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LIVE: Atlas V 401 - NROL-33 - May 22, 2014
by
vapour_nudge
on 26 Feb, 2014 14:15
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#1
by
vapour_nudge
on 10 Apr, 2014 09:44
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#2
by
Star One
on 10 Apr, 2014 12:33
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The ULA mission patch
It's Phoenix from the X Men.
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#3
by
Lurker Steve
on 10 Apr, 2014 12:53
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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.
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#4
by
vapour_nudge
on 10 Apr, 2014 23:28
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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
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#5
by
William Graham
on 11 Apr, 2014 22:34
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Found this patch on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATLAS-V-AV-046-SPACE-MISSION-PATCH-USAF-CAPE-SLC-41/121316761015http://www.webcitation.org/6OlSeSzVII'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.
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#6
by
Star One
on 11 Apr, 2014 22:44
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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.
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#7
by
Jim
on 11 Apr, 2014 23:02
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#8
by
averagespacejoe
on 20 Apr, 2014 04:59
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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.
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#9
by
averagespacejoe
on 21 Apr, 2014 15:08
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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
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#10
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 09 May, 2014 13:22
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Clearer versions of the patches above that I could find on the web. Interesting.....
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#11
by
kevin-rf
on 09 May, 2014 13:52
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Is that a flying squirrel?
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#12
by
Targeteer
on 09 May, 2014 14:21
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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..
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#13
by
Star One
on 09 May, 2014 17:07
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Is that a flying squirrel?
Yes it is.
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#14
by
kevin-rf
on 09 May, 2014 19:00
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Anyone spot Bullwinkle or Boris then?
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#15
by
Jim
on 09 May, 2014 19:03
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Anyone spot Bullwinkle or Boris then?
Left and right engine nozzle?
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#16
by
jacqmans
on 18 May, 2014 04:13
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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.
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#17
by
Ben the Space Brit
on 18 May, 2014 12:57
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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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#18
by
Star One
on 18 May, 2014 15:58
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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?
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#19
by
Jim
on 18 May, 2014 20:23
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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
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..