DocM Posted September 4, 2016 Share Posted September 4, 2016 The Evil Overlord and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted September 4, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted September 4, 2016 hmm...think this upcoming mission needs a little more exposure other than the little blurb on the previous page. The OSIRIS-REx mission launching September 8...sampling mission to Asteroid Bennu. Quote The first U.S. mission to travel to an asteroid, retrieve samples and return them to Earth is targeted for a Sept. 8 launch atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. This groundbreaking mission, several years in the making, is the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer, also known as OSIRIS-REx. It will travel to near-Earth asteroid Bennu, map its surface using 3-D laser imaging, retrieve samples from the surface and return to Earth. “The OSIRIS-REx mission is a seven-year journey from launch to Earth return,” said Dante Lauretta, principal investigator. He is a professor at the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona. The spacecraft will spend the first two years of the mission cruising to asteroid Bennu, arriving in August 2018. The five specialized instruments on OSIRIS-REx will be used to map the asteroid’s surface, identify the minerals and chemicals that may be on the surface, and select the sample site. “The primary objective of the mission is to bring back 60 grams of pristine carbon-rich material from the surface of Bennu,” Lauretta said. “We expect these samples will contain organic molecules from the early solar system that may give us information and clues to the origin of life.” In July 2020, the spacecraft will briefly touch the surface of the asteroid to collect loose rocks and dust using its Touch-and-Go Sample Acquisition Mechanism, or “TAGSAM,” and store the material in a sample return capsule. The spacecraft will depart the asteroid in March 2021, when the departure window opens, and travel for two-and-a-half years on a trajectory for Earth return in September 2023. As OSIRIS-REx approaches the Earth, the sample return capsule will eject from the spacecraft and land with the help of parachutes at the Utah Test and Training Range, southwest of Salt Lake City. The canister will be retrieved and transported to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for analysis. The main OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will remain in orbit around the Sun after the sample return and Earth flyby. The mission will lay the groundwork for future exploration of asteroids and other small bodies in the solar system. /snip More at NASA BetaguyGZT, The Evil Overlord, DocM and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 5, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 5, 2016 OSIRIS-REx Home page http://www.asteroidmission.org/ NASA’s OSIRIS-REx fact sheet 2 page pdf http://www.asteroidmission.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/OSIRIS-REx_FactSheet.pdf OSIRIS-REx press kit 16 page pdf https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/osiris-rex_press_kit.pdf --------------------------- just because... 50th anniversary BetaguyGZT, The Evil Overlord and Jim K 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 8, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 8, 2016 Launch Schedule Quote Sept. 8 GSLV • Insat 3DR Launch time: 1040 GMT (6:40 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV), flying on the GSLV-F05 mission, will launch the Insat 3DR geostationary weather satellite. The rocket will fly in the GSLV Mk.2 configuration with an Indian-built cryogenic third stage. Delayed from Aug. 28. [Sept. 5] Sept. 8 Atlas 5 • OSIRIS-REx Launch window: 2305-0105 GMT (7:05-9:05 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designed AV-067, will launch NASA’s OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample return mission. The Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) will reach asteroid Bennu in 2018 to collect surface samples for return to Earth in 2023. The rocket will fly in the 411 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, one solid rocket booster and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. [May 3] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ ------------------------- India’s GSLV Rocket aims for third consecutive Success, lifting INSAT Weather Satellite on Thursday credit ISRO Quote The Indian Space Research Organization is counting down to the launch of its Geosynchronous Satellite Launch vehicle on Thursday, carrying the INSAT-3DR weather satellite into orbit to reinforce India’s weather forecasting capabilities. Liftoff from the Second Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Center on India’s East Coast is set for 10:40 UTC (16:10 local) and the three-stage rocket will need 17 minutes to deliver the 2,200-Kilogram satellite to a highly elliptical Geostationary Transfer Orbit. Thursday’s mission is designated F05 and marks the ninth launch of the GSLV Mk.II launch vehicle configuration and its Mk. I predecessor that premiered back in 2001 but had a very rough start. The Mk.I configuration, featuring a Russian-built upper stage, achieved a partial success on its first mission and the next two flights were successful, raising hopes that GSLV could take over launches of India’s large Geostationary Satellites that had to be outsourced to foreign launchers such as Ariane 5. more at the link... http://spaceflight101.com/india-gslv-f05-countdown/ credit ISRO credit ISRO credit ISRO --------------------------- On the Eve of Liftoff – OSIRIS-REx ready to depart for Asteroid Bennu Photo: United Launch Alliance Quote NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Explorer reached its launch pad on Wednesday after a 12-year development effort, but the real journey lies ahead for the spacecraft setting sail on Thursday on a seven-year odyssey through the Solar System to become the first U.S. Spacecraft to return a sample from an asteroid. The long-awaited mission is set to get underway at 23:05 UTC with a thundering liftoff of ULA’s Atlas V rocket to boost OSIRIS-REx beyond the bounds of Earth’s gravity and on a path to asteroid Bennu for arrival in 2018. With all reviews and technical preparations complete, the Atlas V rocket was moved to the launch pad Wednesday morning under sunny skies at Florida’s space coast, marking the start of one day of preparatory steps ahead of the initiation of a lengthy launch countdown around midday on Thursday. more at the