Updates Orbital Sciences' Cygnus CRS Flight 1 through Flight 8 updates.

[MattBaker]

Ariane 5 seems like a bit of overkill from a payload perspective. Then again it might actually be cheaper than the ULA alternatives.

Seems like the question is if those companies are able to put out a couple of rockets extra in such a short timeframe. If they are I think SpaceX would be the best for the job but then all US supplies are dependent on a Falcon 9 which might have trouble, too.

I'm happy that I don't have to make those decisions.:lol:

 

[boogabooga]

Wow.

If Orbital has to launch Cygnus on a competitor's launch vehicle, that would be quite a slice of humble pie.

I'm not sure Ariane would be politically viable, since it defeats the entire purpose of the program- to return launch capability to the U.S.

Between ULA and SpaceX, tough call.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Hrm... there's two (maybe three) launchers that ULA could field for the Cygnus, depending on the launch mass of Cygnus. I can't seem to find any solid figures for the launch mass of a Cygnus, but it may be within range of the Delta II. (Yes, there are still a few of them around, and there may be one more without a mission, so perhaps they could use that one?)
Alternately, could they increase their cargo haul by using a larger vehicle like an Atlas V 551?

 

[DaveS]

Hrm... there's two (maybe three) launchers that ULA could field for the Cygnus, depending on the launch mass of Cygnus. I can't seem to find any solid figures for the launch mass of a Cygnus, but it may be within range of the Delta II. (Yes, there are still a few of them around, and there may be one more without a mission, so perhaps they could use that one?)
Alternately, could they increase their cargo haul by using a larger vehicle like an Atlas V 551?

No Delta IIs available for Cygnus and the only Delta II pad available is at Vandenberg AFB, SLC-2W. And it is not within the Delta II's capability either from CCAFS or VAFB.

And AV 551 is way overkill. I believe at 401 could do it.

 

[ISProgram]

Antares has a LEO capacity of roughly 5,100-6,120 kg.

They mentioned having two US launch options and one European option.

The only European option is Soyuz via Arianespace.

Atlas V 401 OR 501, if you're not sure the fairing will fit the Enhanced Cygnus, gets about 10,470/8,120 kg LEO. That's enough.

Delta IV (4,2) gets 12,470 kg to LEO. (5,4) gets 11,620 kg.

Falcon 9 gets 13,150 kg to LEO, but I don't see OSC doing business with them, even if they are cheap.

Ariane 5 isn't a option, they already said this. It's overpowered and incompatible anyhow.

It should be noted that Atlas V and Falcon 9 are pretty much booked for a few years, and there are a few spare Soyuz given the delayed Galileo FM02 flight.

 

[boogabooga]

(Yes, there are still a few of them around, and there may be one more without a mission, so perhaps they could use that one?)

I hope not. Retired launch vehicles without missions...end up in museums.

:tiphat:

 

[RisingFury]

Hmm, I wonder how soon we'll see Cygnus fly on a Falcon 9/Atlas/Delta/Ariane.

Just to add insult to injury?

 

[ISProgram]

Gosh Gee , Antares!

 

[Quick_Nick]

Gosh Gee , Antares!

GoPro Hero Camera Captures Awesome Sight Of Antares Orb-3 Rocket Explosion - YouTube

That's one resilient water tower.

http://www.zerognews.com/inferno-ov...-and-video-account-of-antares-launch-failure/

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Gosh Gee , Antares!

GoPro Hero Camera Captures Awesome Sight Of Antares Orb-3 Rocket Explosion - YouTube

I see your GoPro footage and raise you one from INSIDE the fireball:

 

[ISProgram]

I see your GoPro footage and raise you one from INSIDE the fireball:

INSIDE THE FIREBALL! GoPro Hero 2 & The Inferno When Antares Orb-3 Rocket Blows Up - YouTube

I see YOUR GoPro footage and counter! I think the camera's lens actually cracked in this one. :uhh:

 

[garyw]

Close up photos of the inferno.

More here -> http://www.universetoday.com/116580...rno-up-close-launch-pad-photo-exclusive-pt-1/

 

[Unstung]

While you guys compare pics*, here's a direct consequence of the failure:

Universe Today: "Antares Rocket Failure Pushes Tiny Satellite Company To Hitch Ride With SpaceX"

While it seems unlikely Orbital itself will purchase rockets from its competitor, this accident is turning out well for SpaceX already.

*I win.

 

[ISProgram]

The Environmental Assessment of Wallops following the Antares Mishap.

Looks pretty good, actually.

 

[statickid]

I see YOUR GoPro footage and counter! I think the camera's lens actually cracked in this one. :uhh:

STUNNING VIDEO! Remote Cameras At The Launch Pad Capture The Explosion Of Antares Orb-3 Rocket - YouTube

even still... It kind of just looks like the case window broke, not the actual camera lens! pretty tough!

