Author Topic: LIVE: Delta IV-H - EFT-1 Orion - Launch and Mission - UPDATES (Read 282068 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 12/04/2014 08:20 pm »

This is the UPDATE ONLY section for the second attempt to launch the ULA Delta IV-H launch with the EFT-1 Orion.

Master Launch/Mission/Overview Article - By William Graham:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/12/eft-1-orion-historic-launch-atop-delta-iv-h/

EFT-1 News Articles:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/eft-1/

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ATTEMPT 1:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36228.0

Orion Forum Section:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=38.0

EFT-1 Pre-Launch Updates:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=31078.0

EFT-1 Orion General Discussion and Questions Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36227.0

EFT-1 Party Thread:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36216.0

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L2 Orion:
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?board=29.0

L2 EFT-1 Coverage Area (resources - VAST for Orion going back to 2006)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36225.0
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=tags;tagid=1345

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Please note, this is a major event with massive public interest. As such, based on lessons learned yesterday, we WILL restrict the forum to member only (no guests) - during the busy periods of the countdown and mission - to protect the servers and smooth running of the site.

Yesterday, this process managed to ensure we had 99.9 percent up time for the day and 100 percent uptime once we removed the guests. Several others sites were knocked down for hours, and they don't even have forums - which are a massive and costly drain on the servers.

It is HIGHLY recommended you register yourself a membership on this forum - for free - here: http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=register - your e-mail address/details will never be misused in any way.

If you enjoy this site, and are able, please consider supporting it by joining L2: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/ - which goes into an account that we pay the hosting company in Dallas with (directly)...and you'll get access to even more great content by way of thanks.

I'll shut up now. Go EFT-1!

catdlr · « **Reply #1 on:** 12/04/2014 08:54 pm »

December 4, 2014

MEDIA ADVISORY M14-197

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2014/december/orion-flight-test-nasa-tv-coverage-reset-for-friday-dec-5/#.VIDYIzHF-kE

Orion Flight Test, NASA TV Coverage Reset for Friday, Dec. 5

A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket with NASA’s Orion spacecraft mounted atop is seen after the Mobile Service Tower was finished rolling back early on Thursday, Dec. 4, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37 in Florida. Orion is scheduled to make its first flight test Friday, Dec. 5.
A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket with NASA’s Orion spacecraft mounted atop is seen after the Mobile Service Tower was finished rolling back early on Thursday, Dec. 4, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 37 in Florida. Orion is scheduled to make its first flight test Friday, Dec. 5.
Image Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The first flight test of Orion, NASA’s next-generation spacecraft capable of sending astronauts on future missions to an asteroid and the journey to Mars, now is scheduled to launch Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:05 a.m. EST, atop a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA Television coverage will begin at 6 a.m. There is a two-hour, 39-minute window for the launch.

A Thursday launch attempt was scrubbed due to valve issues that could not be remedied before the launch window closed. Several valves are used to fill and drain the first stage of the rocket with propellant prior to liftoff.
NASA TV commentary of the flight will continue through splashdown, approximately 4.5 hours later in the Pacific Ocean about 600 miles southwest of San Diego. A post-flight test news conference will be held Friday approximately two hours after splashdown.

During its trip, designated Exploration Flight Test-1, Orion will orbit Earth twice and travel to a distance of 3,600 miles into space. The flight is designed to test many of the most vital elements for human spaceflight and will provide critical data needed to improve Orion’s design and reduce risks to future mission crews.
For the latest information on news conferences and coverage times, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntvnews

For more information about Orion’s flight test, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/orion
-end-

rdale · « **Reply #2 on:** 12/04/2014 10:32 pm »

The latest 45th WS forecast still has better-than-even odds of a scrub, and I continue to be optimistic and say that at some point in the window they can do it (similar to today.)

http://www.patrick.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-071220-067.pdf

mdmcgrory · « **Reply #3 on:** 12/04/2014 10:36 pm »

I get a a 60% weather acceptable for launch from this site https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/ it's a NASA.gov site so I believe it more than other sites, but it's dateline was earlier in the day. Most media only has a 40% chance of acceptable launch conditions tomorrow. Anybody have a good site, even webcast that will update the range weather say around midnight or after? Thanks!

