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SCRUB: Orbital Antares A-ONE LAUNCH ATTEMPT 2 UPDATE THREAD
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 11:44
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#1
by
psloss
on 20 Apr, 2013 13:41
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Any confirmation of call-to-stations this morning? Thanx.
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#2
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 13:43
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Checklist was opened around 09:13, about the same time as Wed. Working minor issue with the PPOD reply loopbacks, was cleared before the checklist was opened.
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#3
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 13:46
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Early WX balloon run of the Overpressure safety criteria (which was marginal on Wed) was reported as "good." It's the last balloon before launch that counts, though...
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#4
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 13:53
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WX Briefing in 6 minutes
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#5
by
psloss
on 20 Apr, 2013 14:04
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Checklist was opened around 09:13, about the same time as Wed. Working minor issue with the PPOD reply loopbacks, was cleared before the checklist was opened.
Thank you, sir. Good luck today.
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#6
by
yg1968
on 20 Apr, 2013 14:27
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#7
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 14:27
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Just got WX briefing. As far as basic constraints are concerned, the POV is 10% today and 35% tomorrow. Problem with upper level (35K-40K) winds - unusually strong jet stream. We are evaluating.
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#8
by
Lee Jay
on 20 Apr, 2013 14:31
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Antonio, your contributions are most gratefully appreciated!
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#9
by
jsmjr
on 20 Apr, 2013 14:40
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Just got WX briefing. As far as basic constraints are concerned, the POV is 10% today and 35% tomorrow. Problem with upper level (35K-40K) winds - unusually strong jet stream. We are evaluating.
Yes, very appreciated. POV is probability of violation [of constraints]?
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#10
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 14:57
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Yes. But that's only the "hard" range criteria (including some that come from us.) There are also the high-altitude winds, which are more of a qualitative call than hard values.
Our dilemma is the wind shear around 20K produced by the strong jet stream: the trajectory (we can choose from a small set sometime around T-45) that lowers the loads on the vehicle also bring us uncomfortably close to the North destruct line. Paul Baumgartner and Tracy Chisholm are running trajectories as we speak. They will have to make a judgement call on the traj, and then Mission Director will have to make a go/no go call from that.
Oh, well, TANSTAAFL...
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#11
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 20 Apr, 2013 15:33
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Recent reports from OSC at Twitter:
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1403Z)
#Antares The count pick up at T-8 hours has started. The team is targeting the
opening of the window at 5 PM local, 2100 UTC.
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1409Z)
#Antares update: Voice checks are currently underway.
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1447Z)
The Red Team is leaving the pad. Range and Facility setup continues. Range Checks are in work. #Antares
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1508Z)
The engineering team is reviewing telemetry displays with simulated data. ECS operations at the pad are being verified. #Antares
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1518Z)
#Antares T-6 hours: Wx 90% go for launch time. Upper level winds are marginal based on earlier balloon data.
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1527Z)
Pre-pwr checks are complete. MACH Ethernet testing completed. Poll for sequencer start and warm helium charging has been completed. #Antares
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#12
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 20 Apr, 2013 15:47
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Why a 7 minutes delay? COLA?
NASA Wallops @NASA_Wallops
#Antares Launch is now scheduled for 5:07pm EDT.
EDIT: that delay has disappeared! 
NASA Wallops @NASA_Wallops
Launch time correction. Launch time remains 5:00pm EDT.
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#13
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:10
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Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1604Z)
#Antares T-5 hours. We see blue sky peeking through the clouds. Still targeting 5pm EDT launch. Live coverage begins at 4:30 on NASA TV.
NASA Wallops @NASA_Wallops (1605Z)
#Antares launch outlook is good with 90% chance of launch on time. Currently cloudy but expected to clear.
Satellite images showing the storm front almost clearing the East coast right now - should be bright and sunny at liftoff time.
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#14
by
psloss
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:25
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Satellite images showing the storm front almost clearing the East coast right now - should be bright and sunny at liftoff time.
antonioe's caveat three posts earlier still applies.
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#15
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:37
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Satellite images showing the storm front almost clearing the East coast right now - should be bright and sunny at liftoff time.
antonioe's caveat three posts earlier still applies.
Well it's not surprising that the jetstream is very strong behind such a big squall line (?) system... let's see what will happen by then.
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#16
by
Jester
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:38
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#17
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:48
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Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1646Z)
#Antares T-4:15 Warm helium is flowing to the vehicle. Vehicle avionics power up on external power is complete.
Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1648Z)
#Antares launch is still taregeted for 5pm EDT. LN2 flow to the subcooler has begun. Payload ECS set temperature has been adjust up to 80F
My note: This is just amazing coverage provided by the Orbital PR team - never heard of such little details in the pre-launch timeline in any launch I have ever seen - not even Shuttle launches! 
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#18
by
BillyJoeBob
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:54
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Satellite images showing the storm front almost clearing the East coast right now - should be bright and sunny at liftoff time.
antonioe's caveat three posts earlier still applies.
Well it's not surprising that the jetstream is very strong behind such a big squall line (?) system... let's see what will happen by then.
Newbie warning alert!
The Jet Stream looks strong over the launch site now.
http://images.intellicast.com/WxImages/JetStream/conus.jpgThe surface winds map is here.
http://hint.fm/wind/What are the limits on both surface winds and winds aloft that would prevent launch? I know there are probably aircraft aloft giving ground controllers weather information up to say 40k ft...Are they also launching balloon after balloon to get upper atmosphere data?
Edit - Oh, another question:
I cannot find (yet) information on the weather briefing for this mission and a percentage given towards launch probability based upon weather, etc... Does anyone have that info?
Getting ready to drive up there in an hour!
Thanks
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#19
by
Orbiter
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:54
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Satellite images showing the storm front almost clearing the East coast right now - should be bright and sunny at liftoff time.
antonioe's caveat three posts earlier still applies.
Well it's not surprising that the jetstream is very strong behind such a big squall line (?) system... let's see what will happen by then.
Cold front.