link... http://spaceflight101.com/osiris-rex-on-the-eve-of-liftoff/ BetaguyGZT 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted September 8, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted September 8, 2016 NASA’s OSIRIS-REx takes off in about two hours. Launch is scheduled for 7:05PM Eastern Time. Live stream above. BetaguyGZT and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted September 8, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted September 8, 2016 T-3 minutes. All go for liftoff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 9, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 9, 2016 GSLV puts advanced Indian weather satellite in orbit The GSLV lifted off at 1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT) Thursday. Credit: ISRO Quote India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle blasted off Thursday with a meteorological observatory destined to track storms and tropical cyclones from a perch more than 22,000 miles above Earth. The Insat 3DR spacecraft mounted aboard the GSLV carries color and infrared cameras to image storms day and night, and a sounder to collect temperature, humidity and ozone data in different layers of the atmosphere. The satellite will also relay observations from remote weather station and ocean buoys to forecast centers, and monitor for distress signals from ships, airplanes and others in need of rescue. The GLSV Mk. 2 launcher lifted off at 1120 GMT (7:20 a.m. EDT) Thursday from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Center on India’s east coast, pitched on a trajectory over the Bay of Bengal and accelerated into an equator-hugging orbit with Insat 3DR. Launch occurred at 4:50 p.m. India Standard Time, 40 minutes later than originally planned after the countdown ran into delays. The 161-foot-tall (49-meter) rocket lit its four hydrazine-fueled Vikas strap-on engines at T-minus 4.8 seconds, then fired a core solid rocket motor as the countdown clock hits zero. The liquid-fueled booster engines and first stage generated up to 1.7 million pounds of thrust in the first two-and-a-half minutes of the flight, then separated simultaneously as the GSLV’s second stage engine ignited at a velocity of more than 5,300 mph (2.4 kilometers per second). Engineers stationed at a control center near the launch site reported the GSLV’s metallic nose fairing jettisoned on time about four minutes after liftoff. The Vikas engine on GSLV’s second stage fired until about T+plus 4 minutes, 49 seconds. Then the rocket’s third stage engine, consuming a mix of cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, ignited moments later and produced more than 16,000 pounds of thrust for nearly 12 minutes, driving the launcher into orbit. more at the link... http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/08/gslv-counting-down-to-launch-advanced-indian-weather-satellite/ Indian GSLV Rocket soars to Orbit with Next-Generation INSAT Weather Satellite Quote India’s Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle leapt off its launch pad on Thursday to lift the INSAT-3DR weather satellite into a highly elliptical orbit. Liftoff was marked at 11:20 UTC and GSLV headed due east across the Indian Ocean to reach its intended orbit 17 and a half minutes after launch. Thursday’s mission was the tenth launch of GSLV in either its Mk. I and Mk. II variants that premiered in 2001 and was off to a bumpy start, reliability wise. Developed to lift India’s medium-class of Geostationary Satellites, GSLV has a greater lift capacity than the PSLV workhorse which has to drop satellites off short of a nominal Geostationary Transfer Orbit, requiring the spacecraft to spend additional fuel to reach their operational orbits. in depth analysis at the link... http://spaceflight101.com/gslv-launches-insat-3dr-weather-satellite/ Launch of Indian GSLV with INSAT 3DR video is 18:13 min. ------------------------------- Atlas V and GSLV Launch | OSIRIS-REx & INSAT-3DR | KNews #55 video is 5:56 min. ------------------------- Atlas V begins OSIRIS-REx’s round trip to the asteroid Bennu Quote NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft has began a seven-year round trip to the asteroid Bennu on Thursday, beginning its journey via a launch aboard the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V. Liftoff from SLC-41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was on time, at the start of a 115-minute window that opened at 19:05 local time (23:05 UTC). indepth analysis at the link... https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/atlas-v-osiris-rexs-round-trip-asteroid-bennu/ Atlas 5/OSIRIS-REx launch timeline Quote Follow the Atlas 5 rocket’s ascent from Cape Canaveral’s Complex 41 launch pad to send NASA’s OSIRIS-REx on an interplanetary trajectory to intercept Asteroid Bennu and bring back a pristine sample. Launch is scheduled for Thursday at 7:05 p.m. EDT (2305 GMT). image timeline at the link... http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/07/atlas-5osiris-rex-launch-timeline/ It's on the way... Quote 0014 GMT (8:14 p.m. EDT Thurs.) Flight controllers report that telemetry from OSIRIS-REx confirms deployment of the two power-generating solar arrays, a key post-launch milestone. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/08/av067_journal/ Watch NASA OSIRIS-REx asteroid probe launch from Cape Canaveral launch video is 3:36 min. NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission video is 3:42 min. Overall, the launch went well. j/k The ULA control room looks like a Proctor and Gamble board meeting...with the same level of excitement....They need to throw some younger talent in front of the mic and have a bit of fun. Jim K and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 9, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 9, 2016 Jim K and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 12, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 12, 2016 Ariane 5 Solid Rocket Booster fires up for Ground Verification Test Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG Quote An Ariane 5 Solid Rocket Booster fired up this week at the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana to verify the quality of Ariane SRB production and test new components to the implemented on the booster for Ariane 5 as well as Europe’s small Vega rocket. The test, carried out on Thursday, was performed under the Ariane 5 Research and Technology Accompaniment (ARTA) program and involved a highly instrumented, full-sized Ariane 5 Solid Rocket Booster also called EAP. Ariane 5 relies on two EAPs for the first two minutes and 15 seconds of its flight, typically helping accelerate the launcher to a speed of two Kilometers per second. The EAP boosters are tested on the ground to make sure the ones flying are up to the quality standards required by the Ariane 5 program. Also, the tests are used to prove new systems on the boosters as Ariane 5 continues to evolve with the goal of squeezing out the maximum possible performance due to always-growing payload masses. Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique video du CSG Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique video du CSG Quote The EAP stands 31.6 meters tall, is 3.05 meters in diameter using a steel case to contain 240 metric tons of solid propellant. Each booster delivers a mean thrust around 700 metric ton force at a 274.5-second specific impulse. Thursday’s test was carried out at the booster engine stand, specifically designed for vertical testing of the powerful rocket motors (BEAP – Banc d’Essais des Accélérateurs à Poudre). The EAP was outfitted with a range of sensors and high-speed and thermal cameras were pointed at various elements of the booster, but the most important aspect of the test is post-firing analysis of the booster not possible during most operational missions as boosters are destroyed when impacting in the Atlantic Ocean. In the past, some Ariane 5 boosters used parachutes and were recovered from the Ocean for post-flight inspections, but they are never re-used. This week’s test, in addition to overall quality assurance, was also dedicated to testing a new thermal material on the neck of the EAP’s nozzle that is considered more effective than the previous design. It will also find use on the P80 first stage of the Vega rocket. The test also looked at how a different aluminum material in the propellant would affect the booster’s performance in flight. Also, changes to the booster segment joint seals and a new coating premiered on the ARTA6 booster to be introduced on future production models. The 135-second firing, initially targeted for September 7, had to be pushed to Thursday due to software problems and concerns related to the weather later in the day’s test window. http://spaceflight101.com/ariane-5-solid-rocket-booster-fires-up-for-ground-verification-test/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 13, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 13, 2016 Launch Schedule Quote Sept. 15 Long March 2F • Tiangong 2 Launch window: Approx. 1410 GMT (10:10 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Jiuquan, China A Chinese Long March 2F rocket will launch the Tiangong 2 mini-space station laboratory module designed for docking tests and crewed visits. Delayed from early 2016. [Sept. 13] Sept. 15/16 Vega • PeruSat 1 & SkySat Launch time: 0143:35 GMT on 16th (9:43:35 p.m. EDT on 15th) Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana A European Vega rocket, designated VV07, will launch with the PeruSat 1 reconnaissance satellite for the Peruvian government and four SkySat Earth observation satellites for Google/Terra Bella. Delayed from July. [July 11] Sept. 16 Atlas 5 • WorldView 4 Launch window: 1830-1844 GMT (2:30-2:44 p.m. EDT; 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-062, will launch the WorldView 4 Earth observation satellite for DigitalGlobe. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 29 and Sept. 15. [Sept. 5] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ ------------------------ Arianespace to launch multi-payload Vega mission for Earth observation Quote For its seventh launch of the year, and seventh Vega mission since the light launcher began operations at the Guiana Space Center - French Guiana, in 2012, Arianespace will orbit the PerúSat-1 satellite as part of a turnkey contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the Peruvian space agency CONIDA, and the SkySats-4 to 7 satellites for the American operator Terra Bella, a Google company. http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/arianespace-to-launch-multi-payload-vega-mission-for-earth-observation/ -------------------- Quote PerúSAT-1 is Peru’s first Earth observation satellite. Ordered within the scope of an agreement between the Peruvian and French governments, this launch is being carried out under a turnkey contract with Airbus Defence and Space for the Peruvian space agency CONIDA. Built by Airbus Defence and Space in Toulouse, France, using an AstroBus-S platform and its NAOMI instrument, the satellite will be injected into Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 675 km. PerúSAT-1 will operate at an altitude of 695 km to take pictures of the entire globe. -------------- Quote SkySat-4, 5, 6 and-7 are the first four of these micro-satellites to be launched by Arianespace for Terra Bella, a new customer and a commercial operator of Earth observation satellites. Terra Bella is a Google company using data from space to solve problems on Earth. SkySat-4,5, 6, and 7 will augment Terra Bella’s existing 3 on-orbit satellites—growing the constellation and enabling Terra Bella to help enterprise customers solve the challenges affecting their business and generate insights into important global economic, environmental, and humanitarian challenges. Designed by Terra Bella and built by SSL (Space Systems/Loral) in Palo Alto, California, USA, using the Skysats 4-7 platform, the four satellites, SkySats-4 to 7, will be injected into a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 500 km. -------------- VV07 launch kit, 10 page pdf Launch coverage http://www.arianespace.com/ http://spaceflightnow.com/ usually posted several hours prior to launch --------------------------------- Israel Launches Advanced Optical Reconnaissance Satellite Photo: YouTube, גיל חזקיה Quote Israel launched an advanced reconnaissance satellite into orbit on Tuesday to expand the country’s optical intelligence-gathering capabilities. The Ofeq 11 satellite lifted off at approximately 14:30 UTC atop a Shavit-2 rocket blasting off from the Palmachim Airbase located on the Mediterranean Sea. According to Israeli press, the satellite successfully reached orbit, but its health could not immediately be confirmed. Apparently, mission controllers were in contact with the satellite but found it in an anomalous condition and began attempts to stabilize the spacecraft. The Ofeq 11 satellite reportedly inaugurates a new generation of imaging satellites, debuting a new, more-capable