Current Space Missions

[Mercedes Benzene]

Is anyone else a fan of following civilian and military space missions? It's been a passion since I first visited Cape Canaveral years and years ago.

 

NASA is fantastic about providing live launch coverage before, during, and after their launches.

Along with the actual video feed and audio commentary, they also usually show post-launch computer generated images based on telemetry data. These feeds can be shown on mission-specific web pages, or on their TV page: NASA - NASA TV

 

 

At this very moment, NASA is providing coverage of the upcoming launch of the GOES-O weather satellite for NOAA. The launch window is 6:14 to 7:14 EDT, which begins in about 70 minutes.

 

Feel free to discuss current missions here.:P

[Mercedes Benzene]

Today's launch was scrubbed due to weather conditions. Kennedy predicts that tomorrow will be a 60% no-go as well. The problem is that during this time of the year, there are thunderstorms basically everyday. It's all about waiting things out for the perfect little window.

 

Anyway, they'll try again same time tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[Mercedes Benzene]

The launch of GOES-O was a success, tonight at 22:51 UTC (6:51 pm local time).

It's currently in a coast phase for approximately 4 hours, after which there will be a final burn with satellite separation.

 

A little about the program: GOES = Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, started in 1975. GOES satellites are assigned a letter designation (this one is "O") until orbit, at which point it is assigned a numerical value corresponding to the order of launch.

This makes GOES-O (GOES-14) the 14th satellite in the program. GOES-1 through GOES-9 are all decommissioned. Once GOES-O reaches final orbit, 10-14 will be in operation.

The satellites are responsible for providing some of the visible light images that residents of the Unites States see in their meteorological reports, and provide data used in making weather predictions for the National Weather Service (part of NOAA).

Here's a fact sheet for the GOES-O instruments and operations.

 

GOES-O was carried into space by a Delta-IV (medium) rocket, which is a 2-stage expendable launch vehicle. The main first stage engine is manufactured by Rocketdyne, and is powered by LOX and LH2. The first stage lift is assisted by two strap-on solid rocket graphite-epoxy motors built by Alliance Techsystems. The second stage is powered by a Pratt and Whitney liquid hydrogen engine. The payload sits on top of the second stage.

 

EDIT: Here's a photo of the launch.

[modest]

Cool MB, and a good thread idea. It's interesting how many geostationary satellites there are. You can see on:

 

NASA - Science@NASA J-Track 3D

 

We're building a little ring around our planet :shrug:

 

I read something interesting in the delay of STS-127,

 

Endeavour's next launch opportunity is July 11. This date comes after the end of an orbital sun-angle condition called a beta angle cut-out, which occurs between June 22 and July 10. The cut-out creates a thermal condition that prohibits shuttle and space station docked operations.

 

Aero-News Network: The Aviation and Aerospace World's Daily/Real-Time News and Information Service

 

It seems that if the beta angel exceeds 60 degrees at any time during docking procedures then it isn't safe to dock making cutouts that are apparently weeks long. That strikes me as a rather drastic design limitation—really limiting launch windows. Of course, I don't really know anything about the design so I can only imagine there is a good reason for the cutout and why it wasn't designed around when the ISS was built. I just had never heard of it and found it interesting.

 

 

Throw a docked orbiter into the mix and you have a third constraint,

shuttle thermal control. The attitude of the orbiter/ISS stack must be

chosen to satisfy ISS power/thermal constraints and shuttle thermal

constraints. It turns out that at beta angles larger than 60 degrees,

there is no attitude that satisfies all three. So the shuttle program has

a launch window cutout when the beta angle will exceed 60 degrees at any

time during docked ops.

 

These cutouts occur around the solstices, because that's the time of year

when the sun's declination is farthest north (summer) or south (winter)

and so the odds are greatest that the sum of the sun's declination and

the orbit inclination will exceed 60 degrees. The summer cutout affects

night launches and the winter cutout affects day launches. The shuttle

return-to-flight restriction on night launches has effectively mooted the

summer beta cutout, but the combination of the night launch restriction

and the winter beta cutout makes winter launch opportunities few and far-

between.

 

Re: launch windows

 

~modest

[Mercedes Benzene]

LRO has just taken its first test pictures of the moon!

[Tormod]

Ooooh...those are beautiful!

[Mercedes Benzene]

Ooooh...those are beautiful!

Aren't they? Our moon is so fantastic!

 

In other news...

For those of you who don't know: NASA is currently working on the Constellation Program

which will return Americans to the moon by the end of the next decade (if Obama doesn't cancel it:evil:)

Anyway, the part that actually holds the astronauts (crew compartment) is the Orion spacecraft, which sits atop the Ares I launch vehicle. In the event that the crew needs to escape during launch or ascent, then an abort system would launch the capsule off of the spacecraft. This is called the Launch Abort System (similar to the one used in the Apollo Program). Well, the reason I bring it up is because this morning, NASA tested an alternative to that abort system, called MLAS, or Max Launch Abort System. The launch took place at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Here's a picture and description of today's test.

[Mercedes Benzene]

PS: I just found a great video of the MLAS prep and launch this morning. I especially like the flock of birds that freaks out when it lands in the ocean.:lol:

[Mercedes Benzene]

The Ares I-X is the first test launch of the Ares I vehicle. It is to take place no earlier than August 30th, and will provide various data about the vehicle's flight, separation, etc during this nominal flight path.

Here's a picture of the aft portion of the vehicle, on it's way to be vertically integrated at the Vehicle Assembly Building.

