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#40 by William Graham on 15 Nov, 2013 22:48
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Anyone providing live coverage online? The launch doesn't seem to be on NASA TV's schedule.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nasa-tv-wallops -
#41 by rcaron on 16 Nov, 2013 15:02
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Cal Poly has posted a partial list. While it only includes 5 P-PODs, they also have pictures, beacon information, and a link to most of their websites.
http://cubesat.org/index.php/missions/upcoming-launches/135-ors3-launch-alert -
#42 by William Graham on 16 Nov, 2013 15:31
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There has been some speculation as to the identity of the missing four satellites. Some sources list CSIP, TetherSat (which could be counted as one or two satellites since it consists of two CubeSats joined by a tether) and Rampart as additional ELaNa payloads, however Robert Christie of Zarya.info (http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=1782) presents quite a good case for there being four pairs of Prometheus satellites, as opposed to four individual satellites.
Rampart is not on board, as Gil Moore told me, that this satellite missed the deadline for some technical reasons.
Is TetherSat definitely aboard? It's been missing from quite a few of the lists that I've seen and would seem to complicate the PPOD assignments -
#43 by Skyrocket on 16 Nov, 2013 15:35
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Is TetherSat definitely aboard? It's been missing from quite a few of the lists that I've seen and would seem to complicate the PPOD assignments
I am still investigating this issue. I can not yet confirm neither the presence or absence from this launch. -
#44 by Artyom. on 18 Nov, 2013 13:57
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#45 by Galactic Penguin SST on 18 Nov, 2013 14:54
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Mission booklet:
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#46 by jcm on 19 Nov, 2013 05:14
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Cal Poly has posted a partial list. While it only includes 5 P-PODs, they also have pictures, beacon information, and a link to most of their websites.
http://cubesat.org/index.php/missions/upcoming-launches/135-ors3-launch-alert
This is interesting as it gives the P-POD assignments. The NASA wafer is thought to have 8 3U P-PODs;
this list gives 2,3,5,6,7, but with position 3C not listed.
So what is in 1, 4,8 and 3C?.
The Elana IV info at http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-cubesat-launch-initiative-10-small-student-built-satellites-selected-to-launch-in-bonus
(and the factsheet there) lists only 11 satellites as part of Elana IV, no NPS-SCAT, no Black Knight, so they are not considered
part of Elana IV - DoD satellites sharing the ride, but integrated with Elana IV as we see from NPS-SCAT's position
in PPOD 5B. Perhaps Black Knight is in PPOD 3C, or it was delayed and that slot has ballast.
The upper wafer also has 24U worth of slots, in 4 dispensers of 6U capacity. ORSES, ORS Tech 1, SENSE-1, SENSE-2,
Firefly, and Horus-STARE account for 3 of these dispensers. Prometheus 1 to 4, at 1.5U each, would account for the
final one, and complete the upper wafer with 10 satellites.
This leaves 5 satellites, as Bob Christy points out, and 9U of lower-deck capacity.
Bob's suggestion of 4 x 1.5U Prometheus plus 1 x 3U ORS Tech seems to fit nicely, which would imply Tethersat
is not in the mix.
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#47 by William Graham on 19 Nov, 2013 08:40
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The Elana IV info at http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-cubesat-launch-initiative-10-small-student-built-satellites-selected-to-launch-in-bonus
I think it is more likely that Black Knight (or at least some 1U CubeSat) is in that slot. If it were ballast then it would presumably not count towards the total number of CubeSats announced - leaving us with another one to find and no space left if Bob Christy's analysis is correct.
(and the factsheet there) lists only 11 satellites as part of Elana IV, no NPS-SCAT, no Black Knight, so they are not considered
part of Elana IV - DoD satellites sharing the ride, but integrated with Elana IV as we see from NPS-SCAT's position
in PPOD 5B. Perhaps Black Knight is in PPOD 3C, or it was delayed and that slot has ballast.
That said, it should be noted that Black Knight was selected for an ELaNa launch in the February 2011 block. -
#48 by Chris Bergin on 19 Nov, 2013 14:35
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Moved for live coverage.
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#49 by edkyle99 on 19 Nov, 2013 16:06
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This appears to be the last Minotaur 1 launch on the current backlog. Could it be the final Minotaur 1?
- Ed Kyle -
#50 by Skyrocket on 19 Nov, 2013 16:11
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This appears to be the last Minotaur 1 launch on the current backlog. Could it be the final Minotaur 1?
- Ed Kyle
There is no indication, that the Minotaur-1 family is to be terminated now. -
#51 by edkyle99 on 19 Nov, 2013 16:24
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But it currently holds no launch contracts under OSP-3 Lane 1, correct?This appears to be the last Minotaur 1 launch on the current backlog. Could it be the final Minotaur 1?
- Ed Kyle
There is no indication, that the Minotaur-1 family is to be terminated now.
- Ed Kyle -
#52 by Skyrocket on 19 Nov, 2013 16:37
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correct!
But it currently holds no launch contracts under OSP-3 Lane 1, correct?This appears to be the last Minotaur 1 launch on the current backlog. Could it be the final Minotaur 1?
- Ed Kyle
There is no indication, that the Minotaur-1 family is to be terminated now.
- Ed Kyle -
#53 by Satori on 19 Nov, 2013 18:49
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From NASA's Wallops Flight Facility facebook...
Weather report for tonight shows high thin clouds at launch with a 100% probability of acceptable weather. However, we are red for space weather because of an X-ray flux event. That is being investigated. In addition we are working an issue with a back-up flight termination system transmitter at our downrange tracking site at Coquina, NC. -
#54 by jsmjr on 19 Nov, 2013 19:14
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From NASA's Wallops Flight Facility facebook...
Weather report for tonight shows high thin clouds at launch with a 100% probability of acceptable weather. However, we are red for space weather because of an X-ray flux event. That is being investigated. In addition we are working an issue with a back-up flight termination system transmitter at our downrange tracking site at Coquina, NC.
Hmm, what's the deal with an X-ray flux? SFN said associated with solar storm. Is there any chance that sort of thing could clear in time? -
#55 by Almurray1958 on 19 Nov, 2013 19:32
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check spaceweather here...
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/index.html
not sure how long the flux level will stay high -
#56 by neoforce on 19 Nov, 2013 19:46
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What timeframe would they nees to decide to scrub due to flux? Will we know an hour in advance? Or just minutes before?
Probably going to drive about an hour to get a clear view of launch so am curious for planning purposes. -
#57 by kevin-rf on 19 Nov, 2013 19:51
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It is worth noting the flare about 5 hours ago was an X1, that is a pretty large flare. We are at the peak of the solar cycle.
http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html
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#58 by Satori on 19 Nov, 2013 20:01
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From NASA's Wallops Flight Facility facebook...
Launch vehicle checks including flight termination system, vehicle navigation, vehicle sequence and internal power have been completed. The launch team continues to work towards a 7:30 p.m. launch. -
#59 by neoforce on 19 Nov, 2013 20:12
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tweet from spaceflight now at https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/statuses/402902877191938048Quote
The X-ray flux issue is no longer a concern for the Minotaur, and countdown is on track for 7:30 pm EST launch.