satellite platform and an enhanced imaging system collecting imagery at a ground resolution of 0.5 meters from the satellite’s 600-Kilometer orbit. Ofeq (Horizon) is a space-based reconnaissance program initiated by Israel in 1988 to deploy a range of instruments to orbit for different observation purposes. Newer satellites within the program are considered to be among the world’s most advanced space systems, however, details on their design and capabilities are not released to the public. Shavit Rocket Quote Tuesday’s launch was carried out by Israel’s Shavit-2 rocket comprised of three solid-fueled rocket stages and an optional liquid-fueled fourth stage for precise orbital insertion capability. Shavit originated in a collaboration of Israel and South Africa where, in the 1970s and 80s, the development of the RSA-3 long-range ballistic missile was underway. The project was eventually canceled, but a number of RSA-3 vehicles were delivered to Israel to become the foundation of the Jericho II missile which was used to develop the original Shavit orbital launch system that used the two stages of the Jericho II and added a solid-fueled third stage to enable the vehicle to deliver payloads of up to 250 Kilograms to Low Earth Orbit. Shavit made its debut in 1988 when lifting the Ofeq 1 satellite to orbit. Shavit-2 – Photo: IAI Indepth analysis ... http://spaceflight101.com/israel-launches-advanced-optical-reconnaissance-satellite/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 14, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 14, 2016 I just posted about the launch from Israel...but now... Israel launches Ofek spy satellite – officials confirm malfunctions Quote Israel launched its Shavit rocket for the first time since 2014 on Tuesday, carrying an Ofek reconnaissance satellite into low Earth orbit. However, while Israel confirmed the satellite has reached orbit, officials soon cited unspecified problems with the spacecraft during the checkout period post-launch. Quote Amnon Harari, the head of the Space department within Israel’s Ministry of Defence, informed reporters of “indications of some things that aren’t working as we expected”, and that work would be ongoing to “stabilise” the spacecraft over the next few days. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/09/israel-launches-ofek-spy-satellite-malfunctions/ When more info available, I'll post it... -------------------------- Atlas V rocket carrying imaging satellite to launch Friday from VAFB Quote A satellite that is expected to provide high-resolution images of Earth is scheduled to blast into orbit aboard an Atlas V rocket Friday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base. The Atlas V 401 rocket, provided by United Launch Alliance, will carry a WorldView-4 satellite, which was built by Lockheed Martin for DigitalGlobe Inc. The launch window will open from 11:30 to 11:44 a.m. at VAFB’s Space Launch Complex-3. The launch is the first of two that had been scheduled for this month. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket was slated to carry mobile communications satellites from VAFB next week, but that launch has since been delayed. The 30th Space Wing at VAFB will be responsible for range safety and operations for Friday’s launch. Col. Chris Moss, the wing’s commander, will be the launch decision authority. “Team V is excited to launch the Atlas V WorldView-4 mission from Vandenberg's Western Range,” Moss said in a release provided by VAFB Public Affairs. “The combined 30th Space Wing and United Launch Alliance team has spent months preparing to ensure this launch is both safe and successful. We have a very strong partnership with ULA, and we're proud to have teamed with them on this fantastic mission.” The launch will be the first of a rocket at VAFB in more than seven months. The most recent was Feb. 10, when an Atlas IV rocket carrying a secret payload for the National Reconnaissance Office blasted off from VAFB. Since then, the base has hosted a handful of unarmed missile tests but no rocket launches. The range also was closed entirely for six months this year as operations were transferred to a new facility. http://lompocrecord.com/news/local/atlas-v-rocket-carrying-imaging-satellite-to-launch-friday-from/article_953db3c3-c7aa-5665-8f9a-87a88fc96be2.html Jim K and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 14, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 14, 2016 Atlas V to Launch WorldView-4 Quote Rocket/Payload:A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 40 1 configuration rocket will launch the WorldView-4 mission for Digital Globe. The Atlas V is provided by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services. Date/Site/Launch Time:Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The launch window is 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT. Live Broadcast: ULA’s live launch broadcast will begin at 11:10 a.m. PDT. Mission Description: WorldView-4, a multispectral, high-resolution commercial imaging satellite owned and operated by DigitalGlobe, will help customers around the world see more of our changing planet. The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company and will provide 31-centimeter panchromatic resolution and 1.24-meter multispectral resolution—the same resolution offered by the WorldView-3 satellite. This industry-leading resolution provides the sharpest view of vital details on the ground, to give customers confidence when making critical decisions. http://www.ulalaunch.com/atlas-v-to-launch-worldview4.aspx?title=Atlas+V+to+Launch+WorldView-4 Photos: WorldView 4 satellite’s road to launch Quote DigitalGlobe’s WorldView 4 commercial satellite, which will join sister-spacecraft WorldView 3 in orbit to snap the highest quality Earth imagery available on the market at 31-centimeter resolution, was built by Lockheed Martin and will be launched Friday atop an Atlas 5 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. On July 21, WorldView 4 was tucked into its shipping container, then departed at its factory in Sunnyvale, Calif., on July 24 for the road trip to the Vandenberg Air Force Base launch site. On Sept. 2, it was encapsulated within the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket’s four-meter-diameter nose cone. