Space ping, Antares launch as they try it again...
Posted on 04/21/2013 9:06:48 AM PDT by kingu
A U.S. spaceflight company is hoping the third time's the charm in order to launch a brand-new rocket into space on its maiden flight today (April 21).
After two delayed launched attempts, the privately built Antares rocket is once again poised to blast off from a seaside pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Virginia's Eastern Shore. Liftoff is set for 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT).
You can watch the Antares rocket launch live on SPACE.com beginning 4:30 p.m. ET (2030 GMT), courtesy of NASA's webcast.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
Space ping, Antares launch as they try it again...
Shouldn’t they launch closer to the equator?
Ideally, yes.
I s’pose they’ve got their reasons.
Bump!
Will the 3rd time be the charm?
DelMarVa PING!
If anyone wants on or off the list please let me know - I’mm trying to rebuild it after losing it in a hard drive meltdown.
Jeez....
Why closer to the equator?
takes less fuel to reach space/orbit from the equator, thinner atmosphere I think
Company HQ is just outside the Dulles Airport. The exit off the highway is labeled:
That was just Wednesday’s attempt, they didn’t even set a launch time on Friday because of weather, and yesterday’s attempt was scrubbed because of upper level winds.
Takes less fuel, but it's because the rotation of the earth provides a built-in velocity advantage. The earth is rotating upwards of 1,000 MPH at the equator.
bump
maybe thats why people are thinner there.
never mind.
Launching from the equator into a nominally east-west orbit lets the rocket take advantage of the earth’s rotational velocity (roughly 1000 mph at the equator) in getting to orbital velocity.
Launching from Wallops (37 degrees North latitude) gives only about 80% of that.
That's just ridiculous.
Thanks, was just curious.
These rockets are being designed to supply the ISS and the window for this particular test was Wed thru today because that is when the ISS is overhead (obviously layman’s terms)
Thanks.
I don’t disagree. Some of the comments from folks I was wwith on Wednesday were rather amusing about just that point.
Yer welcome.
As it turns out, a fuller reading of the story shows it’s an ISS-resupply project, and, since the ISS has an orbital inclination of about 50 degrees, any launch point within about 50 degrees of the equator would probably work reasonably well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.