Launch tonight @ 10:44 (3/12/15)

[Leszek]

We are a GO!

[Latcarf]

The sound off may be my favorite part of a launch. Even though the actual liftoff is great, the buildup with listening to the chatter is bae.

[tygoo7]

And the countdown is back!

[Astrofox]

-20 seconds

[Latcarf]

omfg my feed keeps FREEZING ITS DRIVING ME INSAAAANE

[RocketPilot573]

2nd stage burn now! Another successful launch! Now to make orbit...

[Leszek]

We have orbit 319 by 89 NM

[Reddragon]

Nice launch. The Atlas V is truly a fine rocket.

[SpaceExplorer]

Nice launch. The Atlas V is truly a fine rocket.

In agreement, it was a gorgeous launch!

[Kryten]

There's another burn to go.

[Reddragon]

There's another burn to go.

We know... but so far everything went well.

[linuxgurugamer]

For those who might be interested, NASA launched a rocket this evening, you can read about it here: http://blogs.nasa.gov/mms/

This is how the grown ups do it, people, and, yes, it really is rocket science.

[Reimroc]

:Dbut im a grown up...

Edited March 13, 2015 by Reimroc
i wish i worked at NASA

[Leszek]

2 now deployed. I wonder why they bother spinning down between each separation?

- - - Updated - - -

Success. All 4 deployed as intended.

[monophonic]

For those who might be interested, NASA launched a rocket this evening, you can read about it here: http://blogs.nasa.gov/mms/

This is how the grown ups do it, people, and, yes, it really is rocket science.

I see, grownups use stacks of OKTO2s.

[Nikolai]

2 now deployed. I wonder why they bother spinning down between each separation?

It's worth noting that the animation is somewhat misleading. The stack of four spacecraft deployed all at once, set to separate from each other as they approach their final positions.

There's a video from an onboard camera of the stack of four separating from the Centaur... I'll have to try to find it.

EDIT: Crap. I swear I'm not making this up. A physicist close to this project for ten years mentioned this, even though every link I can find seems to indicate separation from the Centaur stack one by one.

EDIT #2: Apparently, there was some misunderstanding. I'm trying to get clarification. Apologies if I've gotten the wrong idea and led people astray.

Edited March 13, 2015 by Nikolai

[Leszek]

It's worth noting that the animation is somewhat misleading. The stack of four spacecraft deployed all at once, set to separate from each other as they approach their final positions.

There's a video from an onboard camera of the stack of four separating from the Centaur... I'll have to try to find it.

EDIT: Crap. I swear I'm not making this up. A physicist close to this project for ten years mentioned this, even though every link I can find seems to indicate separation from the Centaur stack one by one.

EDIT #2: Apparently, there was some misunderstanding. I'm trying to get clarification. Apologies if I've gotten the wrong idea and led people astray.

I was confused there. They spun up and then spun down the Centaur after every separation. 4 Times in all. They would only have to do that once if they let go all at once. Which brings me back to my original question, why not just keep spinning at 18 degrees per second since they aren't doing any maneuvering between separations.

[Airlock]

[astovall321]

I got a pretty good long exposure shot of it from my back yard. Gotta love living on the space coast.

[Reddragon]

Nice quality.

[Vanamonde]

Duplicate threads merged.

[GoSlash27]

I was confused there. They spun up and then spun down the Centaur after every separation. 4 Times in all. They would only have to do that once if they let go all at once. Which brings me back to my original question, why not just keep spinning at 18 degrees per second since they aren't doing any maneuvering between separations.

Gyroscopic precession?

If the launcher is spinning, not only are the RCS thrusters spinning, but their effect on your heading is offset 90* so that pitch becomes yaw. I guess they decided that the additional RCS propellant was less of a headache.

Best,

-Slashy