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Orbital's Antares A-One Processing Flow Updates
by
Chris Bergin
on 22 Jan, 2013 17:46
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#1
by
Chris Bergin
on 05 Feb, 2013 15:35
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http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/Antares “Cold Flow” Test Complete. “Hot Fire” Test is Next.
January 2013
Orbital recently completed an extensive series of cold flow propellant tests, also known as wet dress rehearsals, at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) launch complex at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility. The series of tests were performed to confirm that the launch complex’s propellant handling systems were performing according to specifications and were fully compatible with the liquid fuel first stage of the Antares rocket. With the completion of these flow tests, the Orbital team will begin to prepare for a “hot fire” test of the first stage, which is the final ground test before the inaugural flight of the Antares rocket. This test is currently scheduled to take place in February.
For the hot fire, Orbital will conduct a 29-second hold-down operation of the Antares first stage and its dual AJ26 rocket engines. The primary goals of the test will be to ensure that the pad’s fueling systems and the Antares stage one test article function properly in a fully operational environment, that engine ignition and shut down commands operate as designed, and that the two AJ26 first stage engines perform properly in the dual engine configuration. The test will include a full propellant loading sequence, launch countdown and engine ignition operation. The pad’s high volume water deluge system will also flow throughout the entire period of the test to protect the pad from damage and to provide general noise suppression.
After the test is successfully completed, the first stage test article will be returned to the Horizontal Integration Facility where the core and two engines will be refurbished for a later flight.
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#2
by
mr. mark
on 08 Feb, 2013 22:10
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Hotfire will not be broadcast live. Another reason why they are not building new space fans like SpaceX. Let's hope for a followup video on Orbital's website.
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#3
by
Space Pete
on 08 Feb, 2013 22:14
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Hotfire will not be broadcast live.
What??? That's just throwing interest away.
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#4
by
Fuji
on 09 Feb, 2013 00:10
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Antares Engine Test Scheduled for February 12
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/hotfire.htmlNASA's Wallops Flight Facility will provide launch range support for an Orbital Sciences Corp. Antares rocket engine test scheduled for Feb. 12 at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad-0A.
The window for the engine test, or hot fire, is 6- 9 p.m. EST.
The test will fire the Antares' dual AJ26 rocket engines, which will generate a combined total thrust of 680,000 lbs., for about 30 seconds while the first stage of the test rocket will be held down on the pad. The hot fire will demonstrate the readiness of the rocket's first stage and launch pad fueling systems to support upcoming flights.
The test will be visible and audible in the Wallops Island local area. Given the broad window and non-operational nature of the test, no live webcast or formal public viewing is planned. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility will provide range support for the hot fire, including communications, data collection, range safety and area clearance.
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#5
by
kevin-rf
on 09 Feb, 2013 02:31
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Hotfire will not be broadcast live.
What??? That's just throwing interest away.
But will there be a twitter feed?
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#6
by
yg1968
on 09 Feb, 2013 12:22
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#7
by
Chris Bergin
on 11 Feb, 2013 01:16
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Hotfire now Wednesday, per L2.
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#8
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 11 Feb, 2013 02:03
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Hotfire will not be broadcast live.
What??? That's just throwing interest away.
From what I believe I heard during the Tacsat-3 launch attempts, the cameras that we see feeds from at the launch pad are not permanent, rather they are temporary cameras powered by battery. Also dont believe orbital has its own television crew, so if NASA doesnt cover it they cant.
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#9
by
QuantumG
on 11 Feb, 2013 05:21
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Also dont believe orbital has its own television crew, so if NASA doesnt cover it they cant.
So, if they don't do it.. then they can't do it? Or just that setting up ustream on a $100 camera is too hard for them?
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#10
by
woods170
on 11 Feb, 2013 08:13
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Hotfire tests are boring to 99.99999 percent of Earths population. There's your explanation.
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#11
by
kevin-rf
on 11 Feb, 2013 10:05
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He's part of the 0.00001 percent
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#12
by
psloss
on 11 Feb, 2013 11:56
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He's part of the 0.00001 percent
I think most of us who lurk here are in that group.
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#13
by
Prober
on 11 Feb, 2013 18:52
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He's part of the 0.00001 percent
I think most of us who lurk here are in that group.
wait for the video I guess.
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#14
by
pericynthion
on 12 Feb, 2013 20:08
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I have payload on the Antares test flight... and I still expect to learn about the hotfire here first.
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#15
by
Lars_J
on 12 Feb, 2013 23:06
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So... no word yet? Or was it pushed back to another day?
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#16
by
pericynthion
on 12 Feb, 2013 23:11
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It's scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 13th), 6-9pm EST as described by Chris yesterday.
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#17
by
Ronsmytheiii
on 12 Feb, 2013 23:16
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Also dont believe orbital has its own television crew, so if NASA doesnt cover it they cant.
So, if they don't do it.. then they can't do it? Or just that setting up ustream on a $100 camera is too hard for them?
How are you going to set up the stream for a camera that is on a strip of land surrounded by a swamp/marsh and the ocean? Oh and that area surrounding is rural, so even a long range camera would be in a rural area without strong cell or internet use.
A lot to think about when setting up for a simple hotfire.
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#18
by
rdale
on 12 Feb, 2013 23:19
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It's scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 13th), 6-9pm EST as described by Chris yesterday.
His post must have been deleted? Maybe he mentioned SpaceX
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/wallops/news/hotfire.htmlUPDATE: The engine test for Orbital Sciences Antares rocket on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s pad-0A at NASA Wallops Flight Facility has been rescheduled for 6 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 13.
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#19
by
pericynthion
on 12 Feb, 2013 23:48
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It's scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday 13th), 6-9pm EST as described by Chris yesterday.
His post must have been deleted? Maybe he mentioned SpaceX
It's
right here
