Updates NASA Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) updates

[Cosmic Penguin]

A comeback of 2 sorts is approaching for NASA's Earth Observation program! NASA's dedicated greenhouse gas observation satellite, the Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO), is finally back after the original's untimely demise at launch February 24, 2009 on what was probably Orbital Science Corporation's thorn in the flesh - the little used Taurus rocket. OCO-2, basically a rebuild of the OCO, was itself delayed by around 2 years after NASA requested switching the launch operator after the Taurus rocket failed again with the failing of fairing separation in 2011. Scientists meanwhile had to use other satellites (like JAXA's GOSAT) to continue monitor the concentration of carbon dioxide et al. in the atmosphere.

Which bring us along to the second comeback - albeit one with a limited period. After an absence of more than 2 years, and once predicted to be retiring forever, USA's extreme veteran and one of the world's most famous and trusted rocket is now back! This time the spacecraft will ride on the 152th Delta II rocket to fly, and one of 4 ordered by NASA after 2011. With its production long since stopped and with only enough parts for making 1 extra Delta II, this renaissance will only last for a few years before the long run of the "classic" Delta family is gone forever. Yet its outstanding and world's best launch record - an astonishing 96 consecutive successful launches since 1997 and only 2 accidents (one of which is salvageable) in 151 Delta II launches - speaks for why NASA is asking this veteran to come out of retirement again even when there are multiple prospective successors to this job.

The rocket itself has already been stacked at Space Launch Complex 2W at Vandenberg Air Foce Base since March-April, and the spacecraft is in the final stages of processing before being encapsulated. Its T-zero will come on July 1st at 2:56 am PDT (09:56 UTC). :tiphat:

Good luck! :tiphat:

(more information about the mission and updates will come soon as launch day approaches)

 

[astrosammy]

Wow, 20 MB of images. :download:

[URL="http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/pia17800u.jpg"][IMG]http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/800x600_autoletterbox/public/pia17800u.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/images/medium/2014-2122-m.jpg"][IMG]http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/images/small/2014-2122-s.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

(This will create a small version, if you click the image (not the bar) the large version opens. Would be a good thing to do for all news threads, if small versions are availabe.)


Anyway, nice to see the good old Delta II is still flying! (And forget the GPS IIR-1 launch, it was a big successful firework :lol

 

[Mantis]

I can't understand why they would retire the Delta II to begin with. It's a very reliable design so why fix what isn't broken?

 

[boogabooga]

Anyway, nice to see the good old Delta II is still flying! (And forget the GPS IIR-1 launch, it was a big successful firework :lol

It didn't fail, the strap-on solid rocket did, so it doesn't count.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

14 hours to launch! All is still going well with OCO-2 and while it will be a foggy night at VAFB, the weather is perfect for launch at 2:56 am PDT (09:56 UTC). :thumbup:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Launch time line:

More on OCO-2:

 

[boogabooga]

Live coverage has started.

 

[IronRain]

I'm ready!

 

[boogabooga]

Hold Hold Hold at T-46

No pad water.

Scrubbed for today.

I hope Obama wasn't watching. :shifty:

 

[IronRain]

Hold has been issued. The man who called it gave as reason "No water flow".

 

[IronRain]

No launch today as there is only a 36 seconds launch window.

 

[IronRain]

Spaceflight Now:

NASA launch director Tim Dunn says technicians won't know what exactly caused this morning's aborted countdown until they are able to reach the launch pad later today.

Ground crews are waiting for the Delta 2 rocket to be drained of liquid oxygen and kerosene propellants, then they will enter the pad to troubleshoot the problem with the launch pad's water deluge system.

Dunn said an engineer responsible for the water system could not verify that the deluge system was operating normally, resulting in a mandatory hold in the countdown at about T-minus 45 seconds.

"What that deluge system does is it protects the launch mount from the high temperatures of the launch, and it gives some amount of suppression from that huge shockwave from the ignition of the engine," Dunn said.

"It's a bit of a disappointment for the launch team when you have a great countdown up to that point," Dunn said. "However, these are things we prepare for. We're a professional team. We know how to handle this."

Depending on the specific issue that caused the abort, officials say the next launch attempt could occur as soon as Wednesday, July 2.

"We'll have a little more information later, once we're able to evaluate the system properly," Dunn said. "Right now, we've got the team leaning forward ... and preparing for a launch attempt on July 2."

But if the problem requires more extensive repairs, launch could be delayed longer.

 

[IronRain]

Next try tomorrow:

So disappointed that we didn't go. Same time same place tomorrow folks! #OCO2

 

[boogabooga]

Actually, we won't know for sure until after the problem with the water deluge has been identified.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Actually, we won't know for sure until after the problem with the water deluge has been identified.

And done:

July 1, 2014

MEDIA ADVISORY M14-113

Launch of NASA's Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 Rescheduled for July 2

The launch of NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2 at 5:56 a.m. EDT (2:56 a.m. PDT) from Space Launch Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The launch team has completed troubleshooting of the launch pad water suppression system that resulted in the scrub of the launch attempt Tuesday. A valve that is part of the pulse suppression water system, which had operated properly during tests shortly before the launch countdown, failed to function properly during the final minutes of the launch attempt. The failed valve has been replaced with a spare, and the system is being tested in preparation for Wednesday's launch attempt.

The OCO-2 mission will produce the most detailed picture to date of natural sources of carbon dioxide, as well as their "sinks" -- places on Earth’s surface where carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere. The observatory will study how these sources and sinks are distributed around the globe and how they change over time.

The launch weather forecast is unchanged with a 100 percent chance of favorable conditions at liftoff, which is targeted for 5:56:23 EDT (2:56:23 PDT) at the opening of a 30-second launch window.

NASA Television coverage will begin at 3:45 a.m. EDT (12:45 a.m. PDT) Wednesday. For NASA TV downlink and schedule information and streaming video, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, is responsible for project management of OCO-2. Orbital Sciences Corp., built the OCO-2 spacecraft. NASA’s Launch Services Program at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida provides launch management. United Launch Alliance of Centennial, Colorado, is NASA’s launch service provider for the Delta II rocket.
For more information about OCO-2, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/oco2
-end-

 

[DaveS]

The MST is in progress of being moved to the launch position.

 

[boogabooga]

Live coverage again.

---------- Post added at 05:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:10 AM ----------

liftoff

 

[IronRain]

Good lift-off, now coasting for 40 minutes for second burn.

 

[boogabooga]

ULA updated their data display. Numbers are now readable, but less info provided.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Spacecraft separation has been confirmed. Yes! :11sign: