Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014  (Read 55327 times)

Offline vapour_nudge

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LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« on: 02/26/2014 02:15 pm »
Live thread for the Atlas V NROL-33 launch.

Article:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/05/ula-atlas-v-nrol-33-launch/

Does anyone know the tail number (AV-0xx) of the Atlas/Centaur vehicle used in this NRO launch?

Kind regards,
The Nudge
« Last Edit: 05/22/2014 12:44 pm by Chris Bergin »

Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #1 on: 04/10/2014 09:44 am »
The ULA mission patch
« Last Edit: 04/22/2014 09:10 am by vapour_nudge »

Offline Star One

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #2 on: 04/10/2014 12:33 pm »

The ULA mission patch

It's Phoenix from the X Men.

Offline Lurker Steve

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #3 on: 04/10/2014 12:53 pm »

The ULA mission patch

It's Phoenix from the X Men.

I don't think Phoenix carried a sword.

but it does appear she is right above North America providing some sort of protection.

Someone with better knowledge of mythology than me will need to tell us which war goddess this is.


Offline vapour_nudge

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #4 on: 04/10/2014 11:28 pm »
The NROL-33 launch date is no longer May 7th as the ULA press release from NROL-67 launch states the next ULA launch is a Delta IV on May 15th
« Last Edit: 04/22/2014 09:11 am by vapour_nudge »

Offline William Graham

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #5 on: 04/11/2014 10:34 pm »
Found this patch on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATLAS-V-AV-046-SPACE-MISSION-PATCH-USAF-CAPE-SLC-41/121316761015
http://www.webcitation.org/6OlSeSzVI

I'm not 100% sure that AV-046 is NROL-33, but this is the sort of launch patch I'd expect for an NRO mission. "Defendi nostrae opes" translates as "to defend our resources". Note the eight stars on the sides of the patch - these have appeared in the same pattern on several past NRO patches all of which were associated with Quasar communications satellites.

It is interesting to see Europe prominently featured on the patch. It could suggest a geostationary satellite positioned over this part of the world, however if this were a Quasar I would expect it to go to a Molniya orbit since both of the GEO satellites were recently replaced. Unless they are increasing the number of geostationary satellites in the constellation.

Offline Star One

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #6 on: 04/11/2014 10:44 pm »

Found this patch on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATLAS-V-AV-046-SPACE-MISSION-PATCH-USAF-CAPE-SLC-41/121316761015
http://www.webcitation.org/6OlSeSzVI

I'm not 100% sure that AV-046 is NROL-33, but this is the sort of launch patch I'd expect for an NRO mission. "Defendi nostrae opes" translates as "to defend our resources". Note the eight stars on the sides of the patch - these have appeared in the same pattern on several past NRO patches all of which were associated with Quasar communications satellites.

It is interesting to see Europe prominently featured on the patch. It could suggest a geostationary satellite positioned over this part of the world, however if this were a Quasar I would expect it to go to a Molniya orbit since both of the GEO satellites were recently replaced. Unless they are increasing the number of geostationary satellites in the constellation.

It wouldn't surprise me if they weren't increasing the number, the communication requirements must be huge considering the amount of data that is probably generated by these systems. The bottleneck in data networks is usually communications capacity & I don't see why this should be any different.

Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #7 on: 04/11/2014 11:02 pm »
Found this patch on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATLAS-V-AV-046-SPACE-MISSION-PATCH-USAF-CAPE-SLC-41/121316761015
http://www.webcitation.org/6OlSeSzVI

I'm not 100% sure that AV-046 is NROL-33,

It is.  Launch vehicle patches barely keep up with the launch rhythm.  The next Delta IV is not out yet.
« Last Edit: 04/11/2014 11:05 pm by Jim »

Offline averagespacejoe

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #8 on: 04/20/2014 04:59 am »
Any word yet on when this launch might happen I would imagine scheduling on the Cape between Orbcomm and NROL-33 will be settled soon if both are shooting for May launch.

Offline averagespacejoe

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #9 on: 04/21/2014 03:08 pm »
You know spaceflightnow reports a date of May 22 so I will go with that for now sure Orbcomm will be within a week after that

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #10 on: 05/09/2014 01:22 pm »
Clearer versions of the patches above that I could find on the web. Interesting.....  ;)
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #11 on: 05/09/2014 01:52 pm »
Is that a flying squirrel?
« Last Edit: 05/09/2014 01:54 pm by kevin-rf »
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Offline Targeteer

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #12 on: 05/09/2014 02:21 pm »
Clearer versions of the patches above that I could find on the web. Interesting.....  ;)

Love the red-headed warrior :) Symbolism with the mirror image wolves is intriguing with two facing right/east and 1 facing left/west.  The shape on the chest/shoulder of the wolves seems significant but I can't make it out.  The five beams seem to be from above--maybe HEO..
« Last Edit: 05/09/2014 02:22 pm by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline Star One

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #13 on: 05/09/2014 05:07 pm »

Is that a flying squirrel?

Yes it is.

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #14 on: 05/09/2014 07:00 pm »
Anyone spot Bullwinkle or Boris then?
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Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #15 on: 05/09/2014 07:03 pm »
Anyone spot Bullwinkle or Boris then?

Left and right engine nozzle?

Offline jacqmans

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #16 on: 05/18/2014 04:13 am »
Atlas V to Launch NROL-33

Rocket/Payload:  An Atlas V 401 will launch the NROL-33 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).

Date/Site/Launch Time: Thursday, May 22, from Space Launch Complex (SLC) 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Launch Notes: NROL-33 will be the 46th Atlas V mission since the vehicle’s inaugural launch in 2002. It will be the sixth of 15 planned missions ULA is slated to launch in 2014, and ULA’s 83rd since the company formed in 2006.

Mission Description: The mission will be launched for the National Reconnaissance Office in support of national defense.
Jacques :-)

Offline Ben the Space Brit

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #17 on: 05/18/2014 12:57 pm »
Mission Description: The mission will be launched for the National Reconnaissance Office in support of national defense.

I don't think it can get any clearer than this. This is when we find out whether there was anything but hot air in the Russian government's statements over the past week.
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Offline Star One

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #18 on: 05/18/2014 03:58 pm »

Mission Description: The mission will be launched for the National Reconnaissance Office in support of national defense.

I don't think it can get any clearer than this. This is when we find out whether there was anything but hot air in the Russian government's statements over the past week.

How would this effect a payload like WorldView 3, launching on an Atlas, yes it's a commercial payload but it has both military & commercial customers?

Offline Jim

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Re: LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
« Reply #19 on: 05/18/2014 08:23 pm »

How would this effect a payload like WorldView 3, launching on an Atlas, yes it's a commercial payload but it has both military & commercial customers?

No effect because the ban does not include NRO or USAF payloads.  "Military applications" mean weapons

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