Launch News COSMO-SkyMed 4 on Delta II from Vandenberg AFB

[Star Voyager]

The 350th Delta rocket will launch an Italian radar imaging satellite from SLC-2W at Vandenberg AFB. The launch will take place Friday, October 29 at 10:20 p.m. EDT. The launch vehicle is a ULA Delta II in the 7420-10 configuration. Here are some links (more to come soon):

http://ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Launch.shtml#/12/
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[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1]Oct. 29/30[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-1] Delta 2 • COSMO-SkyMed 4[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2]Launch time:[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=-2] [SIZE=-2]0220 GMT on 30th (10:20 p.m. EDT on 29th)[/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Launch site: SLC-2W, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California[/FONT][/SIZE]
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[SIZE=-2][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The United Launch Alliance Delta 2 rocket will deploy the fourth Italian COSMO-SkyMed radar Earth-imaging satellite. The X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar payload on the spacecraft will be used for civil and military applications. The rocket will fly in the 7420-10 vehicle configuration. ULA will conduct this commercial launch for Boeing.[/FONT][/SIZE]

 

[orb]

Here's calendar event for this launch, and here you can request a reminder for this event.

 

[Star Voyager]

Launch delayed to Oct. 31 at 10:20 p.m. EDT:

Oct. 31 Delta 2 • COSMO-SkyMed 4
Launch window: 7:20 p.m. local time (10:20 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-2W, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/

Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Date: Oct. 31
Launch Window: 7:20 p.m.

 

[orb]

Spaceflight Now's Mission Status Center for this launch.

Making its one and only launch of the year, the venerable Delta 2 rocket awaits a Halloween launch Sunday night from California to complete an orbiting quartet of Italian reconnaissance satellites.

The rocket's launch opportunity is a scant moment in time, meaning liftoff must happen at exactly 7:20:07 p.m. PDT (10:20:07 p.m. EDT) or else wait until another day.

Such a restrictive window is dictated by the satellite mounted atop the 12-story booster. Launching at that specific time ensures optimum insertion of the payload into the desired orbit from the Vandenberg Air Force Base launch pad.

---------- Post added at 23:11 ---------- Previous post was at 20:09 ----------

Spaceflight Now: Delta 2 rocket stands ready for launch (PHOTO GALLERY).

---------- Post added at 23:33 ---------- Previous post was at 23:11 ----------

Viewing the Launch Online: A live simulcast of the TV broadcast of the launch will be available at 6:15 p.m. PDT / 9:15 p.m. EDT / 01:15 UTC launch day via this link to video stream.

Live coverage for the launch [eventtimer]2010-11-1 1:15?will start in|started;%c% %h% hours, %m%[/eventtimer] minutes[eventtimer]2010-11-1 1:15?.| ago.;%c%[/eventtimer]

---------- Post added 1st Nov 2010 at 01:23 ---------- Previous post was 31st Oct 2010 at 23:33 ----------

Less than 2 hours until the launch now.

Spaceflight Now:

• Delta 350 launch timeline
• Delta 2 launch ground track
• The Delta 2 rocket

Ground track (Credit: ULA):

An illustration of the Delta 2 rocket with COSMO. (Credit: ULA):

---------- Post added at 02:01 ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 ----------

NASASpaceFlight: Delta II set for 350th and last scheduled commercial launch with COSMO-4:

The Delta II will make what is expected to be its last commercial launch this morning, as it orbits COSMO-4, the fourth and last COSMO-SkyMed radar imaging satellite, for the Italian government. The mission will mark the 350th launch of a Delta rocket. Launch will take placed from Space Launch Complex 2W at the Vandenberg Air Force Base, at 02:20:07 UTC.
...

 

[Star Voyager]

Coverage is up and Doug Shores is the PAO. T-66 minutes to launch!

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:14 PM ----------

Everything is still in "go" condition.

 

[orb]

SCRUB. Tonight's launch attempt is being called off due to a technical concern that has arisen.

 

[River Crab]

The launch was scrubbed? :blink:
Edit:
Yep, scrubbed due to unnamed technical concern. Broadcast ended.

Spaceflight now:

6:54 p.m. PDT (9:54 p.m. EDT)
SCRUB. Tonight's launch attempt is being called off due to a technical concern that has arisen.

