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

[boogabooga]

Periapsis altitude will always be negative if there is still a few hundred m/s to make up before achieving a circular orbit. Anyone that thinks that saying "periapsis was negative X while remaining delta-V was Y" is sufficient information to determine that there was an anomaly simply doesn't understand orbital mechanics.

Also, that article you linked is highly speculative. You can't simply compare the burn time of the booster core between different launches of entirely different payloads. The RD-180s are throttled differently depending on the payload, how many solid boosters are attached, etc. It isn't 100% throttle 100% of the time.

Sorry, but I don't see any evidence here that there was a major problem.

 

[mike-c]

Also, that article you linked is highly speculative. You can't simply compare the burn time of the booster core between different launches of entirely different payloads. The RD-180s are throttled differently depending on the payload, how many solid boosters are attached, etc. It isn't 100% throttle 100% of the time.

Agree.
Beeing without access to internal trajectory data (have you?).

I wait for the stament from ULA to come.

Still the author of mentioned article used to keepby the numbers.

 

[Messierhunter]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but there does seem to officially have been a premature cutoff of the RD-180, not just based on prior launches but on the planned burn length for the first stage of this launch.
"The review of the issue – currently believed to be related to an imbalance in the fuel mix ratio usage during the RD-180 burn with the Atlas V booster – is already taking place as part of the nominal post-launch review at ULA.
The results will then be discussed with partners, such as the USAF, and has already fed into Atlas V’s next mission in May, which involves the launch of the MUOS-5 communications satellite for the US Navy.

This mission has now been delayed slightly to May 12 to allow ULA time to “further review the data anomaly experienced during the OA-6 mission. The delay will allow additional time to review the data and to confirm readiness for the MUOS-5 mission."
https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/03/cygnus-iss-arrival-ula-investigate-atlas-v-launch/

I've never known the above site to speculate launch anomalies that did not actually exist. I agree though that the periapsis being negative in altitude seconds before cutoff seems quite normal for any given launch regardless of under-performance by the first stage.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

I've never known the above site to speculate launch anomalies that did not actually exist. I agree though that the periapsis being negative in altitude seconds before cutoff seems quite normal for any given launch regardless of under-performance by the first stage.

That is normal. The abnormality is that it took another full minute of burn beyond the projected cut-off to get to that point.

 

[Messierhunter]

That is normal. The abnormality is that it took another full minute of burn beyond the projected cut-off to get to that point.

That's what I mean, it's normal regardless of first stage under-performance.

 

[boogabooga]

The first stage anomaly is confirmed by ULA and has delayed the next MUOS launch indefinitely:

http://www.ulalaunch.com/

 

[mike-c]

the reliable

Atlas V has never failed yet...
Launch record from:

http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/atlas5.html

======================================================================================
 Date    Vehicle      ID    Payload              Mass Site*   Orbit            Orbit
                                                 kg          (kmxkmxdeg)       Type**
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08/21/02 Atlas 5-401  AV001 Hot Bird 6           3905  CC41  315x45863x17.82    GTO+
05/13/03 Atlas 5-401  AV002 HellaSat 2           3440  CC41  312x85457x17       GTO+
07/17/03 Atlas 5-521  AV003 Rainbow 1            4328  CC41  3790x35845x17.5    GTO+
12/17/04 Atlas 5-521  AV005 AMC-16               4200  CC41  4761x34611x27.2    GTO
03/11/05 Atlas 5-431  AV004 Inmarsat 4F1 (4A)    5945  CC41  440x90500x21       GTO+ 
08/12/05 Atlas 5-401  AV007 MRO Mars Orbiter     2180  CC41                     HCO
01/19/06 Atlas 5-551  AV010 Pluto New Horizons    478  CC41                     HCO
04/20/06 Atlas 5-411  AV008 Astra 1KR            4332  CC41  6212x37786x23.97   GTO+
03/09/07 Atlas 5-401  AV013 STP-1 (OES+)         1400  CC41  560x560x35.4       LEO
06/15/07 Atlas 5-401  AV009 NROL-30R                   CC41 [842x1186x63.35]   [LEO](2)
10/11/07 Atlas 5-421  AV011 WGS-SV1              5770  CC41  477x66847x20.1     GTO+
12/10/07 Atlas 5-401  AV015 NROL-24 (SDS?)             CC41  261x16776x60       EEO/M
03/13/08 Atlas 5-411  AV006 NRO L-28                   VA3E  1200x39000x63      EEO/M
04/14/08 Atlas 5-421  AV014 ICO G1               6630  CC41  187x35925x22.7     GTO
04/04/09 Atlas 5-421  AV016 WGS F2               5987  CC41  408x66811x20.93    GTO+
06/18/09 Atlas 5-401  AV020 LRO/LCROSS           2810  CC41  194x353700x28      HTO
09/08/09 Atlas 5-401  AV018 PAN                  3000? CC41                     GTO+?
10/18/09 Atlas 5-401  AV017 DMSP-18              1200  VA3E  857kmx99deg        LEO/S
11/23/09 Atlas 5-431  AV024 Intelsat 14          5614  CC41  6037x36823x22.48   GTO+
02/11/10 Atlas 5-401  AV021 SDO                  3100  CC41  2498x35318x28.52   GTO
04/22/10 Atlas 5-501  AV012 X-37B OTV-1          4989  CC41  400x400x40         LEO
08/14/10 Atlas 5-531  AV019 AEHF-1               6170  CC41  222x50245x22.2     GTO+
09/21/10 Atlas 5-501  AV025 NROL-41                    VA3E  1100x1100x123      LEO/R 
03/05/11 Atlas 5-501  AV026 X-37 OTV-2          ~5300  CC41                     LEO
04/15/11 Atlas 5-401  AV027 NROL-34             ~6000? VA3E  1,000x1,000x63.4   LEO
05/07/11 Atlas 5-401  AV022 SBIRS-GEO 1          4833  CC41  185x35786x21.64    GTO
08/05/11 Atlas 5-551  AV029 Juno                 3625  CC41                     HCO
11/26/11 Atlas 5-541  AV028 MSL                  3839  CC41                     HCO
02/24/12 Atlas 5-551  AV030 MUOS 1               6740  CC41  3461x35786x19      GTO
05/04/12 Atlas 5-531  AV031 AEHF-2               6170  CC41  222x50244x20.7     GTO+
06/20/12 Atlas 5-401  AV023 NROL-38                    CC41                     GTO?
08/32/12 Atlas 5-401  AV032 RBSP A/B             1316  CC41  601x30709x10       EEO
09/13/12 Atlas 5-401  AV033 NROL-36             ~6000  VA3E  1000x1000x63.4?    LEO?
12/11/12 Atlas 5-501  AV034 OTV-3(X37B-1F2)     ~5000  CC41  343x360x43.5       LEO 
01/31/13 Atlas 5-401  AV036 TDRS-K               3454  CC41  4313x35789x25.9    GTO+
02/11/13 Atlas 5-401  AV035 LDCM                 2770  VA3E  661x676x98.2       LEO/S
03/19/13 Atlas 5-401  AV037 SBIRS GEO2          ~4500  CC41  185x35786x22.19    GTO 
05/15/13 Atlas 5-401  AV039 GPS 2F-4             1540  CC41  20200x55           MEO
07/19/13 Atlas 5-551  AV040 MUOS 2               6740  CC41  3802x35787x19.1    GTO
09/18/13 Atlas 5-531  AV041 AEHF 3               6169  CC41  225x50000x20.9     GTO
11/18/13 Atlas 5-401  AV038 MAVEN                2540  CC41                     HCO
12/06/13 Atlas 5-501  AV042 NROL 39                    VA3E  1100x1100x123      LEO/R
01/24/14 Atlas 5-401  AV043 TDRS-L               3454  CC41  4839x35788x25.5    GTO+
04/03/14 Atlas 5-401  AV044 DMSP F19             1200  VA3E  853x853x98.87      LEO/S
04/10/14 Atlas 5-541  AV045 NROL-67                    CC41                     GEO?
05/22/14 Atlas 5-401  AV046 NROL-33                    CC41                     GTO?
08/02/14 Atlas 5-401  AV048 GPS 2F7              1630  CC41  20200x55           MEO
08/13/14 Atlas 5-401  AV047 Worldview 3          2812  VA3E  607x629x97.97      LEO/S
09/17/14 Atlas 5-401  AV049 CLIO                       CC41                     GTO+
10/29/14 Atlas 5-401  AV050 GPS 2F-8             1630  CC41  20200x55           MEO
12/13/14 Atlas 5-541  AV051 NROL 35                    VA3E  2101x37748x62.85   EEO/M(3)
01/21/15 Atlas 5-551  AV052 MUOS 3               6740  CC41  3817x35787x19.11   GTO
03/13/15 Atlas 5-421  AV053 MMS                  5440  CC41  580x70279x28.78    EEO
05/20/15 Atlas 5-501  AV054 AFSPC 5 (X37B OTV4?) 5000+ CC41                     LEO
07/15/15 Atlas 5-401  AV055 GPS 2F-10            1630  CC41  20200x55           MEO  
09/02/15 Atlas 5-551  AV056 MUOS 4               6740  CC41  3819x35786x19.11   GTO+
10/02/15 Atlas 5-412  AV059 Morelos 3            5300  CC41  4797x35788x26.99   GTO
10/08/15 Atlas 5-401  AV058 NROL 55 (NOSS 3-7)         VA3E  1013x1200x63.43    LEO 
10/31/15 Atlas 5-401  AV060 GPS 2F-11            1630  CC41  20426x20486x55     MEO
12/06/15 Atlas 5-401  AV061 Cygnus/OA-4          7492  CC41  230x51.6           LEO/ISS
02/05/16 Atlas 5-401  AV057 GPS 2F-12            1630  CC41  20426x20486x55     MEO
03/23/16 Atlas 5-401  AV064 Cygnus OA-6         ~7495  CC41  230x51.6           LEO/ISS[4]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2)Centaur shut down about four seconds early during its second burn, 
leaving the twin NOSS payloads in an unannounced low transfer orbit. 
Two weeks after the launch, U.S. Air Force officials reported that 
liquid hydrogen had leaked through a valve that failed to close 
properly during the coast phase, leading to a propellant shortage 
during the second burn. Amateur observers tracked the payloads, 
in 842 x 1186 km x 63.35 deg orbits, lower than the expected 
1,000 x 1,200 km x 63.4 deg. The satellites reportedly would be 
able to move themselves to operational orbits despite the shortfall.

