What hints do we have of a ground track? (Didn't see one in the A-One brochure, the way ULA usually does.) Would they mimic an actual ISS COTS mission?If I understand correctly, ISS missions from Wallops will launch at a south-easterly azimuth - to match a descending node. That is, roughly at a right angle to what you see out of KSC/CCAFS for ascending nodes. Thinking that might offer viewing potential for the nearest large population center, in Virginia Beach? Anyone have some insights?
Published here: http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Antares_Test_Flight/index.shtml"The goal of the A-ONE mission is to demonstrate the operational Antares launch system, from roll-out of the rocket from its integration facility, through emplacement on the pad and fueling, to launch and delivery of a simulated payload to a target orbit of 250 km x 300 km with an inclination of 51.6 degrees."
I have the advantage of working at the oceanfront (3rd shift) and was able to catch the first two Minotaur launches. TacSat 2 launched right at 7:00 am local and pretty much stopped the oceanfront in its' tracks. It was visible from the moment it cleared the tower all the way through stg 2/3 staging. NFIRE was launched at night and appeared as a fast moving light low on the horizon.1900 UTC will be 3:00 pm local. Unless there are clouds/haze, the view should be quite good. Too bad I'll be out of town those days ("$#%^ it, Jim")...
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 03/31/2013 03:31 amPublished here: http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Antares_Test_Flight/index.shtml"The goal of the A-ONE mission is to demonstrate the operational Antares launch system, from roll-out of the rocket from its integration facility, through emplacement on the pad and fueling, to launch and delivery of a simulated payload to a target orbit of 250 km x 300 km with an inclination of 51.6 degrees."Maths are the reason I'm a lawyer. At what azimuth do you launch from Wallops for an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees?Quote from: GClark on 03/31/2013 07:59 amI have the advantage of working at the oceanfront (3rd shift) and was able to catch the first two Minotaur launches. TacSat 2 launched right at 7:00 am local and pretty much stopped the oceanfront in its' tracks. It was visible from the moment it cleared the tower all the way through stg 2/3 staging. NFIRE was launched at night and appeared as a fast moving light low on the horizon.1900 UTC will be 3:00 pm local. Unless there are clouds/haze, the view should be quite good. Too bad I'll be out of town those days ("$#%^ it, Jim")...Where at the Oceanfront? Seems like the liquid-fueled Antares will be a fair bit more difficult to spot at the distance of scores of miles than the plumes of a Minotaur? Hope the weather is clear!
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 03/31/2013 03:31 ama target orbit of 250 km x 300 km with an inclination of 51.6 degrees."Maths are the reason I'm a lawyer. At what azimuth do you launch from Wallops for an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees?
a target orbit of 250 km x 300 km with an inclination of 51.6 degrees."
Quote from: jsmjr on 03/31/2013 01:14 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 03/31/2013 03:31 ama target orbit of 250 km x 300 km with an inclination of 51.6 degrees."Maths are the reason I'm a lawyer. At what azimuth do you launch from Wallops for an orbital inclination of 51.6 degrees?Why bother with numbers when Google Maps provides the "Distance Measurement Tool," which allows drawing straight lines on the Earth's surface? (Hint: place the extreme of the orbit at or near a places around 51.6 S. I chose the Foch and Heard Island areas.)
Sorry, dumb question. I thought NASA owned the Wallops range and that the USAF Eastern Range has nothing to do with it. Yet there's talk of USAF ER on here. What am I missing?
Quote from: Antares on 04/01/2013 07:16 pmSorry, dumb question. I thought NASA owned the Wallops range and that the USAF Eastern Range has nothing to do with it. Yet there's talk of USAF ER on here. What am I missing?Pretty sure they're still responsible for Range Safety at Wallops.
Quote from: strangequark on 04/01/2013 07:41 pmQuote from: Antares on 04/01/2013 07:16 pmSorry, dumb question. I thought NASA owned the Wallops range and that the USAF Eastern Range has nothing to do with it. Yet there's talk of USAF ER on here. What am I missing?Pretty sure they're still responsible for Range Safety at Wallops.NASA is responsible at Wallops.
NASA’s mobile tracking station in Bermuda provides telemetry, radar, and command and control services. It will support the launch of rockets carrying supplies to the International Space Station
According to what I found both are responsible with only NASA being completely responsible for range assets and operations regarding sounding rockets. For orbital and other non sounding rockets USAF holds primary responsibility in most cases. Commercial launches are overseen by USAF. NASA only missions with prior approval from DoD before each mission may assume Eastern Range responsibility for that launch if approval is granted.If this has changed since 2011 I would be inclined to learn about the change.
Furthermore, the flight technically originates from a Pad 0-A, part of a commercial launch site operated by WFF tenant VCSFA (d/b/a MARS) under license LLO 02-007. So does the RSM - which is a NASA document - apply? Good question.