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/14/photos-worldview-4-satellites-road-to-launch/ Credit: Lockheed Martin Credit: Lockheed Martin Credit: Lockheed Martin Credit: Lockheed Martin Jim K and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 15, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 15, 2016 Launch Schedule Quote Sept. 15/16 Vega • PeruSat 1 & SkySat Launch time: 0143:35 GMT on 16th (9:43:35 p.m. EDT on 15th) Launch site: ZLV, Kourou, French Guiana A European Vega rocket, designated VV07, will launch with the PeruSat 1 reconnaissance satellite for the Peruvian government and four SkySat Earth observation satellites for Google/Terra Bella. Delayed from July. [July 11] Sept. 16 Atlas 5 • WorldView 4 Launch window: 1830-1844 GMT (2:30-2:44 p.m. EDT; 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-062, will launch the WorldView 4 Earth observation satellite for DigitalGlobe. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 29 and Sept. 15. [Sept. 5] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ ----------------------- Live coverage: Vega rocket set for commercial launch from French Guiana Quote Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Vega rocket rocket with PeruSat 1 and four SkySat Earth observation satellites. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/vv07-mission-status-center/ Livestream Timeline for the Vega rocket’s seventh launch http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/timeline-for-the-vega-rockets-seventh-launch/ Google satellites, Peruvian payload stacked for launch on Vega rocket http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/14/google-satellites-peruvian-payload-stacked-for-launch-on-vega-rocket/ Europe’s Vega Rocket cleared for Launch with Earth Imaging Satellites for Peru & Google http://spaceflight101.com/vega-set-for-liftoff-with-satellites-for-peru-and-google/ ------------------------------ Live coverage: Friday’s Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal Quote Mission Status Center Live coverage of the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket flight to deploy the commercial WorldView 4 Earth-imaging satellite. Quote THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 Countdown clocks will begin ticking in the middle-of-the-night Friday morning to ready an Atlas 5 rocket at America's western spaceport to launch a commercial Earth-imagery observatory. The Launch Readiness Review today formally gave approval to proceed into countdown operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to deploy the WorldView 4 satellite for DigitalGlobe. Friday's liftoff is targeted for 11:30 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. EDT; 1830 GMT) at the opening of a 14-minute launch opportunity. A live launch webcast can be viewed on this page. Meteorologists give 80 percent odds that the weather will allow the launch to occur. Visibility is the only concern. Air Force meteorologists said a high pressure system building into the region is bringing light winds and a shallow marine layer along the Vandenberg coast. "Some lingering low level clouds on the South Base ridgeline will create a concern for visibility on day of launch," forecasters say. Winds will be variable between 5-10 knots with temperatures between 58 and 63 degrees F at launch time. "Team V is excited to launch the Atlas 5 WorldView 4 mission from Vandenberg's Western Range. The combined 30th Space Wing and United Launch Alliance team has spent months preparing to ensure this launch is both safe and successful. We have a very strong partnership with ULA and we're proud to have teamed with them on this fantastic mission," said Col. Chris Moss, 30th Space Wing commander at Vandenberg and the launch decision authority. It will be the 12th Atlas 5 to fly from Vandenberg. The launch countdown begins just after 3:30 a.m. local time for the start of an eight-hour sequence to prepare the launch pad and rocket for flight. This is United Launch Alliance's 112th flight, the 9th just this year, and the company's 19th for a commercial client. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/av062_journal/ // As a side note, we will see how the new station equipment works out for this launch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 Live coverage: Vega rocket set for commercial launch from French Guiana http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/vv07-mission-status-center/ and So far, looks good for launch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 Quote 21:45 LIFTOFF! The Vega rocket has launched with five Earth observation satellites for the Peruvian government and Google. 21:43 T-minus 2 minutes and counting. The four-stage launcher is being transitioned to internal battery power and disconnected from its ground power source. The target launch time of 0143:35 GMT has been loaded into the Vega's on-board computer. http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Real fast lift-off, light payloads...second stage has fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 Quote 21:49 T+plus 5 minutes, 15 seconds. The third stage Zefiro 9 motor will burn out in about a minute. 21:49 T+plus 4 minutes, 10 seconds. The clamshell-like 8.5-foot-diameter Swiss-built payload fairing has been jettisoned. 21:49 T+plus 3 minutes, 55 seconds. The Zefiro 23 seconds stage has burned out and separated, giving way to the third stage Zefiro 9A motor, which is now firing at a downrange distance of more than 400 kilometers east of Kourou. Velocity is now almost 4 kilometers per second. 21:47 T+plus 2 minutes. First stage shutdown and separation confirmed after consuming 194,000 pounds of solid propellant, and Vega's Zefiro 23 second stage has ignited. 21:47 T+plus 1 minute. Now approaching 50,000 feet high, Vega has surpassed the region of maximum aerodynamic pressure. The first stage P80FW motor, the largest single-segment solid rocket ever built, continues firing as expected. 21:47 T+plus 40 seconds. The 98-foot-tall Vega rocket is racing into the night sky over the Guiana Space Center, already surpassing the speed of sound and casting an orange glow over the jungle spaceport. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/vv07-mission-status-center/ 3rd stage separation...going well Will be about an hour and 45 minutes before all payloads are distributed in their allotted orbits. Jim K 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 This is what is next... T+00:40:21 – SkySat 4-7 separation The four SkySat Earth observation satellites mounted in the upper position on the Vega rocket’s Vespa dual-payload adapter separate one by one starting at T+plus 40 minutes, 21 seconds, and ending seven seconds later. and T+01:42:59 – PeruSat 1 separation The 948-pound (430-kilogram) PeruSat 1 satellite separates from the Vega rocket’s fourth stage. The upper stage’s RD-843 engine will ignite again a few minutes later to head for a disposal orbit. approx 80 minutes till completion... Jim K 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 Quote 23:29 PeruSat 1 separation The PeruSat 1 satellite, owned by the Peruvian government and built by Airbus Defense and Space, has deployed from the Vega rocket's upper stage. It is kicking off a 10-year mission to collect images of Earth for military and civilian applications. 