[Mercedes Benzene]

Space Shuttle Endeavour (mission STS-127) successfully took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 6:03 PM local time.

Everything is looking good, and Endeavour has made it to orbit, on its way to the ISS.

 

The shuttle is delivering the "Kibo" Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) developed by JAXA.

 

This was the 6th launch attempt. Previously, this mission was delayed due to LH2 leaks. More recently, bad weather was to blame.

[enorbet2]

Wow! I hope this thread lasts forever. Thanks MB. Regarding the Ares and on possibly a down note, I must say it bothers me that dedication to the Shuttle program "required" losing touch with the capsule exploratory systems. Ares looks like an updated Apollo system and IIRC incredible amounts of data have been somehow lost, even the precious blueprints for a Saturn V for crying out loud, but what's more is most of the people who even ever worked on such a project are cycled out in one way or another. It is going to be interesting, if a little depressing, to see just how much re-inventing the wheel might take place from letting such value just dissipate. How does NASA lose blueprints to the most famous rocket of all time?

[Mercedes Benzene]

It's ready! The Ares I-X is assembled.

 

"CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- For the first time in more than a quarter-century a new space vehicle stands ready in NASA's Kennedy Space Center Vehicle Assembly Building. The Ares I-X rocket, its simulated crew module and launch abort system are assembled on a mobile launch platform at Kennedy in preparation for launch this fall.

 

The final segments of the Ares I-X were stacked on Aug. 13, completing the 327-foot launch vehicle and providing the first look at the finished rocket's distinctive shape. The Ares I-X flight test is targeted for Oct. 31."

 

[PICTURE]

 

Further, the the first "full-scale, full duration" static test of the 5-segment motor will take place at Alliance Techsystem's facility in Promontory, UT on August 27 (1 pm).

 

I can't explain how excited I am!!!

[Mercedes Benzene]

Further, the the first "full-scale, full duration" static test of the 5-segment motor will take place at Alliance Techsystem's facility in Promontory, UT on August 27 (1 pm).

 

The stationary 1st stage test took place today, after being delayed on the 27th. It was a huge success and the data will now be analyzed prior to the scheduled launch of the actual Ares I-X vehicle in October.

 

Here's one perspective of today's test, although other shots are available from the website.

http://mfile3.akamai.com/18566/wmv/etouchsyst2.download.akamai.com/18355//wm.nasa-global/ARES/Gantry.asx

[Mercedes Benzene]

Ares 1-X is *finally* clear for launch in just about 7 minutes.

Will update if it actually happens. :]

 

Update:

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FREAKING LAUNCH! Honestly, one of the most beautiful launches I've ever seen... and to think that this program is only 3 years in the making.

The launch was an absolute success. And think about it: this was the first launch of a brand new space vehicle. And it worked flawlessly.

 

Now they're in the recovery stage, to recover the pieces and analyze the ****-ton of data that the instruments recorded on its short flight.

 

Congrats to NASA for their fantastic ingenuity (as always). Now we just have to hope that the Obama Administration doesn't cut funding... so we can finally get back to the moon. :]

[Pyrotex]

Ares 1-X... WHAT A BEAUTIFUL FREAKING LAUNCH! Honestly, one of the most beautiful launches I've ever seen... and to think that this program is only 3 years in the making.

The launch was an absolute success. And think about it: this was the first launch of a brand new space vehicle. And it worked flawlessly. ...

One might wonder why I don't post here every day. I'm an engineer working for NASA. In fact, I work part time on the Constellation Program (Ares 1-X). The reason I don't is because I'm so disallusioned.

 

The Ares 1 is a rocket to nowhere. As soon as the Space Station is moth-balled in a few years, there will be no mission it is suited for. The Ares 1 is unsuitable for going to the Moon because the full-up Orion manned module will be too heavy. The launch you saw used a light-weight payload. The Ares 1 has stability problems that scare the bejeezus out of rocket designers, due to its long, narrow mass distribution, and vernier (guide) rockets that are too small.

 

The Ares 1 wasn't "designed" as such (from requirements) as it was cobbled together out of existing components made by existing companies who did not want to retool and try something else. The 5-segment SRB used as a first stage pushes that technology to its very limit. Maybe beyond if you ask some folks around JSC.

 

The Ares 1 / Ares 5 combination (Constellation) was the quickest way to replace the Shuttle, not the best. Maybe not even adequate. There was no thought given to allowing a competition among the new flock of budding rocket companies out there, like Space-X, who are near the testing stage of reliable, cheap boosters that CAN be upgraded as needed. (The Ares 1 cannot -- and it's not cheap.)

 

We got a lot of smart heads shaking down here. Nobody talked about the Ares 1 launch at work today, at all, except for a company email that it "succeeded". There is no joy in Muddville. I'm glad I will be retiring in a few years. ;)

[Jay-qu]

Wow thats really interesting to here that side of the story, thanks Pyro.

 

Its a pitty the 'smart heads' dont get to make the decisions that deal with the money spending..

[lemit]

One might wonder why I don't post here every day. I'm an engineer working for NASA. In fact, I work part time on the Constellation Program (Ares 1-X). The reason I don't is because I'm so disillusioned.

 

Thanks for answering a question I'd been asking myself. Sorry the answer was what it was. Can you speed up retirement? It is the most wonderful thing in the world.

 

I thought the Ares I-X didn't look right. I am a fan of Mystery Science Theatre 3000. The Ares looks to me like something from a bad '50's science fiction movie, not like something from the 21st Century. Thanks for explaining why it looks strange: because it is strange.

 

--lemit

 

:phones: ;) :P