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#60 by Yeknom-Ecaps on 27 May, 2018 03:43
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Is the L-1011 at Kwaj? IF so, when did it fly from VAFB to Kwaj?
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#61 by Comga on 27 May, 2018 04:11
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It has nothing to do with Eastern Range maintenance.
No, it doesn't. The launch location is driven by the mission requirements and how the launch vehicle can deliver the desired orbit. I don't know the specifics of why ICON wants to reach orbit from Kwajalein - orbital mechanics is not my strong suite - but it is not an insignificant labor to adjust the mission to the Eastern Range.
BTW, Kwaj is NOT a tropical paradise. Taking launch ops out there is not considered a "vacation" by anyone. It is not Tahiti. Working there invokes some serious hardships. My first week on Kwaj was one of the most stressful work periods I can remember. It is not selected as a launch site trivially.
We have four days on the RTS range to pull this off - the RTS schedule is that tight. If we don't pull it off in those four days, we'll have to fall back to KSC/CCAFS and try again in October.
I am glad we have a real authority discussing this instead of guessing. (Being honest)
Your comment was the source of my joke (sort of got lost) about the tropical vacation.
But doesn’t the Pegasus have MORE capacity into the 27 deg Target orbit from CCAFS at 28.5 deg N than from the 8.7 deg N Kwajalein? Especially when the Stargazer can fly south to 27 deg N and launch due East?
I agree it’s not possible to launch into the target orbit directly from CCAFS but that’s supposed to be an advantage of air launch.
Edit: Belay that. By orbital mechanics the Pegasus would have very slightly more capacity from Kwai, because of its slightly higher easterly rotational velocity. Plus they can launch from within the radar coverage of the base, rather than behind 300 km to the southeast. That’s my guess at the reason. -
#62 by Thorny on 27 May, 2018 17:10
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I agree it’s not possible to launch into the target orbit directly from CCAFS but that’s supposed to be an advantage of air launch.
Delta II launched GLAST into a 25.6 deg. inclination from Cape Canaveral in 2008. -
#63 by ZachS09 on 27 May, 2018 17:30
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I agree it’s not possible to launch into the target orbit directly from CCAFS but that’s supposed to be an advantage of air launch.
Delta II launched GLAST into a 25.6 deg. inclination from Cape Canaveral in 2008.
The reason why Fermi was placed into a 25.6-degree orbit was because of the plane-changing that was done during the late ascent. -
#64 by LouScheffer on 28 May, 2018 14:24
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Edit: Belay that. By orbital mechanics the Pegasus would have very slightly more capacity from Kwai, because of its slightly higher easterly rotational velocity. Plus they can launch from within the radar coverage of the base, rather than behind 300 km to the southeast. That’s my guess at the reason.
The capacity should be essentially the same for both sites. Look at launching from the equator and the northern limit. At the equator, the full earth velocity V is available, but only cos(i) is in the direction you need. At the northern limit, only V*cos(i) is available, but it's all in the direction you need. In between it's more complicated mathematically, but the terms still cancel. ( V*cos(b)*cos(90o-sin-1(cos(i)/cos(b)) = v*cos(i), since the cos(b) cancels, where b is the launch lattitude). So there should be very little difference in capacity. -
#65 by envy887 on 28 May, 2018 15:10
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Edit: Belay that. By orbital mechanics the Pegasus would have very slightly more capacity from Kwai, because of its slightly higher easterly rotational velocity. Plus they can launch from within the radar coverage of the base, rather than behind 300 km to the southeast. That’s my guess at the reason.
The capacity should be essentially the same for both sites. Look at launching from the equator and the northern limit. At the equator, the full earth velocity V is available, but only cos(i) is in the direction you need. At the northern limit, only V*cos(i) is available, but it's all in the direction you need. In between it's more complicated mathematically, but the terms still cancel. ( V*cos(b)*cos(90o-sin-1(cos(i)/cos(b)) = v*cos(i), since the cos(b) cancels, where b is the launch lattitude). So there should be very little difference in capacity.