6:56 p.m. PDT (9:56 p.m. EDT)
A worry has popped up and officials have decided to postpone the launch until tomorrow night. There's not enough time to sort through the situation and get the rocket off the ground in tonight's one-second liftoff opportunity.

6:58 p.m. PDT (9:58 p.m. EDT)
The launch team will prepare for another countdown tomorrow night for liftoff at 7:20 p.m. PDT (10:20 p.m. EDT), assuming the issue can be resolved in time.

---------- Post added at 22:50 ---------- Previous post was at 21:54 ----------

ULA launch news:

...
During the terminal launch countdown Sunday, an engine section heater did not operate properly. The heater is designed to keep the Delta 2's engine components warm during the fueling of the rocket prior to flight. To allow engineers the time required to correct this issue, the scheduled Sunday launch attempt was delayed 24 hours. Updates to the COSMO-SkyMed 4 mission status will be issued as new information becomes available.
...

 

[N_Molson]

Still from SpaceFlight Now :

Liftoff is reset for Monday at 7:20 p.m. PDT (10:20 p.m. EDT).

 

[orb]

Per Spaceflight Now MSC:

The great weather enjoyed last night will continue for tonight's launch opportunity, Air Force meteorologists say.

With high pressure dominating the weather pattern at Vandenberg Air Force Base, the forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of conditions within the Delta 2 rocket's launch criteria.

The launch time outlook includes just a couple high cirrus clouds around 30,000 feet, visibility of seven miles, northwesterly winds of 15 to 20 knots and a temperature between 62 and 67 degrees F.
________________________________________

The live coverage for the second launch attempt, using this media stream [eventtimer]2010-11-2 1:15?will begin in|began;%c% %h% hours and %m%[/eventtimer] minutes[eventtimer]2010-11-2 1:15?.| ago.;%c%[/eventtimer]

---------- Post added 2nd Nov 2010 at 00:17 ---------- Previous post was 1st Nov 2010 at 22:52 ----------

Terminal Countdown - T-150 minutes and counting - 3 hours from launch (2 countdown holds yet ahead).

The exact launch time being targeted is 7:20:06 p.m. PDT / 10:20:06 p.m. EDT / 02:20:06 UTC, one second earlier than last night.

---------- Post added at 02:17 ---------- Previous post was at 00:17 ----------

An hour from the launch. Live coverage video stream is up and running.

 

[Star Voyager]

No issues are being worked at this time, all remains "go". Launch controllers are now being polled for proceeding with the count.

---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:48 PM ----------

All stations and launch director are "ready"!

---------- Post added at 09:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 PM ----------

T-15 minutes and counting!

---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

Everything is "go", no issues are being worked at this time, weather is also 100% "go". The last built-in hold will be at T-4 minutes.

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T-4 minutes and holding. This is a 10 minute built-in hold. COSMO 4 is being prepped for liftoff.

---------- Post added at 10:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:04 PM ----------

Here are some mission stats:

•The 350th Delta rocket launch since 1960
•The third Delta of 2010
•The 148th Delta 2 rocket mission since 1989
•The 39th Delta 2 rocket launch from Vandenberg AFB
•The 46th commercial mission for Delta 2
•The 20th commercial Delta 2 from Vandenberg
•ULA's 7th commercial Delta 2 conducted for Boeing
•The fourth of four COSMO-SkyMed satellites

---------- Post added at 10:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------

All launch controllers again poll "ready"!

---------- Post added at 10:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 PM ----------

T-4 minutes and counting!

 

[River Crab]

Countdown resumed. T-4 minutes. COSMO-SkyMed 4 is configured for launch.

---------- Post added at 22:16 ---------- Previous post was at 22:13 ----------

A problem has arisen...holding...

:blink: Scrubbed.

 

[Star Voyager]

A hold has been declared. Launch enable is off, countdown clocks are holding. This means it's a scrub.

 

[River Crab]

Spaceflight Now:

7:18 p.m. PDT (10:18 p.m. EDT)
HOLD! Countdown clock has stopped due to a problem.

7:18 p.m. PDT (10:18 p.m. EDT)
With only one-second to launch the Delta 2 rocket tonight into the COSMO-SkyMed satellite constellation, this automatically scrubs the liftoff attempt.

