Posted on 08/25/2017 7:45:24 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A gap filling space surveillance satellite that will track orbiting threats for the U.S. Air Force is set for an thrilling nighttime blastoff Friday, Aug. 25 on the maiden mission of the Minotaur IV rocket from Cape Canaveral that’s powered by a retired Cold War-era ICBM missile – once armed with nuclear warheads.
The ORS-5 satellite will provide the US military with space-based surveillance and tracking of other satellites both friend and foe as well as space debris in geosynchronous orbit, 22,236 miles above the equator.
The Orbital ATK Minotaur IV rocket carrying the ORS-5 tracking satellite for the USAF Operationally Responsive Space Office is targeting liftoff just before midnight Friday at 11:15 p.m. EDT from Space Launch Complex-46 (SLC-46) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
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The launch window opens at 11:15 p.m. EDT August 25. It extends for four hours until 3:15 a.m. EDT August 26.
In the event of delay for any reason, the next launch opportunity is Saturday, Aug. 26. The launch window remains the same from 11:15 p.m. EDT August 26 to 3:15 a.m. EDT August 27.
(Excerpt) Read more at universetoday.com ...
You can watch the launch live via the Orbital ATK website here: www.orbitalatk.com
Site says a minimum delay of one hour due to nearby lightning strikes...
Two hours and 20 minutes (as of 11:25 pm EDT)
The destroyers were hit at acute angles. They were most certainly NOT trying to scan.
Inspecting a ship is easy: the United States Coast Guard, and port certifications.
Hyperbole much?
A person will not see anything like what would have happened during a PK launch because the PK launched out of an underground silo. This launch is topside from a gantry.
The Peacekeeper was a cold launch, using steam. The rocket ignited at 150’ to 200’.
From this above ground silo launch video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyS1GbUKGyM
First in ground silo launch:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhjMHBBdbM
Last Twitter update, which appears to be Pacific Standard Time, says the rocket will launch around 11:05 PM.
The launch window closes at 3:15 AM, Eastern Time.
New Update - launch at 2:04 AM, Eastern Time.
T-Minus 14 Minutes and Counting...
T-Minus 5 Minutes and Counting...
I know exactly how it was launched and I was present for one initial above ground test launch, one of the first silo launches, and one FOT&E operational launches.
Great launch. That sucker was moving!
Yes!
I’ve been watching heavy lift rockets for so many decades now, this really took me by surprise.
It burned through three stages in about 5 minutes.
I watched an info video at the website link in Comment #2.
This seems like a very innovative USAF concept.
They designed a common platform for small satellites which can be built, loaded, and launched on old USAF rockets within a couple months.
You tag line says it all. How did I miss that.
Beautiful graphic.
Thanks for posting!
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