Live launch: NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite TDRS-L

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

Launch in approximately 2+ hours

NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#.UuGp6xA1jRY

The TDRS-L spacecraft is the second of three new satellites designed to ensure vital operational continuity for NASA by expanding the lifespan of the Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS) fleet, which consists of eight satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The spacecraft provide tracking, telemetry, command and high bandwidth data return services for numerous science and human exploration missions orbiting Earth.

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

Rocket is an Atlas V 401 w/ Centaur upper stage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_V

More Links:

http://blogs.nasa.gov/tdrs-l

For more information on TDRS, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/tdrs

For more information on NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation program, visit:

www.nasa.gov/scan

Join the conversation and follow the TDRS-L mission online by using the #TDRS on Twitter and Facebook at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_TDRS

https://www.facebook.com/NASA.TDRS

The NASA Kennedy Twitter and Facebook accounts will continuously be updated throughout the launch countdown at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASAKennedy

https://www.facebook.com/NASAKennedy

Throughout the launch countdown, the NASA LSP Twitter and Facebook accounts will be continuously updated throughout the launch countdown at:

http://www.twitter.com/NASA_LSP

https://www.facebook.com/NASALSP

Here is a timeline of the TDRS-L launch and ascent milestones.

Thursday, Jan. 23

EST EVENT

2:05 p.m. Clocks Start at T-6:20 & Counting

2:05 p.m. Apply Atlas and Centaur Power

2:55 p.m. Weather Briefing

3:10 p.m. Start Flight Termination Closed Loop Test

4 p.m. Start Flight Control Operational Test

4 p.m. Start Atlas Liquid Oxygen Storage Area Chilldown

4:05 p.m. Start C-Band Open Loop Test

4:05 p.m. Start S-Band Open Loop Test

4:45 p.m. Start ECS Gaseous Nitrogen Chilldown

5:30 p.m. Initiate Gaseous Nitrogen Flow To Vehicle

6:05 p.m. Weather Briefing

6:10 p.m. Clear The Complex

6:25 p.m. T- 2 Hours - Begin 30-Minute Built-In Hold

6:30 p.m. TDRS-L Launch Coverage Begins on NASA Television

6:44 p.m. Cryogenic Load Readiness Poll by NASA Launch Manager

6:55 p.m. T-2 Hours and Counting - End Of 30 Minute Built-In Hold

Pressurize Centaur Liquid Oxygen Storage Tank To Chilldown Level

Start Atlas Liquid Oxygen Ground Chilldown

Start Centaur Bottle Pressurization To Flight Level

Pressurize Atlas RP-1 Tank To Step II

7:05 p.m. Start Centaur Liquid Oxygen Transfer Line Chilldown

7:12 p.m. Start Centaur Liquid Oxygen Tanking

7:25 p.m. Start Atlas Liquid Oxygen Tanking Operations

7:30 p.m. Start Centaur Liquid Hydrogen Transfer Line Chilldown

7:45 p.m. Initiate Centaur Engine Chilldown

8 p.m. Start Flight Control Final Preps

8:27 p.m. Start Flight Open Loop Flight Termination Test

8:35 p.m. Weather Briefing

8:39 p.m. Initiate Fuel Fill Sequence

8:45 p.m. TDRS-L Terminal Count Readiness Poll

8:49 p.m. Terminal Count Readiness Poll

8:51 p.m. T- 4 Minutes - Begin 10 Minute Built-In Hold

8:52 p.m. Terminal Count Readiness Poll

8:53 p.m. Clear To Launch Poll

8:56 p.m. Spacecraft To Internal

8:57 p.m. Launch Director Status Check For Continuing Count

8:58 p.m. Launch Conductor Status Check For Continuing Count (3 Minutes Prior To End Of Hold)