(3) First RL10C-1 engine flight.
 
[4] Atlas booster shut down ~5-6 sec early.  Centaur burned more than one minute 
      longer than planned to reach orbit.  Deorbit missed target.

*Site Code:

CC = Cape Canaveral, FL, USA
CC37B = Space Launch Complex 37B: Delta 4 
CC41 = Space Launch Complex 41: Atlas 5

VA = Vandenberg AFB, CA, USA
VA3E = Space Launch Complex 3E: Atlas 5
VA6 = Space Launch Complex 6: Delta 4

**Orbit Code:

Took Mercury 7 into orbit

50 years of Atlas

​

 

[boogabooga]

The Atlas that took Mercury 7 into orbit was entirely different and failed MANY times. Similarity is in name only.

 

[boogabooga]

The cause of the anomaly appears to be the with the mixture ratio control valve.
http://www.universetoday.com/128069...r-atlas-v-launch-anomaly-flights-resume-soon/

 

[orb]

Cygnus OA-6 is being unberthed from ISS now.

 

[orb]

Cygnus release and departure coverage now on NASA TV:
http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

 

[orb]

Cygnus OA-6 reentered the atmosphere today at 13:29 UTC / 9:29 a.m. EDT.

 

[orb]

Nice video of the reentry:
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa56gGA-fKE"]Cygnus OA6 Reentry - YouTube[/ame]

 

[orb]

NASASpaceflight.com: Antares readying for RTF with OA-5 Cygnus, waiting on a launch date

 

[IronRain]

Spaceflightnow.com: Managers set Oct. 13 for first Antares launch in two years

NASA and Orbital ATK officials have set Oct. 13 as the target date for the first Antares launch in nearly two years, giving approval for ground crews to load final cargo into the mission’s Cygnus supply carrier heading for the International Space Station.

A flight readiness review Monday cleared the way for final launch preparations at Wallops Island, Virginia, leading up to liftoff Oct. 13 at 9:13 p.m. EDT (0113 GMT on Oct. 14).

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Critical Antares rocket launch set for Friday night

Spaceflightnow.com: http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/10/critical-antares-rocket-launch-set-for-friday-night/

The debut launch of an upgraded version of Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket has slipped to Friday after ground teams resolved a minor vehicle issue and made emergency preparations for Hurricane Matthew, which bypassed the Antares launch site on Virginia’s Eastern Shore this weekend.

The two-stage booster, powered by new RD-181 engines from Russia, is set for blastoff from pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at 8:51 p.m. EDT Friday (0051 GMT Saturday), Orbital ATK said in an update Monday.

A view of the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft (right) undergoing final preparations for this week’s launch. Credit: Orbital ATK

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Hurricane Nicole prompts Antares launch delay to Sunday

Spaceflightnow.com: http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/10/11/hurricane-nicole-prompts-antares-launch-delay-to-sunday/

The threat from Hurricane Nicole churning toward a tracking station in Bermuda will keep Orbital ATK’s Antares rocket from launching on a space station cargo run until at least Sunday, officials said Tuesday.

The logistics was previously set to blast off Friday, after an earlier delay partially prompted by emergency preparations for Hurricane Matthew at the launch site, along with an issue encountered during final flight preparations.

That storm turned out to sea and did not affect the Wallops launch base, but a different hurricane now stands in the way of the launch.

Hurricane Nicole is forecast to pass over or near Bermuda on Thursday as a Category 2 storm with maximum winds near 105 mph, based on an outlook issued Tuesday night by the National Hurricane Center.

File photo of NASA’s tracking station on Cooper’s Island, Bermuda. Credit: NASA

A GOES weather satellite image of Hurricane Nicole in the Atlantic Ocean late Tuesday, with Bermuda highlighted in red. Credit: NOAA/Bermuda Weather Service

However, according to an official media statement by NASA, 2 prelaunch broadcasts will be aired.

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/atlantic-storm-system-delays-nasa-resupply-launch-to-space-station

NASA TV will air two prelaunch broadcasts Saturday, Oct. 15. At 4 p.m., scientists and researchers will discuss some of the investigations to be delivered to the station and, at 6 p.m., mission managers will provide an overview and status of launch operations. The briefings also will stream live on the agency’s website.