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#20
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 20 Apr, 2013 16:57
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Orbital Sciences @OrbitalSciences (1652Z)
The #Antares Red Team has completed adjustments at the pad and are on the way back to the stand by location.
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#21
by
Antares
on 20 Apr, 2013 17:05
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Winds aloft are never discrete limits for any vehicle. There are day-of-launch calculations done to determine if a vehicle can steer through the wind shears without tumbling and without exceeding structural limits. Theoretically, a strong-enough headwind could create enough additional drag that the vehicle could not make its performance targets. That would be a very marginal case with a payload that needs every last pound of performance, or where another factor contributing to low performance would compound the problem and cause the mission to come up short.
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#22
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 17:16
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L-5:30 balloon data showed us red on debris field (strong mid-alt southwesterlies) I wonder if we shouldn't delay to the latter part of the 2-hour window to let the mid-alt winds settle a bit... that could help the other issue, too.
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#23
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 17:22
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Heh, sorry about the mod getting stressed. All posts are great in this thread. Many thanks to Antonio for his updates!
Weather is very related to the live launch thread.
Carry on
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#24
by
mtakala24
on 20 Apr, 2013 17:29
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Yep, this isn't like the shuttle launches where the weather was far more complex, with RTLS, TAL and AOA conditions to contend with. And our own weather reporter.
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#25
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 17:48
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Beginning LOX loading system (line, etc.) chilldown.
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#26
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 18:07
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Orbital:
T-3 hours: SIGI Alignment is complete. The poll to chill down the LOX commodity delivery system has been completed.
Antares System RF checks completed. Wking an issue w/payload S-Band link. All other links successfully completed range interface testing.
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#27
by
jsmjr
on 20 Apr, 2013 18:16
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L-5:30 balloon data showed us red on debris field (strong mid-alt southwesterlies) I wonder if we shouldn't delay to the latter part of the 2-hour window to let the mid-alt winds settle a bit... that could help the other issue, too.
Am I right to recall that a decision to delay into the later part of the window must occur prior to LOX load (T-90)? Or is it at commencement of pre-chill (T-180)?
How is it implemented? Extending a built-in hold?
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#28
by
jnc
on 20 Apr, 2013 18:27
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Beginning LOX loading system (line, etc.) chilldown.
Thanks ever so much for taking the time, during what must be a busy period, to update us all! It is really appreciated.
Noel
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#29
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 18:32
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Decision to launch at a nominal time other than the beginning of window must be made before beginning of propellant (RP and LOX) loading or L-1h30m. After than, the variability is limited to +15m - 0m
No "built-in hold" - simply delay beginning of loading phase - everything else can wait with no adverse consequences.
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#30
by
robertross
on 20 Apr, 2013 18:36
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#31
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:04
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Range is trying to relocate some 40 or so people from the extreme south end of Assateague to clear additional people-free space because of the strong southwesterly winds... if they are successful, AND the FAA approves the new debris limit lines, we MIGHT be able to launch today...
If they do it, it would be the most awesome real-time reprogramming I've ever seen a range do...
I guess they will tell them that either they move back or the will NOT see a launch...
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#32
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:09
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Orbital:
Working w/the range to determine times that optimize our ability to get additional balloon data to resolve wx issues.
T-0 now 5:10EDT
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#33
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:11
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So to be clear, the T-0 is 21:10 ZULU (17:10 Eastern. 22:10 UK time).
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#34
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:15
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FAA won't approve a new range limit line today - not enough time to evaluate change ... maybe for tomorrow. Nice try by Bill Wrobel and the Wallops range...
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#35
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:16
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Range is trying to relocate some 40 or so people from the extreme south end of Assateague to clear additional people-free space because of the strong southwesterly winds...
Everyone tweet this. The chance anyone is there who see it is small, but worth trying. You never know if it might help.
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#36
by
Chris Bergin
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:17
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FAA won't approve a new range limit line today - not enough time to evaluate change ... maybe for tomorrow. Nice try by Bill Wrobel and the Wallops range...
Is that a scrub?
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#37
by
Prober
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:17
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#38
by
jsmjr
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:17
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FAA won't approve a new range limit line today - not enough time to evaluate change ... maybe for tomorrow. Nice try by Bill Wrobel and the Wallops range...
Is that a scrub?
Wondered same. Maybe use up more of that 2 hour window?
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#39
by
antonioe
on 20 Apr, 2013 19:25
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Here's plan: we moved T0 by 10 minutes (5:10 EDT) to allow us to evaluate the 3:30 EDT balloon debris field data - if OK we'll proceed to fueling. If not, we will delay to 6:10 launch and repeat the eval at 4:30 for a 7:10 launch or scrub. We're in the process of coordinating this with the balloon guys...
