Author Topic: Atlas V 541 - NROL-42 - VAFB SLC-3E - Sep 24, 2017 05:50 UTC (Sep 23 2250 PDT) (Read 57767 times)

abaddon · « **Reply #40 on:** 09/21/2017 08:32 pm »

That Vandenberg fog really makes for some spectacular shots. What a beaut!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #41 on:** 09/21/2017 09:33 pm »

Asking for status per if there's a launch tonight or not.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #42 on:** 09/21/2017 11:17 pm »

Official:

(Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 21, 2017) The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed. The delay allows the team time to replace a faulty battery on the Atlas V booster. The vehicle and spacecraft remain stable. Launch of the NROL-42 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #43 on:** 09/22/2017 08:19 am »

Selection of photos from Shorealone Films: https://www.flickr.com/photos/81789298@N05/

Semmel · « **Reply #44 on:** 09/22/2017 09:21 am »

I have not seen it in this thread, but what is the target orbit of this sat? Launching on a Atlas V 541 with the short fairing option would indicate a high density (unlikely) of the sat or a high energy orbit. A GTO orbit doesnt make much sense from VAFB on a Atlas V 541. So is it going into a Tundra orbit with 24 hours period or a Molniya orbit? Is an inclination of 63.4 degrees reachable from VAFB? I am a bit confused to be honest.

Skyrocket · « **Reply #45 on:** 09/22/2017 11:14 am »

Quote from: Semmel on 09/22/2017 09:21 am

I have not seen it in this thread, but what is the target orbit of this sat? Launching on a Atlas V 541 with the short fairing option would indicate a high density (unlikely) of the sat or a high energy orbit. A GTO orbit doesnt make much sense from VAFB on a Atlas V 541. So is it going into a Tundra orbit with 24 hours period or a Molniya orbit? Is an inclination of 63.4 degrees reachable from VAFB? I am a bit confused to be honest.

Molniya orbit - same NOTAMS as NROL-35

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #46 on:** 09/22/2017 05:12 pm »

ULA:

(Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 22, 2017) - The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office is confirmed on the Western Range for Saturday, Sept. 23. The launch time is 10:30 p.m. Pacific. The battery replacement is on schedule and the ULA and customer teams are ready to support this new launch date.

catdlr · « **Reply #47 on:** 09/23/2017 03:29 am »

The following is a media update from the United Launch Alliance (ULA). Please direct all questions and comments regarding this update to the ULA.

Subject: Media Update: ULA Atlas V NROL-42 Launch Set for September 23
Date: Sep 22, 2017 4:27 PM

Good afternoon – the ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office is confirmed on the Western Range for Saturday, Sept. 23. The launch time is 10:30 p.m. Pacific. The battery replacement is on schedule and the ULA and customer teams are ready to support this new launch date. Today’s L-1 weather forecast continues to show 80% favorable conditions for launch.

Launch Day Forecast
Overall probability of violating weather constraints: 20%
Areas of concern: Launch Visibility

Overall probability of violating weather constraints for 24 Hour Delay: 10%
Areas of concern: Launch Visibility

Launch Broadcast Satellite Coordinates + Webcast

LAUNCH – SEPTEMBER 23, 2017
BARS AND TONE – 9:39 P.M.
PROGRAM START – 10:10 P.M.

TRANSMISSION FOR DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITON
SATELLITE: SES 3
TRANSPONDER: 24
BAND: C-Band Digital
ORBITAL POSITION: 103 degrees west
HD BANDWIDTH: 18 MHz (Half Transponder ‘CD’)
UPLINK FREQ: 6,414.000 MHz (Horizontal)
DOWNLINK FREQ: 4,189.000 MHz (Vertical)
SYMBOL RATE: 13
FEC: ¾
DATA RATE: 17.9705
DVBS-QPSK
MPEG-2
AUDIO EMBEDDED

WEB CAST AVAILABLE AT: http://www.ulalaunch.com and www.youtube.com/unitedlaunchalliance

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #48 on:** 09/23/2017 09:00 pm »

William Graham's article, and his awesome work on what these spacecraft may be about....

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/09/atlas-v-preparing-to-launch-nrol-42/

catdlr · « **Reply #49 on:** 09/23/2017 11:57 pm »

Atlas V NROL-42 Live Launch Broadcast

United Launch Alliance
Scheduled for Sep 23, 2017

Tune in for the live launch broadcast as United Launch Alliance's Atlas V launches the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

LAUNCH – SEPTEMBER 23, 2017
BARS AND TONE – 9:39 P.M.
PROGRAM START – 10:10 P.M.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #50 on:** 09/24/2017 02:23 am »

ULA:

On track for #AtlasV #NROL42 at 10:10pmPDT.

So that's moved up 20 mins.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #51 on:** 09/24/2017 02:35 am »

Or not...
ULA:
Whoops! On track for 10:30pmPDT. Live broadcast starts at 10:10 pmPDT #LiveTweetProbs

hartspace · « **Reply #52 on:** 09/24/2017 04:24 am »

Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live 4m4 minutes ago

L-70 Minutes: All #AtlasV tanks are topping up to flight level. Final preps of the hydraulic system commence at this time in the count.

hartspace · « **Reply #53 on:** 09/24/2017 04:35 am »

Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live 3m3 minutes ago

Inside one hour to launch. #AtlasV stands fully fueled atop its SLC-3E launch pad, weather is GO and countdown is on track. #NROL42

hartspace · « **Reply #54 on:** 09/24/2017 04:57 am »

ULA‏Verified account @ulalaunch 32s33 seconds ago

The #AtlasV #NROL42 countdown has just entered a 30-minute hold. This is the second and final hold in today's countdown.

hartspace · « **Reply #55 on:** 09/24/2017 04:58 am »

ULA‏Verified account @ulalaunch 2m2 minutes ago

Cryogenic fuels in the #AtlasV booster and Centaur upper stage are at flight level. #NROL42

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #56 on:** 09/24/2017 04:59 am »

Waiting on ULA to start their webcast.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #57 on:** 09/24/2017 05:03 am »

Colour check.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #58 on:** 09/24/2017 05:09 am »

Webcast beginning soon.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #59 on:** 09/24/2017 05:11 am »

Fuelled and ready to launch.