Author Topic: Electron F29: Antipodean Adventure (NROL-199) Mahia LC-1B - 4 Aug 2022 05:00 UTC (Read 17435 times)

Conexion Espacial · « **on:** 07/05/2022 09:04 pm »

Discussion thread for Rocket Lab's launch #29 which is dubbed as "Antipodean Adventure" where it will launch the U.S. National Reconnaissance Agency's NROL-199 (RASR-4) satellite.

Launch Date: ~~July 23~~, 2022
Launch Window: 05:00 - 07:00 UTC??
Payload: NROL-199 (RASR-4)
Launch Pad: LC-1B, Māhia Peninsula, New Zealand

Press release

Rondaz · « **Reply #1 on:** 07/05/2022 10:14 pm »

Wise One Looks Ahead is scheduled to launch NET July 12 next week, with Antipodean Adventure to follow only ten days later NET July 22, 2022.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1544419489625739264

Yiosie · « **Reply #2 on:** 07/11/2022 05:18 am »

Mission overview updated:

https://www.rocketlabusa.com/missions/next-mission

Quote from: Rocket Lab

Launching from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 on two Electron rockets, Rocket Lab is scheduled to deploy satellites to space for the NRO within only 10 days of each other. Wise One Looks Ahead (NROL-162) will launch from Launch Complex 1’s Pad A no earlier than July 13, 2022, with Antipodean Adventure (NROL-199) scheduled to launch from Pad B no earlier than July 23, 2022.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #3 on:** 07/17/2022 03:38 am »

Combined Rocket Launching and Space Debris NGA notice.

Quote from: NGA

170256Z JUL 22
HYDROPAC 1942/22(76,83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATION, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   212115Z JUL THRU 040145Z AUG 
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   39-42.00S 178-15.00E, 39-18.00S 177-48.00E,
   39-15.00S 177-48.00E, 39-12.00S 177-51.00E,
   39-12.00S 178-00.00E, 39-42.00S 178-54.00E.
2.  HAZARDOUS OPERATION, SPACE DEBRIS
   212115Z JUL THRU 040145Z AUG
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   45-30.00S 179-00.00E, 43-00.00S 179-30.00E,
   42-30.00S 179-00.00W, 45-00.00S 177-30.00W.
 3. CANCEL THIS MSG 040245Z AUG 22.

OneSpeed · « **Reply #4 on:** 07/17/2022 01:56 pm »

Quote from: Ken the Bin on 07/17/2022 03:38 am

Combined Rocket Launching and Space Debris NGA notice.

These coordinates are unusual and interesting. They imply a dogleg manoeuvre, but the raison d'etre is not yet clear.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #5 on:** 07/17/2022 10:36 pm »

Rocket Lab has update their Next Mission webpage from "NET July 22" to "NET July 21 UTC", which matches with the NGA notice. It is July 22 New Zealand time.

Quote from: Rocket Lab

Mission Name: Antipodean Adventure
Rocket: Electron
Electron Name: Electron

Launch Window: NET 21 July UTC
Launch Time: TBC
Launch Site: Launch Complex 1 Pad B

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #6 on:** 07/17/2022 11:57 pm »

Here's an additional Space Debris NGA notice.

Quote from: NGA

172313Z JUL 22
HYDROPAC 1947/22(76, 83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATION, SPACE DEBRIS
   2115Z TO 0145Z DAILY 21 JUL THRU 04 AUG
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 45-30.00S 179-00.00E, 43-00.00S 179-30.00E,
      42-30.00S 179-00.00W, 45-00.00S 177-30.00W.
   B. 57-30.00S 167-30.00W, 53-30.00S 172-30.00W,
      52-30.00S 170-30.00W, 56-30.00S 165-30.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 040245Z AUG 22.

Hobbes-22 · « **Reply #7 on:** 07/18/2022 07:42 am »

An NRO launch from New Zealand? Wow, didn't think the NRO would go for that.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/18/2022 07:52 am »

Quote from: Hobbes-22 on 07/18/2022 07:42 am

An NRO launch from New Zealand? Wow, didn't think the NRO would go for that.

This will be their fourth launch for the NRO!

OneSpeed · « **Reply #9 on:** 07/18/2022 11:52 am »

Quote from: Ken the Bin on 07/17/2022 11:57 pm

Here's an additional Space Debris NGA notice.

Curiouser and curiouser. The dogleg doesn't appear necessary to reach this inclination from the Mahia Peninsula, but Mahia and Wallops are similar distances from the equator. Perhaps this mission is designed to demonstrate a dogleg capability for a future mission from Wallops Island?

Quite the Antipodean Adventure.

edkyle99 · « **Reply #10 on:** 07/18/2022 02:53 pm »

Looks like a dogleg and then a reverse dogleg. Unusual. Maybe they're trying to drop the first stage nearer to land?

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #11 on:** 07/18/2022 06:07 pm »

A cancel-and-replace for the additional Space Debris notice, however unless I missed something, the only change is that the reference to WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC was removed from the header information.

