Posted on 08/16/2005 1:35:52 PM PDT by NonValueAdded
A second attempt at launching the GOES-N weather spacecraft aboard the Delta 4 rocket is underway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station today. Liftoff is set to occur at 6:32 p.m. EDT (2232 GMT).
Latest status entries [as of this post]:
2030 GMT (4:30 p.m. EDT)
There are no Collision Avoidance, or COLA, blackout periods for today's launch window. COLAs are short periods of time in which a rocket cannot lift off, ensuring the vehicle's trajectory does not take it too close to another object already in space.
2020 GMT (4:20 p.m. EDT)
Topping of the second stage liquid oxygen tank has commenced, putting all four fuel tanks aboard the Delta 4 rocket in stable replenish mode to replace the propellants that boil off given their supercold nature.
2004 GMT (4:04 p.m. EDT)
The launch team is tracking no technical problems, weather remains "go" and the Range is operating normally as the countdown rolls on. Launch time is still 6:32 p.m. EDT.
ping
Thanks for posting the links. I looked to see if you had a live thread going before posting. Sorry I didn't ping you but it looks like you found this one OK :) I'm counting on you to cover the January launch of the Pluto mission!
Wow, didn't know anything about the Pluto mission. Looks like 9 long years of waiting after Jan...
Ah well, opportunity to fish came up. Have fun!
Here is the latest (2/15/05) FR thread: Pluto Mission Takes Aim at Last Unvisited Planet
here is where the mission was killed (2/28/2001): NASA Kills Solar Probe and Pluto Missions
and here is where it came back to life (11/12/2001): Pluto mission approved by Congress
it must have been my letter to Dave Weldon that got it back on track!
It's possible. It's rare for a person to know if his words tipped the scale, but it obviously happens.
Well, at least it looks good sitting there.
T-minus 30 minutes and counting. The countdown is headed to the T-minus 5 minute point where a 15-minute hold is planned. Liftoff is targeted for 6:32 p.m., the opening of today's 34-minute launch window.
in a planned hold, issues being worked.
Boeing is "contemplating" a plan to reset the target launch time for the very end of today's launch window at 7:06 p.m. EDT, a company spokesman says. Both technical problems remain unresolved.
BTTT
The Pluto mission is still scheduled for a January launch. I worked on (and occasionally still work on) the ALICE UV spectrometer for that mission. I'm 95% sure I'll be in Florida for the launch -- it will be my first launch besides a couple of sounding rockets at WSMR.
Assuming the safety system and second stage ordnance constraints can be fixed in time, clocks would resume at 7:01 p.m. for liftoff five minutes later. However, there will be no spare time to deal with any other issues that arise, since liftoff will be occurring at the end of today's launch window.
Nice clear evening in Hobe Sound - we should be able to see this puppy if it lifts off tonight.
Say what????
Same here in Southern Georgia... Hope they don't scub.
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