Posted on 05/04/2012 10:26:10 AM PDT by Jack Hydrazine
Rocket: Atlas 5
Payload: AEHF 2
Date: May 4, 2012
Window: 2:42 to 4:42 p.m. EDT (11:42 a.m. - 1:42 p.m. PDT)
Launch Site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral, Florida
After helium purge problem kept the Atlas 5 rocket on the pad Thursday afternoon, a second launch attempt is getting underway today to deploy a sophisticated and critical communications spacecraft for the U.S. government.
The countdown clocks just began ticking, beginning a seven-hour sequence of work that will prepare the rocket, payload and ground systems for today's blastoff at 2:42 p.m. EDT (1842 GMT).
The day's two-hour launch window stretches to 4:42 p.m. EDT.
Here's a timeline of the countdown's key events:
HR:MM..Eastern...Event
T-6:20...7:42am...Countdown begins with rocket power up
T-5:30...8:32am...Weather briefing
T-4:55...9:07am...Start clearing assembly building area
T-4:20...9:42am...C-band tracking beacon testing
T-3:40..10:22am...S-band telemetry link checks
T-2:55..11:07am...Establish blast danger area roadblocks
T-2:20..11:42am...Weather briefing
T-2:15..11:47am...Clear the pad
T-2:00..12:02pm...T-120 minutes and holding (for 30min)
T-2:00..12:27pm...Launch conductor briefing to team
T-2:00..12:29pm...Readiness poll for fueling
T-2:00..12:32pm...Resume countdown
T-1:50..12:42pm...Centaur LOX transfer line chilldown
T-1:43..12:47pm...Begin Centaur liquid oxygen loading
T-1:30...1:02pm...Begin Atlas first stage LOX loading
T-1:25...1:07pm...Centaur LH2 transfer line chilldown
T-1:10...1:22pm...Centaur RL10 engine chilldown
T-1:02...1:30pm...Begin Centaur liquid hydrogen loading
T-0:40...1:52pm...FLight termination system final test
T-0:16...2:16pm...RD-180 engine fuel fill sequence
T-0:10...2:22pm...Weather briefing
T-0:04...2:28pm...T-4 minutes and holding (for 10min)
T-0:04...2:35pm...Readiness poll for launch
T-0:04...2:38pm...Resume countdown
T-0:00...2:42pm...LAUNCH
$2 BILLION satellite. That’s some serious satellite! God speed!
You can watch it at the link above or at the link below.
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Webcast.shtml
http://www.livestream.com/spaceflightnow
Going up at 2:42 EDT.
Awesome! Will this be televised?
Oh sweet I didn’t see that before posting. Thanks!
Is this the basic configuration of the Atlas V?
Still go for launch with 15 minutes to go... awesome video links (see above).
It breaks down to:
5 = 5 meter diameter payload fairing.
3 = 3 SRBs
1 = Single-engine Centaur upper stage
Nah. I'll just go watch from the backyard.
Interesting that there’s 3 SRB’s and yet they’re not symmetrically arranged. That’s a new one on me.
Still a bummer we have to purchase the main engines from Russia.. (RD-180) Bad azz engines for sure.
Could be for compensation purposes for an arch in trajectory. 2 on inner side of arch, 1 on outside of arch? Just guessing.
Appears I was right! LOL Not bad for a liberal arts degree. LOL
Successful launch... SRBs jettisoned normally.
We could even see the faring separation. Amazing long shot.
Configuration info starts on page 1-4.
I got the Ares manual too, awhile back. Did Obama scrap that program? No moon shot?
One of these days I'm gonna have to be there in person for one.
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