Quote from: NGA

181702Z JUL 22
HYDROPAC 1960/22(76,83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATION, SPACE DEBRIS
   2115Z TO 0145Z DAILY 21 JUL THRU 04 AUG
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 45-30.00S 179-00.00E, 43-00.00S 179-30.00E,
      42-30.00S 179-00.00W, 45-00.00S 177-30.00W.
   B. 57-30.00S 167-30.00W, 53-30.00S 172-30.00W,
      52-30.00S 170-30.00W, 56-30.00S 165-30.00W.
2. CANCEL  HYDROPAC 1947/22.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 050245Z AUG 22.

AstroWare · « **Reply #12 on:** 07/18/2022 06:32 pm »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/18/2022 02:53 pm

Looks like a dogleg and then a reverse dogleg. Unusual. Maybe they're trying to drop the first stage nearer to land?

Double dog leg to avoid populated overflight?

If you take out the dogleg maneuvers, the trajectory looks like it could be placing the stage 1 drop zone right on top of Chatham Island.

Asteroza · « **Reply #13 on:** 07/18/2022 10:44 pm »

Quote from: AstroWare on 07/18/2022 06:32 pm

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/18/2022 02:53 pm
Looks like a dogleg and then a reverse dogleg. Unusual. Maybe they're trying to drop the first stage nearer to land?
Double dog leg to avoid populated overflight?

If you take out the dogleg maneuvers, the trajectory looks like it could be placing the stage 1 drop zone right on top of Chatham Island.

That, or some other aspect of an unmodified ground track during launch is undesirable. NRO payload, so maybe avoiding certain tracking stations initially?

OneSpeed · « **Reply #14 on:** 07/19/2022 12:31 am »

Quote from: edkyle99 on 07/18/2022 02:53 pm

Looks like a dogleg and then a reverse dogleg. Unusual. Maybe they're trying to drop the first stage nearer to land?

Actually the second curve is just part of the great circle route taken by the satellite once in orbit. The orbital inclination is about 82°, prograde by about the same amount as a Sun Synchronous Orbit is retrograde. Here's a rough rendering with the map above inserted onto a Web Mercator projection of the globe:

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #15 on:** 07/19/2022 01:52 am »

This launch is now TBD per NRO and Rocket Lab.

https://twitter.com/RocketLab/status/1549191581856452608

twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/1549189976897847298

Quote from: NRO

NRO is currently implementing payload software updates for NROL-199. As soon as the updates are implemented, NRO and @RocketLab will provide a new launch date for NROL-199. Follow NRO social media for the latest announcements.

Quote from: Rocket Lab

That's the beauty of responsive launch on Electron - we adapt to ever-changing mission requirements. Operating our own launch site gives our customers maximum flexibility on launch timing. We'll be ready to launch when you are, @natreconofc! New launch date for #NROL199 to come.

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #16 on:** 07/19/2022 12:29 pm »

Cancellation NGA notice for the combined Rocket Launching and Space Debris.

Quote from: NGA

190615Z JUL 22
HYDROPAC 1966/22(76,83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
CANCEL HYDROPAC 1942/22 AND THIS MSG.//

Ken the Bin · « **Reply #17 on:** 07/28/2022 01:42 pm »

NGA notices.

Quote from: NGA

280648Z JUL 22
HYDROPAC 2058/22(76).
WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.
NEW ZEALAND.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   0300Z TO 0730Z DAILY 02 THRU 16 AUG
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 39-18.00S 177-48.00E, 39-15.00S 177-48.00E,
      39-12.00S 177-51.00E, 39-12.00S 178-00.00E,
      39-42.00S 178-15.00E, 39-42.00S 177-54.00E.
   B. 43-00.00S 179-30.00E, 42-30.00S 179-00.00W,
      45-06.00S 177-30.00W, 45-36.00S 179-00.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 160830Z AUG 22.//

Quote from: NGA

280624Z JUL 22
HYDROPAC 2057/22(83).
SOUTH PACIFIC.
DNC 06.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, SPACE DEBRIS 
   0300Z TO 0730Z DAILY 02 THRU 16 AUG
   IN AREA BOUND BY
   53-30.00S 172-30.00W, 52-30.00S 170-30.00W,
   56-30.00S 165-30.00W, 57-30.00S 167-30.00W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 160830Z AUG 22.//

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #18 on:** 07/28/2022 08:33 pm »

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1552753767837483009

Quote

The team at @NatReconOfc have confirmed the NROL-199 is now ready for launch, so it’s time to go to space! The Antipodean Adventure mission is scheduled for lift-off on Aug 2.

Launch window opens:
🚀NZT | 17:00 Aug 2
🚀UTC | 05:00 Aug 2
🚀EDT | 01:00 Aug 2
🚀PDT | 22:00 Aug 1

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #19 on:** 07/30/2022 09:25 pm »

https://twitter.com/rocketlab/status/1553491625086976000

Quote

#NROL199 is ready for space! We’ve secured the fairing over the top of the @NatReconOfc payload for its journey to orbit with Electron in just a few days’ time.

Launch window opens:
🚀 NZT | 17:00 Aug 2
🚀 UTC | 05:00 Aug 2
🚀 EDT | 01:00 Aug 2
🚀 PDT | 22:00 Aug 1