 

[Thunder Chicken]

The Environmental Assessment of Wallops following the Antares Mishap.

Looks pretty good, actually.

A good hot fire takes care of a lot of chemicals. That's pretty much how they destroy chemical warfare agents - burn them so hot that they break down.

Any surviving carbon fiber probably poses the biggest physical hazard. Impact damaged CFRC makes exceedingly sharp debris. But much of that probably went up in smoke.

 

[Astro SG Wise]

So, I have not been reading or studying this much, but have they finally found out if it was engine failure, or something else?

 

[MaverickSawyer]

So, I have not been reading or studying this much, but have they finally found out if it was engine failure, or something else?

Yes, it appears to have been a oxidizer turbopump failure.

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

While you guys compare pics*, here's a direct consequence of the failure:

Universe Today: "Antares Rocket Failure Pushes Tiny Satellite Company To Hitch Ride With SpaceX"

While it seems unlikely Orbital itself will purchase rockets from its competitor, this accident is turning out well for SpaceX already.

*I win.

Well this rumor turns out to be untrue - Cygnus CRS-4 will instead launch on an Atlas V 401 in 4Q 2015! :hotcool:

According to Orbital the use of the Atlas V will mean that CRS-4 can carry 30% more cargo than the originally planned cargo for CRS-4 and CRS-5 combined (=what they planned to fly in 2015)! Afterwards "Antares II" will come back to Wallops for a hot firing in late 2015 with RTF in 1Q 2016 on CRS-5 (which could be moved to a 2nd Atlas V if Antares II falls behind schedule).

The new 1st stage engines (rumored to be the RD-193 engine derived from Atlas V's RD-180 and Angara's RD-191) means that "Antares II" will provide 20% more cargo capability on the Cygnus than on the original Antares 130 series, which means that Orbital can cut 1 of its 8 CRS flights and still be able to finish the contract (with CRS-5 in 1Q 2016, CRS-6 in 2Q 2016 and CRS-7 in 4Q 2016).

And....of course I have already made an Atlas V/Cygnus launch scenario! (requires LRO, Cygnus/Antares and ISS AtoZ add-ons, plus the configuration files attached below that should be put in the /Config/Beta directory)

BEGIN_DESC
Atlas V contingency flight launching a Cygnus logistics craft to the ISS at 18:21 UTC. Press P for autopilot at T-10 sec.
END_DESC

BEGIN_ENVIRONMENT
  System Sol
  Date MJD 57147.725
END_ENVIRONMENT

BEGIN_FOCUS
  AtlasV_Cygnus
END_FOCUS

BEGIN_CAMERA
  TARGET AtlasV_Cygnus
  MODE Extern
  POS 5.62 -86.04 52.84
  TRACKMODE TargetRelative
  FOV 40.00
END_CAMERA

BEGIN_HUD
  TYPE Surface
END_HUD

BEGIN_MFD Left
  TYPE Surface
  SPDMODE 1
END_MFD

BEGIN_MFD Right
  TARGET AtlasV_Cygnus
  MODE Extern
  POS 5.62 -86.04 52.84
  TRACKMODE Ground Earth
  GROUNDLOCATION -80.58341 28.58224 15.92
  FOV 40.00
END_MFD

BEGIN_SHIPS
ISS:ProjectAlpha_ISS
  STATUS Orbiting Earth
  RPOS 1352306.82 2068948.73 6318518.70
  RVEL -6794.811 3541.516 288.853
  AROT 100.26 45.81 167.82
  VROT -0.06 0.00 0.00
  AFCMODE 7
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000000
  IDS 0:588 10 1:586 10 2:584 10 3:582 10 4:580 10
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  XPDR 466
END
AtlasV_Cygnus:Vessels/LRO/AV020
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.5828310 28.5834560
  HEADING 100
  FUEL 1.000
  CONFIG_FILE Config\Beta\AtlasV_Cygnus.ini
  GUIDANCE_FILE Config\Beta\AV_guidance_ISS.txt
  CONFIGURATION 0
  CURRENT_BOOSTER 1
  CURRENT_STAGE 1
  CURRENT_PAYLOAD 1
  FAIRING 1
END
LC41:Vessels/B_SLC41/b_slc41
  STATUS Landed Earth
  POS -80.5828310 28.5834560
  HEADING 180.00
  PRPLEVEL 0:1.000
  THLEVEL 0:1.000 3:1.000
  NAVFREQ 0 0
  UMB 0 0.0000
END
END_SHIPS

 

[Unstung]

Well this rumor turns out to be untrue - Cygnus CRS-4 will instead launch on an Atlas V 401 in 4Q 2015! :hotcool:

Uh, what rumor? That article was about secondary payloads on Antares switching providers from Orbital, not Cygnus launching on a Falcon 9. The decision for Orbital to purchase an Atlas V was pretty predictable.