Segundo, Calif., on July 9 aboard a Boeing-built C-17 Globemaster III military transport. The satellite has undergone a series of prelaunch tests that validated its operational readiness, including its ability to communicate with the launch site and the Boeing-built Operational Control Segment.
Of the remaining nine GPS IIFs, three are completed and ready to be scheduled for launch as needed while six are in production. The Boeing Satellite Development Center in El Segundo uses an efficient "pulse line" manufacturing process adapted from Boeing commercial airplane assembly techniques.
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#28
by
Chris Bergin
on 03 Oct, 2012 21:50
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Moving for live coverage now, given it'll be early US time.
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#29
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 03 Oct, 2012 22:34
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#30
by
sdsds
on 04 Oct, 2012 05:04
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The mobile surface tower has been rolled back.
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#31
by
Nick L.
on 04 Oct, 2012 05:53
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The mission patch. Arcturus is a commonly used navigation star so I suppose that's the tie-in.
--- CHAS
That isn't the mission patch, it is the processing/spacecraft patch.
This is the mission/launch patch
They ought to put the shark's mouth decal on the fairing for these like they did with the D-IIs...
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#32
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 04 Oct, 2012 06:02
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The mission patch. Arcturus is a commonly used navigation star so I suppose that's the tie-in.
--- CHAS
That isn't the mission patch, it is the processing/spacecraft patch.
This is the mission/launch patch
They ought to put the shark's mouth decal on the fairing for these like they did with the D-IIs...
Jim would vomit in front of you then..... LOL
(which I agree: the decal's stupid)
My bad. Guess I didn't realize it's a different world and set of circumstances.
Another snarky reply.
Don't juxtapose unrelated situations and disparage those who point out the irrelevance of the comparison. But, whatever. I'll be on the lookout for "Strawberry B***h" or "Marge" or "The Dragon And His Tail" on a Delta-IV heavy.
Hey, didn't the Delta II that blew up just after launch back in '97 have a shark mouth on the shroud??? 
yes it did, which I think is stupid.
Here is something on patches.
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1033/1
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1197/1
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#33
by
northanger
on 04 Oct, 2012 08:13
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The mission patch. Arcturus is a commonly used navigation star so I suppose that's the tie-in.
GPS launch pays tribute to fallen captainThe launch will also pay tribute to a Capt. Vivian Elmo, former 19th Space Operations Squadron member, who died during a two-car accident Aug. 3, 2011, on Highway 94.
For each launch mission, SMC develops a launch patch which represents significant events or details of the launch story. The mission patch for this IIF satellite launch pays tribute to Elmo, with the launch patch depicting the navigation star, Arcturus, as a sunflower, Elmo's favorite flower.
"Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern celestial hemisphere and the dominant star in the constellation Boötes," Gostomski said. "Prehistoric Polynesian navigators used the star for traveling across the seas and knew Arcturus as the 'Star of Joy.'"
Gostomski said it's fitting that Elmo receives this kind of tribute. Elmo worked as the 50th Space Wing satellite vehicle operator director for GPS IIF-2, which successfully launched July 16, 2011. Elmo also played a critical role in the first successful IIF-1 launch May 27, 2010. Outstanding team performance and efficient approaches for enhancing mission capability displayed throughout the launch preparation process earned Elmo and her team the 2010 Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award.
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#34
by
Chris Bergin
on 04 Oct, 2012 08:31
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ULA:
Photos and a caption of the Delta IV rollout this evening. First motion of the tower was at 10:13 p.m.
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2012) - A United Launch Alliance Delta IV stands ready for launch at Space Launch Complex-37 with the Air Force’s Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF-3 payload. Launch is set for Thursday, Oct. 4 at 8:10 a.m. EDT. GPS IIF-3 is the third in a series of next generation GPS satellites and will join a worldwide timing and navigation system utilizing 24 satellites in six different planes, with a minimum of four satellites per plane positioned in orbit approximately 11,000 miles above the earths’ surface.
Photo by Pat Corkery, United Launch Alliance
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#35
by
Chris Bergin
on 04 Oct, 2012 09:03
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#36
by
Chris Bergin
on 04 Oct, 2012 10:46
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#37
by
Artyom.
on 04 Oct, 2012 10:57
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#38
by
catdlr
on 04 Oct, 2012 11:07
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One hour to the ULA webcast, here:
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Webcast.shtml
I know it's early in the States, so I've got this covered via my new - and rather cool - flash screenshot program, but if anyone wants to chip in, please do!
Chris,
Care to give us the product name of this flash screenshot program?
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#39
by
Chris Bergin
on 04 Oct, 2012 11:18
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ULA:
At T-1 hour and counting, everything continues to look good for an on time launch of the GPS IIF-3 satellite for the U.S. Air Force at 8:10 a.m. EDT. The launch team is not currently working any technical issues.
The weather has improved to a 70 percent chance of favorable weather.
(which I agree: the decal's stupid)