Cosmic Penguin
Geek Penguin in GTO
One launch misses, one launch down the queue......
Yes, it's United Launch Alliance's turn! Yet another fresh navigation satellite for the GPS system is now ready to launch to replace another 20 years old satellite that has been serving our navigation needs without rest. GPS IIF-6, more correctly known as Space Vehicle (SVN) no. 67, is the 6th of 12 Block IIF satellites to be launched to replace the Block II and IIA satellites launched from 1989 to 1997. It is heading to plane D of the GPS system (with 6 orbit planes from A to F) at slot 4 to replace GPS 2A-23, launched over 20 years ago in October 1993, which will go into the reserve fleet. With the launch schedules shuffling at ULA, 4 new GPS satellites are now planned to be launched in 2014, with GPS IIF-7 launching in July and GPS IIF-8 in October, both on Atlas V rockets.
With the launch time set at 8:08 pm EDT on May 15, i.e. 2 minutes after sunset, this launch should provide a spectacular view of colorful smoke trails reflecting the last rays of sunshine (like this Delta IV launch in 2011).......if the weather is good. Unforunately for May 15 it isn't looking good with only 30% chance of favorable launch weather; although by the next day it swings back to 80%. (I'm sure PhantomCruiser would want another day's slip....
) So let's hope that the weather holds and the visitors at the Cape would be treated with yet another light show! 
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This is the 26th operational flight of the Delta IV rocket and the 11th to fly in the M+(4,2) configuration with 2 solid rocket boosters and the 4 meter diameter fairing & upper stage.
Viewing the Launch Live:
Mission Description:
Launch Vehicle:
The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) consists of a single Delta IV common booster core (CBC), the Delta cryogenic second stage (DCSS), and two solid rocket motors (SRM). The CBC and the DCSS are connected by a composite cylindrical interstage adapter (ISA). The SRMs, 5 ft in diameter and 53 ft long and constructed of a graphite-epoxy composite, are connected to the booster by two ball-and-socket joints and structural thrusters.
The Delta IV booster tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts, and a composite center-body. Delta IV booster propulsion is provided by the RS-68 engine system. The RS-68 burns cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and delivers 663,000 lb of thrust at sea level. The booster’s cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets.
The Delta IV booster is controlled by the DCSS avionics system, which provides guidance, flight control, and vehicle sequencing functions during CBC and DCSS phases of flight. The boost phase of flight ends 6 seconds after main engine cutoff (MECO), when the separation charge in the interstage adapter is fired and 16 pneumatic actuators push the spent Delta IV CBC stage and the DCSS apart.
The DCSS stage propellant tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum ring forgings, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts and a composite inter-tank truss. The DCSS is also a cryogenic liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled vehicle. It uses a single RL10B-2 engine that produces 24,750 lb of thrust. Like the CBC, the DCSS cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation, and helium-purged insulation blankets. An equipment shelf attached to the aft dome of the DCSS liquid oxygen tank provides the structural mountings for vehicle electronics. The structural and electronic interfaces with the satellite are provided via the payload attach fitting (PAF). The GPS missions use a 4-m diameter payload fairing (PLF). The PLF is a composite bisector (two-piece shell) fairing. The vehicle’s height, with the 38.5-ft tall PLF, is approximately 206 ft.
Launch Sequence:
Launch Updates:
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on May 16, 2014 (8 p.m.)
Partly cloudy skies. Low 17C. Winds N at 15 to 25 kph.
Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
8 PM|22°C|12°C|52%|0%|0%|1%|1018 hPa|14 km/h NNE|
Clear
Yes, it's United Launch Alliance's turn! Yet another fresh navigation satellite for the GPS system is now ready to launch to replace another 20 years old satellite that has been serving our navigation needs without rest. GPS IIF-6, more correctly known as Space Vehicle (SVN) no. 67, is the 6th of 12 Block IIF satellites to be launched to replace the Block II and IIA satellites launched from 1989 to 1997. It is heading to plane D of the GPS system (with 6 orbit planes from A to F) at slot 4 to replace GPS 2A-23, launched over 20 years ago in October 1993, which will go into the reserve fleet. With the launch schedules shuffling at ULA, 4 new GPS satellites are now planned to be launched in 2014, with GPS IIF-7 launching in July and GPS IIF-8 in October, both on Atlas V rockets.
