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#80
by
Svenry
on 10 Nov, 2017 15:26
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Good view inside the fairing from the Pre Launch Press Conference (live until 12pm).
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#81
by
Svetoslav
on 10 Nov, 2017 15:34
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Dragon's pressurized upmass is volume constrained. The main reason for that is because the volume has to fit in a cone behind the heatshield in order to get downmass, while Cygnus can simply get longer. And unlike Cygnus, Dragon has to provide both thermal and aerodynamic protection in an aerodynamic shape, which is why it's much heavier for the volume it contains. Cygnus rides up in a fairing and never sees the atmosphere.
To add, Dragon has an unpressurized truck and can carry various external payloads to the ISS. Cygnus has just a service module and a pressurized module.
It's not that one spacecraft is good and the other bad. NASA needs both. Dragon provides transport for external components and it is able to return experiments from the ISS, while Cygnus can bring to the ISS large volume of internal cargo.
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#82
by
jcm
on 10 Nov, 2017 15:50
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Does anyone have insight into these numbers on the first stage?
"2TRS2S1.8"
My Guess: "2" (unknown meaning, maybe version 2 with RD181 engines?), Taurus 2, Stage 1 Serial No. 8
- Ed Kyle
Almost perfect, but the leading 2 was used for the earlier Antares too. This is a Zenit-program-style designator from Yuzhmash I guess.
Antares #2 (Orb-D) was 2TRS2S1.3
Antares #5 (Orb-3) was 2TRS2S1.5
I don't have similar designators for the other Antares launches.
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#83
by
Svenry
on 10 Nov, 2017 16:06
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Dragon's pressurized upmass is volume constrained. The main reason for that is because the volume has to fit in a cone behind the heatshield in order to get downmass, while Cygnus can simply get longer. And unlike Cygnus, Dragon has to provide both thermal and aerodynamic protection in an aerodynamic shape, which is why it's much heavier for the volume it contains. Cygnus rides up in a fairing and never sees the atmosphere.
To add, Dragon has an unpressurized truck and can carry various external payloads to the ISS. Cygnus has just a service module and a pressurized module.
It's not that one spacecraft is good and the other bad. NASA needs both. Dragon provides transport for external components and it is able to return experiments from the ISS, while Cygnus can bring to the ISS large volume of internal cargo.
Cygnus is also great for disposal of waste from the ISS.
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#84
by
Skyrocket
on 10 Nov, 2017 16:22
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New Small Satellite Missions Launching To Space
NASA's Ames Research Center
Published on Nov 9, 2017
On November 11, 2017, NASA will launch four new small satellite missions to space from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Each mission will demonstrate critical new capabilities for small spacecraft.
More info: https://go.nasa.gov/2isTr8q
Video credit: NASA's Ames Research Center
NASA's Ames Research Center is located in California's Silicon Valley. Follow us on social media to hear about the latest developments in space, science and technology.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW811ouhJeU?t=001
Although not named, it appears that TechEdSat-6 will also be on board (the one with the innovative breaking device)
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#85
by
Skyrocket
on 10 Nov, 2017 16:25
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Has anyone a complete list of the cubesats on board (unknown number) and in the external deployer (14)?
I have found following (those with * are in the external deployer)
EcAMSat
Lemur-2 (unknown number) *
ISARA
CHEFsat
Asgardia 1 *
OCSD B (AeroCube 7B)
OCSD C (AeroCube 7C)
PropCube 2 (Fauna)
TechEdSat-6 ?
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#86
by
Galactic Penguin SST
on 10 Nov, 2017 16:38
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Does anyone have insight into these numbers on the first stage?
"2TRS2S1.8"
My Guess: "2" (unknown meaning, maybe version 2 with RD181 engines?), Taurus 2, Stage 1 Serial No. 8
- Ed Kyle
Almost perfect, but the leading 2 was used for the earlier Antares too. This is a Zenit-program-style designator from Yuzhmash I guess.
Antares #2 (Orb-D) was 2TRS2S1.3
Antares #5 (Orb-3) was 2TRS2S1.5
I don't have similar designators for the other Antares launches.
IIRC Andrey (anik)'s list used to have all of the numbers. Maybe you can ask him......
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#87
by
Norm38
on 10 Nov, 2017 18:11
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#88
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 10 Nov, 2017 18:48
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OA-8 Pre-launch Press Conference Round-up
The pre-launch press conference for tomorrow’s launch has concluded. Systems tests this morning went well, and weather conditions remain green.
Orbital ATK will launch its Cygnus spacecraft into orbit to the International Space Station, targeted for 7:37 a.m. EST Nov. 11, 2017, from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The launch window is open for about five minutes.
Systems tests this morning went well, with one nitrogen regulator on the ground being changed out with a replacement this afternoon. Orbital ATK’s minimum temperature constraint for Antares is 20 degrees F, so currently forecast launch temperatures (and the overall weather) are not expected to pose a problem. At launch time, temperatures are expected to be about 25 to 30 degrees.
The countdown clock begins at 1:22 a.m. EST Nov. 11. Fueling begins roughly 90 minutes before launch. Live NASA TV coverage and commentary will begin at 7 a.m., and Wallops will play live views of the launch pad on Ustream beginning at 1:15 a.m.
Sunrise occurs not long before the launch window opens, which may negatively influence the ability for viewers outside the local area to see the launch.
The journey from launch to orbit takes about nine minutes, with Cygnus then scheduled to rendezvous with the International Space Station on Nov. 13.
https://blogs.nasa.gov/orbital/2017/11/10/oa-8-pre-launch-press-conference-round-up/Three timelapse GIFs attached:
This time lapse shows Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket rolling out of the HIF (the Horizontal Integration Facility) at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Nov. 9.
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Patrick Black
The mile-long journey from the HIF to the launch pad takes about two hours to complete. This time lapse covers the latter part of that journey.
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Patrick Black
Once the tilt begins, the total time to go from horizontal to vertical alignment takes roughly 20 minutes.
Credit: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility/Patrick Black
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#89
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 10 Nov, 2017 19:25
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#90
by
Perchlorate
on 10 Nov, 2017 19:32
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From the old ferry dock off Pierce Taylor Rd at 1:40 pm EST today.
What are the wind aloft limits for Antares? ForeFlight says 295 degrees at 76 knots at 7 am EST.
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#91
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 10 Nov, 2017 20:06
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#92
by
Chris Bergin
on 10 Nov, 2017 20:47
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Bill Harwood got this out of Nanoracks:
@NanoRacks
External CubeSats include: 8x Lemurs, ISARA, CHEFSat, AeroCube 7 B & C, Asgardia-1 and PROPCUBE
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#93
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 11 Nov, 2017 00:28
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#94
by
Chris Bergin
on 11 Nov, 2017 02:15
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#95
by
dawei
on 11 Nov, 2017 06:06
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Countdown is underway. NASA TV Wallops has a live stream of the flight loop. Everything sounds good so far as far as I can tell.
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#96
by
dawei
on 11 Nov, 2017 06:09
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Pre power up checks in work and mostly complete.
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#97
by
dawei
on 11 Nov, 2017 06:14
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Now recording battery parameters. Already up to step 76.
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#98
by
dawei
on 11 Nov, 2017 06:21
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1st weather brief is good. Coldest air of the season and ground winds will decrease approaching T-0. No precip expected from offshore clouds. T-0 temp at 27-29 degrees. Less than 5% chance of launch criteria violations.
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#99
by
dawei
on 11 Nov, 2017 06:29
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DLC (dynamic limit checker) is in auto. Batt cell voltages nominal.