Atlas V launch in fifteen minutes

[Kryten]

http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx

Launch is for the NRO, so no official word on payload. From the orbital parameters we know about, it seems to be a TRUMPET signals intelligence sat; this fits with the large fairing on the rocket, as TRUMPET is known to have massive mesh antennae.

[astropapi1]

T -4 minutes and holding.

[Kryten]

Launch moved back slightly to 3:19UTC (12 minutes from now)

[astropapi1]

They're doing a system check right now.

[BagelRabbit]

Everything is good, with about five minutes to launch (counting the hold).

[lajoswinkler]

I hope it explodes on the launchpad into a million pieces!

[Bioman222]

Not cool dude.

[BagelRabbit]

About two minutes until launch!

[lajoswinkler]

Why not? It's a spy satellite. No people inside, no science projects. Just stupid crap ordered by trigger happy sociopaths with high ranks. I want a large boom.

[Bioman222]

Because it's my tax dollars.

[maccollo]

I just randomly decided to check on this forum 2 minutes before launch. Nice!

[BagelRabbit]

...think of the collateral damage! The Atlas V would be knocked out of commision for a bit!

...30 seconds...?

[How2FoldSoup]

is this a polar orbit launch? Should i look at the window? I'm only 2 hours out of vandenburg...30 seconds to respond

Edit: I saw it for a split second before it went behind clouds..we're getting some rain here for once but it's blocking my view

Edited December 13, 2014 by How2FoldSoup

[Bioman222]

Yay! It worked.

900th post! Woot woot!

Edited December 13, 2014 by Bioman222

[Kryten]

is this a polar orbit launch? Should i look at the window? I'm only 2 hours out of vandenburg...30 seconds to respond

Edit: I saw it for a split second before it went behind clouds..we're getting some rain here for once but it's blocking my view

Molniya orbit, 1,000*38,000km about 64 degrees inclination. Assuming it is a TRUMPET, anyway.

[goldenpeach]

When they switch to the "simulated" graphics, I though of KSP

seriously, it was looking like KSP! Especially when they moved the camera!

[Bioman222]

Just had my 900th post. Also, I too checked in like 5 minutes before it launched.

[lajoswinkler]

Because it's my tax dollars.

You have literally no influence on it. It's not science and education, this is "more important".

Well, that was a fast launch. Too bad it was successful.

[Kryten]

Well, that was a fast launch. Too bad it was successful.

I wouldn't be that hasty; second-stage flight won't have finished yet, and that's with a new engine model.

[Tommygun]

My criminally bad photos taken from my house:

Edited December 13, 2014 by Tommygun

[PakledHostage]

My criminally bad photos taken from my house:

They're better than nothing, although they might have been improved if you'd used Aningaaq's suggestion to place your camera on a bean bag if you don't have a proper tripod... I'm jealous that you got to see it in real life.

[Tommygun]

I forgot about the launch, so I only had 4 minutes to get dressed find my camera and run outside.

I'm hoping to get a picture of one of the Dragon capsules the next time they pull one out of the water.

They use a local small commercial fishing pier to unload it and I should be able to get close.

[Leszek]

I noticed during the launch that the rocket was said to do a solar roll. (If I heard right.) The launch was at night and there is no obvious clue from the video to explain exact what that is. I have done some google foo, but I have been unable to find the answer.

I would guess that it has to do with satellite orientation for the solar panels. But then why turn the rocket instead of mounting the satellite already in the correct orientation?

Anyone know what the deal is?

[BagelRabbit]

I noticed during the launch that the rocket was said to do a solar roll. (If I heard right.) The launch was at night and there is no obvious clue from the video to explain exact what that is. I have done some google foo, but I have been unable to find the answer.

I would guess that it has to do with satellite orientation for the solar panels. But then why turn the rocket instead of mounting the satellite already in the correct orientation?

Anyone know what the deal is?

Disclaimer: I have no idea about this either, but I have a nagging suspicion that may turn out to be right.

When the Delta IV Heavy carrying the Orion spacecraft launched, there was mention of a very slow roll, that kept all parts of the spacecraft at close to the same temperature. If this was not implemented, one side of the rocket would heat up very quickly because of its facing the sun; the other side would become very cold as it gradually radiated its heat into the ionosphere. This could cause problems in the long run, including having the rocket fail due to misalignments caused by one side expanding a little as it heats, and the other side contracting a little as it cools. Keeping the spacecraft at the same temperature by rolling it (like a piece of meat on a rotisserie) prevents these problems from cropping up, and thus is a good idea.

Again, not sure if this is the case. Just offering my $0.02...

[Capt-Coulson]

SLR Synopsis:

"The most powerful Atlas 5 to fly from Vandenberg AFB, a 541 model with four solid rocket motors and a five meter diameter payload fairing, launched the classified National Reconnaissance Office NROL-35 mission on December 13, 2014. The 522 tonne rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 3 East at 03:19 UTC and quickly flew into a news blackout.

Analysts expected the launch to orbit a payload bound for an elliptical 12-hour Molniya type orbit. Potential payloads included communications or signals intelligence satellites. The use of an Atlas 541 indicated that the satellite would likely be heavier than any previously launched by the U.S. to a Molniya orbit. A previous launch of a "Trumpet"-type sigint to 1,120 x 37,600 km x 63.56 deg Molniya orbit used a less-capable Atlas 5-411 with only one strap-on solid motor.

The AV-051 Atlas was the first equipped with an RL10C-1 Centaur engine. The Aerojet-Rocketdyne powerplant was a modified RL10B-2 that came from excess stock from the Delta 4 program. To make the conversion, the bottom two extendible nozzle sections of the RL10B-2 were removed and an improved dual direct spark igniter was installed. The engine produced 10.383 tonnes of thrust, a slight improvement from 10.115 tonnes of thrust produced by the previous RL10A-4-2 Centaur engine.

It was the 455th RL10 launched. The engines have flown for 50 years on seven different launch vehicle types, including Saturn I, Atlas Centaur, Atlas 3, Atlas 5, Titan 3E, Titan 4A/B, and Delta 3.

AV-051 was ninth Atlas 5 of the year, a record for Atlas 5. It was also the third Atlas 5 of the year to fly from VAFB."