With the launch time set at 8:08 pm EDT on May 15, i.e. 2 minutes after sunset, this launch should provide a spectacular view of colorful smoke trails reflecting the last rays of sunshine (like this Delta IV launch in 2011).......if the weather is good. Unforunately for May 15 it isn't looking good with only 30% chance of favorable launch weather; although by the next day it swings back to 80%. (I'm sure PhantomCruiser would want another day's slip....
) So let's hope that the weather holds and the visitors at the Cape would be treated with yet another light show!
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Launch date:
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May 16/17, 2014
Launch time:
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00:03 UTC / 8:03 p.m. EDT / 5:03 p.m. PDT
Launch site:
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SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral AFB, Florida
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[highlight]L[eventtimer]2014-5-17 00:03:00;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]
This is the 26th operational flight of the Delta IV rocket and the 11th to fly in the M+(4,2) configuration with 2 solid rocket boosters and the 4 meter diameter fairing & upper stage.
Viewing the Launch Live:
on the ULA Web site.
Mission Description:
GPS satellites serve and protect our warfighters by providing navigational assistance for U.S. military operations on land, at sea, and in the air. Civilian users around the world also use and depend on GPS for highly accurate time, location, and velocity information.
GPS IIF-6 is one of the next-generation GPS satellites, incorporating various improvements to provide greater accuracy, increased signals, and enhanced performance for users.
The new satellite will occupy the Plane D, Slot 4 location of the navigation network, replacing the GPS-2A-23 satellite in that slot. The old satellite (launched October 1993) will be turned to the reserve fleet.
GPS IIF-6 is one of the next-generation GPS satellites, incorporating various improvements to provide greater accuracy, increased signals, and enhanced performance for users.
The new satellite will occupy the Plane D, Slot 4 location of the navigation network, replacing the GPS-2A-23 satellite in that slot. The old satellite (launched October 1993) will be turned to the reserve fleet.
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Mission Insignia
Launch Vehicle:
The Delta IV Medium+ (4,2) consists of a single Delta IV common booster core (CBC), the Delta cryogenic second stage (DCSS), and two solid rocket motors (SRM). The CBC and the DCSS are connected by a composite cylindrical interstage adapter (ISA). The SRMs, 5 ft in diameter and 53 ft long and constructed of a graphite-epoxy composite, are connected to the booster by two ball-and-socket joints and structural thrusters.
The Delta IV booster tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts, and a composite center-body. Delta IV booster propulsion is provided by the RS-68 engine system. The RS-68 burns cryogenic liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and delivers 663,000 lb of thrust at sea level. The booster’s cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets.
The Delta IV booster is controlled by the DCSS avionics system, which provides guidance, flight control, and vehicle sequencing functions during CBC and DCSS phases of flight. The boost phase of flight ends 6 seconds after main engine cutoff (MECO), when the separation charge in the interstage adapter is fired and 16 pneumatic actuators push the spent Delta IV CBC stage and the DCSS apart.
The DCSS stage propellant tanks are structurally rigid and constructed of isogrid aluminum ring forgings, spun-formed aluminum domes, machined aluminum tank skirts and a composite inter-tank truss. The DCSS is also a cryogenic liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen-fueled vehicle. It uses a single RL10B-2 engine that produces 24,750 lb of thrust. Like the CBC, the DCSS cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on and bond-on insulation, and helium-purged insulation blankets. An equipment shelf attached to the aft dome of the DCSS liquid oxygen tank provides the structural mountings for vehicle electronics. The structural and electronic interfaces with the satellite are provided via the payload attach fitting (PAF). The GPS missions use a 4-m diameter payload fairing (PLF). The PLF is a composite bisector (two-piece shell) fairing. The vehicle’s height, with the 38.5-ft tall PLF, is approximately 206 ft.
Launch Sequence:
Launch Updates:
- Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center
- United Launch Alliance Twitter
- ULA launch hotline - dial at: 1-877-852-4321
Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on May 16, 2014 (8 p.m.)
Partly cloudy skies. Low 17C. Winds N at 15 to 25 kph.
8 PM|22°C|12°C|52%|0%|0%|1%|1018 hPa|14 km/h NNE|
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