22:28 SkySat separation The four SkySat satellites separated as planned. They're nicknamed after Star Wars characters: R2D2, Luke, C3PO and Leia. The satellites are owned by Terra Bella of Mountain View, California, a subsidiary of Google. Each satellite -- SkySats 4-7 -- carries optical cameras to capture sharp images of Earth with a resolution of 90 centimeters, or about 3 feet. Terra Bella says the launch of the latest four SkySat satellites, which join three others already in orbit, gives the company the largest commercial fleet of sub-meter resolution Earth observation spacecraft. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/vv07-mission-status-center/ The payloads will be going through system checks tonight, and all looks well. Vega VV07 launches PerúSAT-1 & SkySats satellites video is 2:42 min. ---------------------- Tomorrow... Quote Sept. 16 Atlas 5 • WorldView 4 Launch window: 1830-1844 GMT (2:30-2:44 p.m. EDT; 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-062, will launch the WorldView 4 Earth observation satellite for DigitalGlobe. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 29 and Sept. 15. [Sept. 5] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ BetaguyGZT 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 Live coverage: Atlas 5 countdown and launch journal http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/av062_journal/ and Show time... Quote Sept. 16 Atlas 5 • WorldView 4 Launch window: 1830-1844 GMT (2:30-2:44 p.m. EDT; 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-062, will launch the WorldView 4 Earth observation satellite for DigitalGlobe. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 29 and Sept. 15. [Sept. 5] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 16, 2016 Rats...... Quote 11:15 a.m. local (1815 GMT)Liftoff is tentatively rescheduled for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. local time (2:30 p.m. EDT; 1830 GMT). Weather forecasters predict a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions. 11:04 a.m. local (1804 GMT) ULA CEO Tory Bruno says: "Very small ground side LH2 leak. Forming an ice ball on the umbilical. Outside our history. Standing down attempt today to resolve." 11:03 a.m. local (1803 GMT) To recap, today's launch attempt is being called off. The launch team is beginning to drain the cryogenics off the vehicle. A new launch date has not yet been confirmed. 10:58 a.m. local (1758 GMT) SCRUB! The launch team is halting today's countdown due to a technical problem. 10:56:33 a.m. local (1756:33 GMT) T-minus 4 minutes and holding. The countdown has entered the planned hold to give the launch team a chance to review all systems before pressing ahead with liftoff. 10:55 a.m. local (1755 GMT) T-minus 5 minutes and counting. Standing by to go into the final built-in hold that will last for 30 minutes. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/09/15/av062_journal/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 17, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 17, 2016 Launch Schedule Quote Sept. 18 Atlas 5 • WorldView 4 Launch window: 1830-1844 GMT (2:30-2:44 p.m. EDT; 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-062, will launch the WorldView 4 Earth observation satellite for DigitalGlobe. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 29 and Sept. 15. Scrubbed on Sept. 16. [Sept. 16] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Live coverage: Atlas 5 rocket launch from California reset for Sunday http://spaceflightnow.com/ Quote Atlas V proceeded into propellant loading once the countdown resumed at the T-2 hour mark after a scheduled hold. All seemed to proceed as planned in the early tanking sequence that involved the transfer of some 15,700 liters of Liquid Oxygen into the rocket’s Centaur upper stage and 185,500 liters to the Common Core Booster. Heading into the last 90 minutes to liftoff, Centaur was expected to press into Liquid Hydrogen tanking, however, the team encountered an issue with a suspect instrument. The Anomaly Net became busy as engineers at the launch site and ULA’s Denver base worked out the instrumentation fault and cleared fueling on the upper stage to commence right around the one hour-mark prior to the opening of the day’s 14-minute launch window. 48,100 liters of the -253°C LH2 were loaded into Centaur, but in the process, a leak within the LH2 ground system was discovered, leading to the formation of an ice ball on the Upper Stage Umbilical. Proceeding with caution, the launch team decided to scrub the day’s launch attempt when the countdown had just entered its T-4-minute hold. Atlas V will be de-tanked to allow engineers access to the umbilical area in order to inspect and repair the issue. http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-launch-from-california-scrubbed-due-to-technical-trouble/ ------------------------ Quote Sept. 23 Soyuz • ISS 48S Launch time: 1817 GMT (2:17 p.m. EDT) Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the residents. Delayed from Sept. 22. [Aug. 17] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Next Station Crew Launch Postponed Quote Roscosmos decided to postpone the planned September 23, 2016 launch of the spacecraft “Soyuz MS – 02 ” for technical reasons after routine tests at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The launch date of the spacecraft will be announced later. http://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/2016/09/17/next-station-crew-launch-postponed/ reference... Quote ROSCOSMOS. SOYUZ MS-02 START POSTPONE 17, 2016, 07:45 GMT ROSCOSMOS decided to postpone the planned September 23, 2016 launch of the manned spacecraft Soyuz MS-02 for technical reasons after tests at the BAIKONUR Space Center. The launch date of the spacecraft will be announced later. http://en.roscosmos.ru/20645/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 19, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 19, 2016 Atlas V Launch with WorldView-4 pushed to NET September 26 due