Also, how many times can you fuel/refuel an all Lox/H2 rocket like the Delta 4 before you have to stand down for a day and check the stresses in the tank(s)?

DaveS · « **Reply #4 on:** 12/04/2014 11:09 pm »

L-11 hours, 56 minutes if they decide to proceed with Friday's launch attempt.

dwcriswell · « **Reply #5 on:** 12/04/2014 11:30 pm »

Quote from: mdmcgrory on 12/04/2014 10:36 pm

I get a a 60% weather acceptable for launch from this site https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/ it's a NASA.gov site so I believe it more than other sites, but it's dateline was earlier in the day. Most media only has a 40% chance of acceptable launch conditions tomorrow. Anybody have a good site, even webcast that will update the range weather say around midnight or after? Thanks!

Also, how many times can you fuel/refuel an all Lox/H2 rocket like the Delta 4 before you have to stand down for a day and check the stresses in the tank(s)?

NASA briefing said today they can only try 2 of 3 days, so if they try tomorrow then they have to stand down Saturday to get more hydrogen, he was asked about crew rest and didn't say there was any problem with Saturday.

Hog · « **Reply #6 on:** 12/04/2014 11:35 pm »

Launch windows are open at 12:05GMT/07:05 for 3 consecutive days, Dec. 4-Dec. 6.
NASA posted this weeks ago. It makes planning easier. If they tank on Friday and then scrub, there will be no Saturday attempt due to depletion of consumables via boiloff.

L-11hrs 30 minutes.

sdsds · « **Reply #7 on:** 12/05/2014 03:53 am »

NASATV is showing ... a familiar pattern of lights. (See comparison to yesterday.)

Mark McCombs · « **Reply #8 on:** 12/05/2014 06:43 am »

NASA Kennedy / KSC ‏@NASAKennedy · 42s42 seconds ago
Teams have been given the “go” to proceed with tanking the @ulalaunch #DeltaIV rocket for today's #Orion launch.

sdsds · « **Reply #9 on:** 12/05/2014 07:15 am »

Lights are on, somebody's home!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #10 on:** 12/05/2014 07:50 am »

Morning boys and girls!

Into tanking ops.

bastro · « **Reply #11 on:** 12/05/2014 08:05 am »

L-3 hours, slow-fill in progress

Hog · « **Reply #12 on:** 12/05/2014 08:05 am »

Morning Chris!

L-3 hours and counting. Hoping for a shorter cold soak this AM.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #13 on:** 12/05/2014 08:11 am »

4:10 local time. Live shot:

NASA TV not starting until 6am (right decision, otherwise it would be just a repeat of the promo videos from yesterday).

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #14 on:** 12/05/2014 08:20 am »

Nice big flare.

bastro · « **Reply #15 on:** 12/05/2014 08:35 am »

T - 2,5 hours, Liquid oxygen loading in progress. No issues reported (yet)

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #16 on:** 12/05/2014 08:38 am »

The Orion blog has some good information.

https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/

Posted at 4:07 am EDT.

Quote

Liquid oxygen is being pumped into the Delta IV Heavy’s three core boosters. The RS-68A engines, one at the base of each booster core, burn liquid hydrogen and oxygen to produce the thrust needed to lift Orion off the launch pad and start it on its way to orbit. The second stage, which is also beginning to be filled with propellant, uses the same combination of hydrogen and oxygen though not nearly as much as the first stages use.

shaula1247 · « **Reply #17 on:** 12/05/2014 08:46 am »

Not much has changed except oxygen boil off rate has slowed markedly from 30 mins ago. By the look of the plumes the wind is probably worse than yesterday. Not a terribly good sign.

shaula1247 · « **Reply #18 on:** 12/05/2014 08:51 am »

And now it is back to normal. Not a busy news day today so far is it?

bastro · « **Reply #19 on:** 12/05/2014 08:53 am »

Blog update: Weather is red "because of cumulus clouds and precipitation over the launch site"
source: https://blogs.nasa.gov/orion/2014/12/05/weather-conditions-no-go-expected-to-clear/