8:58 p.m. Range Clear To Launch

9:00:30 p.m. NASA Launch Director Conducts Go/No Go Poll For Launch

9:01 p.m. T-4 Minutes And Counting - End Of 10 Minute Built In Hold

9:04:57 p.m. Atlas Rd-180 Engine Ignition

9:05 p.m. Launch

9:05:17 p.m. Atlas Begins Pitch/Yaw Roll Maneuver

9:06:31 p.m. Maximum Dynamic Pressure

9:09:02 p.m. Atlas Booster Engine Cutoff (BECO)

9:09:08 p.m. Atlas Booster/Centaur Separation

9:09:17 p.m. Centaur First Main Engine Start (MES1)

9:09:26 p.m. Payload Fairing Jettison

9:23:13 p.m. Centaur First Main Engine Cutoff (MECO1)

10:45:07 p.m. Centaur Second Main Engine Start (MES2)

10:46:10 p.m. Centaur Second Main Engine Cutoff (MECO2)

10:50:56 p.m. TDRS-L Spacecraft Separation

[xzxvrx]

I've been waiting for this for 2 weeks, I can't wait.

Does anyone know if there will be a camera on it?

[deadshot462]

Good ol Atlas V. Should be a nice night launch.

[PakledHostage]

Just down through T-45 minutes, and just short of an hour to launch.

[PakledHostage]

T-10 minutes with just under 20 minutes to launch.

[PakledHostage]

Exiting hold at T-4 minutes. Good luck guys!

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

Did I understand correctly that they launch 2:05 minutes after T?

[PakledHostage]

Now the LD has commanded not to release the hold. Anyone know what's up?

Edit: reset hold to 10 minutes until T-4 minutes. Something about dropouts in the telemetry from the SV

Edited January 24, 2014 by PakledHostage

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

Suspected anomaly in telemetry. Issue being discussed

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

A hold call has occurred due to data dropouts in vehicle telemetry. The clock has been reset to T-4 min and holding for ten minutes

no idea what that means (via twitter)

Edit: I get it: the "countdown" gets frozen at t minus 4 minutes until they resove the issue

Edited January 24, 2014 by Kerbin Dallas Multipass

[Leveller]

Following this live also.

[Leveller]

telemetry dropouts. (pauses in the telemetry)

Telemetry is the highly automated communications process by which measurements are made and other data collected at remote or inaccessible points and transmitted to receiving equipment for monitoring.[1] The word is derived from Greek roots: tele = remote, and metron = measure. Systems that need external instructions and data to operate require the counterpart of telemetry, telecommand.[2]

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

To my knowledge they have a 40 minute launch window

Some people will be sweating and talking frantically about that anomaly right now

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

Data dropouts in telemetry prevented managers from picking up the hold. Engineers are assessing issue. Launch window extends to 9:45pm ET.

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

I understand the launch will happen but countdown is on hold

[PakledHostage]

I understood that the dropouts over Rf violated launch constraints, but they are going to stay on wire ("hard line") telemetry until T-0 minutes to avoid violating the constraints again. They are just recomputing their T-0 time and will pick up the count shortly. They believe that the problem was multi-path in the Rf signal.

Edit: New T-0 time is 02:33 UTC (about 15 minutes from now)

Edited January 24, 2014 by PakledHostage

[Leveller]

i bet it was the Kraken.

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

Announcer says launch minus 7 minutes

[Themohawkninja]

What does it keep venting, and why?

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

A T-0 of 9:33pm ET has been coordinated for #TDRS-L. The NASA Launch Manager has conducted a readiness poll & is GO for the new launch time.

i have to type something here for the forum to accept this post

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

What does it keep venting, and why?

I believe they vent liquid oxygen. They pump it in on one side and vent it on the other to keep pressure and temp

[maccollo]

What does it keep venting, and why?

That's the cryogenic fuels boiling away.

[Kerbin Dallas Multipass]

They just restarted the countdown. T minus 4 minutes

[dharak1]

Perfect, just a few minutes till launch!