to nearby Wildfire Quote After encountering a late launch scrub due to technical problems on Friday, the ULA Atlas V rocket will have to remain on the ground until at least September 26 because a wildfire near its California launch pad will require the focused attention of teams at the launch base. Friday’s launch countdown appeared to run smoothly until an instrumentation issue delayed the start of Liquid Hydrogen loading on the 58-meter tall rocket. Fueling was completed in time to meet the opening of the launch window, but another issue on the LH2 side cropped up late in the count when a leak on a ground umbilical caused an ice ball to form. Atlas V was de-tanked after the launch was scrubbed during the T-4-minute hold and engineers assessed the ground systems problem, determining that a two-day turnaround would be required to replace the hydrogen fill-and-drain valve that was found to be the culprit. Liftoff was set for 11:30 a.m. local time on Sunday after successful re-testing of the system, however, a wildfire started on Saturday at South Vandenberg Air Force Base. Firefighters from the base and Santa Barbara Country began to attack the blaze Saturday night in hopes of extinguishing the fire prior to launch zone evacuation on Sunday. According to the 30th Space Wing, the fire is located in a remote canyon between Arguello and Santa Ynez roads – well clear of any Vandenberg Range assets and launch pads. According to media reports, around 250 firefighters were deployed to the area including air assets, however, crews were unable to contain the fire, growing in size to around 200 hectares. Atlas V headed into countdown operations at 3:30 a.m. local time on Sunday and went through its early activation and testing steps but teams were forced to call a delay when it became clear the fire would require the attention of firefighters throughout the morning. Launch rules dictate that firefighting crews are on standby when a launch takes place and it was decided to focus all resources on the wildfire at south base. United Launch Alliance said early on Sunday that the launch would be delayed to No Earlier Than Tuesday, September 20 to provide crews with time to deal with the fire, also looking at crew rest ahead of going back into a launch posture. Later on Sunday, the launch target slipped to NET September 26 due to range availability. http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-launch-with-worldview-4-pushed-to-net-tuesday-due-to-nearby-wildfire/ Photo: 30th Space Wing Photo: 30th Space Wing Brush Fire at South Vandenberg Air Force Base Grows to 400 Acres Quote A wildfire that broke out Saturday evening on Vandenberg Air Force Base had grown to at least 400 acres overnight, forcing officials to delay the scheduled Sunday morning launch of an Atlas V rocket. As many as 250 firefighters reportedly were deployed to the blaze, which was dubbed the Canyon Fire and was burning on South Base, the area south of West Ocean Avenue (Highway 246) southwest of Lompoc. VAFB firefighters were assisted by crews from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, which sent several engines, bulldozers, a hand crew and an Air Support Unit helicopter. Before night fell, air tankers and other aircraft also were in on the attack at the 99,000-acre military base. By 10:30 p.m., VAFB officials said the fire had burned 50 acres near Arguello and Santa Ynez Ridge roads. As of Sunday morning, the fire’s footprint covered 400 acres, according to county Fire Department spokesman Mike Eliason. The cause of the blaze was not known. According to emergency dispatch reports just before 10 p.m., flames were moving toward Honda Canyon on South Base and had jumped bulldozer lines. Quote “No facilities or infrastructure have been damaged as the fire is located in a remote canyon between Arguello and Santa Ynez roads, and crews are working to contain the blaze,” VAFB said in statement late Saturday. “According to Col. Paul Nosek, Emergency Operations Center commander, no space launch complexes or critical range assets are in immediate danger.” The Canyon Fire is burning on Vandenberg Air Force Base southwest of Lompoc. Officials say no facilities or infrastucture have been damaged. (Santa Barbara County Fire Department photo) https://www.noozhawk.com/article/fire_burning_at_south_vandenberg_air_force_base_20160917 -------------------------- Russia postpones Soyuz MS-02 ISS launch due to electrical glitch Quote The launch of Russia's new series Soyuz MS-02 manned spacecraft scheduled for September 23 was delayed due to a technical fault involving a short circuit that was revealed during a test, a space industry source told RIA Novosti on Saturday. The September 23 launch was due to take two Russian cosmonauts and one US astronaut to the International Space Station (ISS) for the next Expedition 49 mission. "Preliminary data revealed that a short circuit occurred while testing the new series Soyuz MS-02 spacecraft, docked to a carrier rocket, at Baikonur. The date of the new launch will be announced later, but the launch is unlikely to take place before the beginning of October, 2016," the source said. The Expedition 48 was taken to the ISS on board the Soyuz MS-01 spacecraft. The Soyuz-MS series is the latest upgrade of the long-serving Soyuz spacecraft with improved communication and navigation systems. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_postpones_Soyuz_MS_02_ISS_launch_due_to_electrical_glitch_999.html ----------------------- Launch Schedule Quote Sept. 26 PSLV • ScatSat 1 Launch time: 0400 GMT (12:00 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying in the core alone (CA) configuration on the PSLV-C35 mission, will launch India’s India’s ScatSat 1 spacecraft designed to aid tropical cyclone forecasting. A collection of smaller secondary payloads from India, the United States and Algeria will also be aboard the launch. Delayed from July, early August and late August. [Sept. 16] NET Sept. 26 Atlas 5 • WorldView 4 Launch window: 1830-1844 GMT (2:30-2:44 p.m. EDT; 11:30-11:44 a.m. PDT) Launch site: SLC-3E, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-062, will launch the WorldView 4 Earth observation satellite for DigitalGlobe. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from June 29 and Sept. 15. Scrubbed on Sept. 16. [Sept. 18] TBD Soyuz • ISS 48S Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the crewed Soyuz spacecraft to the International Space Station with members of the next Expedition crew. The capsule will remain at the station for about six months, providing an escape pod for the residents. Delayed from Sept. 22. [Sept. 18] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 19, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 19, 2016 CREWS FIGHT VANDENBERG AFB WILDLAND FIRE - UPDATE Quote VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 1,200 acre Canyon Fire on south Vandenberg, Sept. 18, 2016, is burning at what responders describe as a “slow to moderate speed”. Vandenberg AFB firefighters, assisted by U.S. Forestry Service, CalFire, and Santa Barbara County fire crews, continue to work around the clock fighting the fire, however as of 1:47 p.m. it remained zero percent contained. Multiple protective measures such as aggressive air tanker drops, new fire breaks cut by Vandenberg and Santa Barbara County bulldozers, and attacking spot fires directly by engine crews are being employed by the 230+ firefighters on scene. Vandenberg AFB Civil Engineers are also working to mitigate power outage caused by the fire burning in the remote VAFB canyon between Arguello and Santa Ynez Ridge Roads. As additional responders arrive to assist in the efforts to fight the fire, on and off-base residents are directed to avoid the South Vandenberg AFB area. Effective immediately and until further notice, only mission-essential personnel, as designated by their commander, will be granted access to South Base. Mission-essential personnel who work north of Mesa Road in the South Base cantonment area should utilize the South Base gate to access South base. Mission-essential personnel who work at facilities along Coast Road should enter through the Coast Gate. All others should contact their supervisory chain for reporting instructions. There is no restriction for North Base activities. Personnel working on North Base should report for duty using normal procedures. More information to follow as the situation develops, and the current situation is subject to change. http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/947935/crews-fight-vandenberg-afb-wildland-fire-update Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 19, 2016 Share Posted September 19, 2016 End of summer, wildfire season in the western US. Wash, rinse, repeat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 20, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2016 18 hours ago, DocM said: End of summer, wildfire season in the western US. Wash, rinse, repeat. True, but this one is bad and got out of control real quick. Apparently there has been little rainfall for 5 months now. A small populated area was at risk as well as ULA with World view sat and SpaceX with a hanger full of Iridium sats. The fire jumped a fire break but has been stopped on one front, only a few miles from the SpaceX pad. If there had been high winds, it would have been very difficult to stop, a few miles at the best of times, is literally almost on top of you. CREWS FIGHT VANDENBERG AFB WILDLAND FIRE - UPDATE Quote VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The Canyon Fire on south Vandenberg AFB grew to 4,528 acres Sunday night, continuing to burn at what responders describe as a “slow to moderate speed”. In the early hours of Monday morning, fire teams used a helicopter to map fire lines and evaluate progress. Understanding the precise boundaries of the fire will allow the commanding fire chief to more effectively distribute fire personnel and resources. As of 7:30 a.m. PDT, the fire is 0% contained, according to officials. However, Vandenberg AFB firefighters assisted by U.S. Forestry Service, CalFire and Santa Barbara County fire crews are making progress in their efforts to contain the fire as it moves towards the southern base boundary and the Sudden Ranch area. The fire has caused power outages in several facilities on south base. Those buildings are currently operating on generator power. Civil Engineers will sustain the generators until downed electrical lines can be repaired and commercial power is restored to base facilities. Vandenberg AFB fire fighter and security forces are assessing possible causes. However, at this time, the cause of the fire is unknown. More information to follow as the situation develops, and the current situation is subject to change. http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/948567/crews-fight-vandenberg-afb-wildland-fire-update Quote The wildfire forced officials to call off Sunday morning’s attempt to launch an Atlas V rocket and its commercial cargo, the WorldView-4 satellite, from Space Launch Complex-3. The rocket and spacecraft remain secure on the launch pad, which is visible in photographs while the large plume of smoke towers behind the facility. SLC-3 is in the path of the fire, which is still a couple of miles away, Zaniboni said. Also nearby is Space Launch Complex-4 where a Space Exploration Technologies Falcon rocket and its 10 Iridium NEXT satellites await liftoff. That launch previously was delayed until at least November following a mishap in Florida when a Falcon rocket exploded on the launch pad. Canyon Fire management will be turned over to a federal team by Sunday evening, Zaniboni said. More than 250 Vandenberg AFB, CalFire, Santa Barbara County and U.S. Forest Service firefighters were battling the blaze Sunday afternoon. The force also includes bulldozers, helicopters and aircraft. https://www.noozhawk.com/article/canyon_fire_vandenberg_air_force_base_wildfire_news_20160918 latest... Update: Wildfire on Vandenberg Air Force Base burns over 4,500 acres Quote Wayne Seda, an assistant chief with the VAFB Fire Department, said that "resources, as far as engines and stuff like that," are staged around the launch areas for protection. “Even the buildings," he added. "It’s not just the launch (facilities)." The fire broke out about 5:20 p.m. Saturday near Arguello and Santa Ynez Ridge roads and spread rapidly through heavy fuel, scorching 50 acres by 11 p.m., a County Fire spokesman said. By 11 a.m. Sunday, it had grown to 500 acres, and by early afternoon it exceeded 1,200 acres. Seda said Monday there was still no estimated containment date, and the cause of the fire is undetermined. Zaniboni said fire officials have requested additional help to fight the fire. http://lompocrecord.com/news/local/update-wildfire-on-vandenberg-air-force-base-burns-over-acres/article_ef974735-c36b-5b8b-8651-a2981170940d.html I am sure that they have this handled....but, a little too close for comfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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