---------- Post added at 23:22 ---------- Previous post was at 22:19 ----------

7:24 p.m. PDT (10:24 p.m. EDT)
The launch countdown was stopped just before T-minus 2 minutes when a nitrogen purge problem was reported. An engineer announced there wasn't sufficient flow in the system. The clock was halted and the launch team went into the standard safing procedures.

8:10 p.m. PDT (11:10 p.m. EDT)
Rocket-maker United Launch Alliance says the Delta 2 will take another shot at launching Tuesday evening. Tonight's scrub was called for a nitrogen purge problem in the vehicle's aft engine section.

"During the terminal launch countdown Monday, mission managers noted an insufficient flow of gaseous nitrogen in the Delta 2 engine compartment. Gaseous nitrogen is used to ensure that critical components in close proximity to cryogenic propulsion systems are kept warm," ULA's press statement reads.

"To allow engineers the time required to correct this issue, the launch attempt is delayed 24 hours."

Tuesday's launch time is 7:20 p.m. EDT. The great weather is forecast to continue.

Well, lets hope for a Tuesday launch... :hail:

 

[Pyromaniac605]

I'm gonna miss this.

Darren

 

[orb]

Today's launch attempt is in 5 hours. The Delta II is set for liftoff at exactly 7:20:05 p.m. PDT / 10:20:05 p.m. EDT / 02:20:05 UTC with a one second launch window.

However, there are also bad news, if you wanted to watch the launch live:

Due to the nationwide television coverage of the mid-term elections, broadcast satellite time is not available tonight to broadcast the launch of the Delta II COSMO SkyMed-4 launch live. Therefore, the launch will not be available to watch on either the ULA or Boeing Web sites, as was available for the past two launch attempts. The Web site http://www.spaceflightnow.com, will be providing a launch countdown blog of tonight’s launch beginning at 4 p.m. PDT.

Now, I want it to be scrubbed tonight too.

 

[Star Voyager]

Well, here she is, all briddled and saddled, ready to go:

SLC-2W's Mobile Service Tower (MST) has been rolled back for tonight's launch. Weather remains a strong 100% "go" along the Californian coast. T-0 is still the same time.

 

[SiberianTiger]

She's looking hot!

 

[Star Voyager]

Didn't you have a name of a mature Russian girl? I'm sure it could serve as a proper description !

---------- Post added at 09:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

As a picturesque California backdrop, the launch team is now performing gimbal tests to assure the Delta II can steer itself during ascent, commonly known as "slewing". There are approximately 45 minutes left until T-0, and we're now at T-15 minutes and holding.

---------- Post added at 09:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:33 PM ----------

All launch controllers say "ready" for launch! The count will be picked back up momentarily.

---------- Post added at 09:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:53 PM ----------

We're at T-15 minutes and counting, the last built-in hold will be at T-4 minutes.

---------- Post added at 09:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

Meanwhile, here's another good-looking photo from Vandenberg AFB's website:

---------- Post added at 10:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:57 PM ----------

The weather still remains "go" for launch. The first stage is now being pressurized for flight.

---------- Post added at 10:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 PM ----------

We're at T-4 minutes and holding. This is a 10 minute hold so that the launch controllers can give their final "ready" for launch.

---------- Post added at 10:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 PM ----------

COSMO 4 is now being configured for ascent.

---------- Post added at 10:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 PM ----------

Again, all launch controllers are "ready" for tonight's launch. The count is about to be released.

---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:13 PM ----------

T-4 minutes and counting! Cross your fingers...

---------- Post added at 10:14 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

All systems are being switched to internal power.

---------- Post added at 10:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------

COSMO payload is "go" for launch at T-2 minutes.

---------- Post added at 10:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:15 PM ----------

Standby for final 10 second count.

---------- Post added at 10:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 PM ----------

HOLD! The count has been halted and it's another scrub for tonight!

---------- Post added at 10:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:18 PM ----------

Two alarms were sounding within the T-60 second mark.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Didn't you have a name of a mature Russian girl? I'm sure it could serve as a proper description !

Do you mean, it's appropriate to address her with addition of patronymic name? :lol:

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Well, here she is, all briddled and saddled, ready to go:

-snip-

SLC-2W's Mobile Service Tower (MST) has been rolled back for tonight's launch. Weather remains a strong 100% "go" along the Californian coast. T-0 is still the same time.

What saddle? I see no saddle! :lol:

Darren