Aren't there more launch opportunities from the equatorial site though? They can at least pick from ascenting and descending nodes. -
#66 by Galactic Penguin SST on 28 May, 2018 15:27
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NASA's launch schedule shows the launch time as 10:06 am Eastern = 14:06 UTC (i.e. night launch from Kwajalein).
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#67 by deruch on 30 May, 2018 01:56
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Edit: Belay that. By orbital mechanics the Pegasus would have very slightly more capacity from Kwai, because of its slightly higher easterly rotational velocity. Plus they can launch from within the radar coverage of the base, rather than behind 300 km to the southeast. That’s my guess at the reason.
The capacity should be essentially the same for both sites. Look at launching from the equator and the northern limit. At the equator, the full earth velocity V is available, but only cos(i) is in the direction you need. At the northern limit, only V*cos(i) is available, but it's all in the direction you need. In between it's more complicated mathematically, but the terms still cancel. ( V*cos(b)*cos(90o-sin-1(cos(i)/cos(b)) = v*cos(i), since the cos(b) cancels, where b is the launch lattitude). So there should be very little difference in capacity.
Aren't there more launch opportunities from the equatorial site though? They can at least pick from ascenting and descending nodes.
Also fewer other launches to fit within and the Eastern Range maintenance downtime is scheduled for the upcoming week(s). -
#68 by jacqmans on 30 May, 2018 06:06
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May 29, 2018
MEDIA ADVISORY M18-087
NASA Previews Mission to Study Frontier of Space
NASA will host a media briefing at 1 p.m. EDT Monday, June 4, on the agency’s mission to explore Earth’s ionosphere and the processes there that impact life on Earth’s surface. The event will air live on NASA Television, the agency’s website and Facebook Live.
Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will study the layer of charged particles extending from about 50 to 360 miles above Earth’s surface, through which radio communications and GPS signals travel, and the processes there that can distort or even disrupt these signals. Knowledge gleaned from this mission will aid in mitigating its effects on satellites and communications technology worldwide.
The event will be held at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Participants will include:
•Willis Jenkins, ICON program executive at NASA Headquarters, Washington
•Thomas Immel, mission principal investigator at the University of California Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory
•Rebecca Bishop, ionospheric research scientist at Aerospace Corporation
•Douglas Rowland, mission scientist at Goddard
Media who would like to attend the briefing or participate by phone must email their name, media affiliation and phone number to Karen Fox at [email protected] by 12:30 p.m. June 4.
The public can send questions on social media by using #askNASA at any time during the event.
ICON will launch June 14 Eastern time on an Orbital ATK Pegasus XL rocket from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands and deploy from Orbital’s L-1011 Stargazer aircraft.
For more information about the mission, visit:
https://nasa.gov/ICON
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#69 by jacqmans on 30 May, 2018 18:09
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NASA's Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) spacecraft is partially mated to the starboard faring of Orbital ATK's Pegasus XL rocket on May 21, 2018, inside Building 1555 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The explorer will launch on June 15, 2018, from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands (June 14 in the continental United States) on the Pegasus XL, which is attached to the company's L-1011 Stargazer aircraft. ICON will study the frontier of space - the dynamic zone high in Earth's atmosphere where terrestrial weather from below meets space weather above. The explorer will help determine the physics of Earth's space environment and pave the way for mitigating its effects on our technology and communications systems.
Photo credit: Orbital ATK/Kettner Griswold
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#70 by edkyle99 on 06 Jun, 2018 20:09
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Given this week's announcements about FTC approval for the Northrop Grumman buyout, will this be the final launch under the Orbital ATK banner?
- Ed Kyle -
#71 by jcm on 07 Jun, 2018 02:51
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Does anyone have info on the drop location coordinates?
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#72 by Jim on 07 Jun, 2018 13:16
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Given this week's announcements about FTC approval for the Northrop Grumman buyout, will this be the final launch under the Orbital ATK banner?
- Ed Kyle
Nope, already seeing it in the press as Northrop Grumman Pegasus. -
#73 by edkyle99 on 07 Jun, 2018 13:24
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Interesting. Orbital ATK officially signing off on Twitter, and the official change-over date appears to have been June 6, 2018. I'm pretty sure that Pegasus still sports Orbital ATK logos though ...Given this week's announcements about FTC approval for the Northrop Grumman buyout, will this be the final launch under the Orbital ATK banner?
- Ed Kyle
Nope, already seeing it in the press as Northrop Grumman Pegasus.
https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
"@OrbitalATK
16h
16 hours ago
More
Today, we begin a new chapter as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. As we sign off, we hope you will continue to keep up with our products & programs by following @NorthropGrumman. We’d like to thank all of you for engaging with us & sharing our content over the years!"
- Ed Kyle -
#74 by russianhalo117 on 07 Jun, 2018 17:24
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yes this is the last flight to sport an OATK logo.
Interesting. Orbital ATK officially signing off on Twitter, and the official change-over date appears to have been June 6, 2018. I'm pretty sure that Pegasus still sports Orbital ATK logos though ...Given this week's announcements about FTC approval for the Northrop Grumman buyout, will this be the final launch under the Orbital ATK banner?
- Ed Kyle
Nope, already seeing it in the press as Northrop Grumman Pegasus.
https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
"@OrbitalATK
16h
16 hours ago
More
Today, we begin a new chapter as Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems. As we sign off, we hope you will continue to keep up with our products & programs by following @NorthropGrumman. We’d like to thank all of you for engaging with us & sharing our content over the years!"
- Ed Kyle
New website: http://www.northropgrumman.com/AboutUs/BusinessSectors/InnovationSystems/Pages/default.aspx
Also Ed the Motor Catalogs are now behind a Credential Wall and no longer considered public information. you have to email the NG PBS Dev and go through a review process to be granted a copy. -
#75 by Chris Bergin on 08 Jun, 2018 22:10
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#76 by Yeknom-Ecaps on 09 Jun, 2018 02:11
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Is the L-1011 at Kwaj? IF so, when did it fly from VAFB to Kwaj?
No, Stargazer is here at VAFB. We did pre-mate electrical checks on the A/C yesterday, and Stargazer/Pegasus mate is scheduled for June 2. Flyout starts June 5, with landing at Kwaj June 6.
Thanks Kim .... assuming it did fly on June 5/6 and is now returning to VAFB do you have return dates? -
#77 by zubenelgenubi on 09 Jun, 2018 02:30
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Return flights, Honolulu to Vandenberg:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/06/08/airplane-with-pegasus-rocket-returning-to-california-postponing-nasa-satellite-launch/
Carrier jet with Pegasus rocket returning to California, postponing NASA satellite launch
Updated 6 pm EDT, Friday, June 8QuoteThe online flight tracking website FlightAware.com showed the charter plane with members of the ICON team took off from Honolulu on Friday bound for Vandenberg. A flight plan for the L-1011 aircraft, carrying the Pegasus rocket, showed it was scheduled to leave Hawaii later Friday.
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#78 by butters on 09 Jun, 2018 15:37
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It's as if this is a maiden launch campaign or something. Mishandled solid motors, 6 month delay. Second-guessing the size of frangible bolts in the fairing system, 6 month delay. Problem discovered during a captive carry ferry flight, another delay of at least 4 months. This doesn't seem like a well-run operation. This seems like more trouble than it's worth for NASA LSP.
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#79 by Steven Pietrobon on 11 Jun, 2018 08:05
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All these problems and its high cost doesn't bode well for the future of Pegasus XL. This could end up being the last flight of this rocket.