Launch News (SUCCESS!) Atlas V Launched SBIRS GEO Flight 3 for the U.S. Air Force

[Nicholas Kang]

Live broadcast has ended!

Jan. 19, 2017, 8:36 p.m. EST Update: The launch date is postponed due to a violation of Eastern Range safety criteria.

The launch is planned for Friday, Jan. 20, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The launch window is 7:42-8:22 p.m. EST.

Mission Overview:http://www.ulalaunch.com/uploads/docs/Mission_Booklets/AV/av_sbirsgeoflight3_mob.pdf

Live broadcast:http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast

Rocket/Payload: An Atlas V 401 will launch the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO Flight 3 mission for the U.S. Air Force.

Date/Site/Launch Time: Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017, from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The 40-minute launch window opens at 7:46 p.m. EST.

Live Broadcast: Tune in to ULA’s live launch day broadcast beginning at 7:26 p.m. EST.

Mission Description: SBIRS, considered one of the nation's highest priority space programs, is designed to provide global, persistent, infrared surveillance capabilities to meet 21st century demands in four national security mission areas including: missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

Launch Notes: SBIRS GEO Flight 3 will be ULA’s first launch of 2017 and the 69th Atlas V mission overall. This mission marks the 34th Atlas V mission in the 401 configuration; the two previous SBIRS GEO missions also launched on the Atlas V 401 rocket.

Spaceflightnow.com:http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/01/1...lite-for-early-warning-alerts-awaits-liftoff/

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will boost the third Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite, or SBIRS GEO Flight 3, to orbit from Cape Canaveral during a 40-minute window opening at 7:46 p.m. EST (0046 GMT).

Weighing about 10,000 pounds at launch, the GEO Flight 3 satellite will be injected by the Atlas 5 into a standard geosynchronous transfer orbit with a high point of 22,237 statute miles, low point of 115 miles and inclination of 23.29 degrees to the equator. Separation of the spacecraft from the rocket occurs about 43 minutes after liftoff.

From there, controllers will spend about 9 days performing 6 firings of the craft’s main engine to circularize the orbit before deploying the appendages and commencing the testing campaign.

Illustration of the SBIRS GEO spacecraft. Credit: Lockheed Martin

An artist’s concept of SBIRS GEO in space. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Latest Twitter Updates:

[ame="https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/821073334251225088"]ULA on Twitter: "Watch LIVE! ULA #AtlasV #SBIRS GEO Flight 3 launch on Jan 19; broadcast @ 7:26pmET; launch window opens @ 7:46pmET https://t.co/zCmJR317bI https://t.co/dhrVus5z8B"[/ame]

[ame="https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/821058309566431232"]ULA on Twitter: "Forecast from @45thSpaceWing shows an 80% chance of favorable weather for Thursday's #SBIRS GEO Flight-3 launch. https://t.co/EaaMtyeMXH"[/ame]

Gallery:

The Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Flight 3 satellite is encapsulated in preparation for a Jan. 19 launch. Credit: Lockheed-Martin

SBIRS GEO Flight 3 in the factory before shipment. Credit: Lockheed Martin

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Timeline: Atlas 5/SBIRS GEO Flight 3 ascent

Launch is scheduled for Thursday at 7:46 p.m. EST (0046 GMT).

T+00:01.1 Liftoff

With the RD-180 main engine running, the Atlas 5 vehicle lifts off and begins a vertical rise away from Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

T+00:90.6: Max Q

The Atlas rocket, after breaking the sound barrier at 81 seconds, passes through the region of maximum dynamic pressure during ascent through the lower atmosphere.

T+04:03.2 Main Engine Cutoff

The RD-180 main engine completes its firing after consuming its kerosene and liquid oxygen fuel supply in the Atlas first stage.

T+04:09.2 Stage Separation

The Common Core Booster first stage of the Atlas 5 rocket separates from the Centaur upper stage. Over the next few seconds, the Centaur engine liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are readied for ignition.

+04:19.2 Centaur Ignition 1

The Centaur RL10C-1 engine ignites for the first of two upper stage firings. This burn will inject the Centaur stage and SBIRS spacecraft into an initial parking orbit.

T+04:27.2 Nose Cone Jettison

The payload fairing that protected the SBIRS GEO Flight 3 spacecraft during launch is separated after passage through the atmosphere.

T+15:22.9 Centaur Cutoff 1

The Centaur engine shuts down after arriving in a planned low-Earth parking orbit. The vehicle enters a 9-minute coast period before arriving at the required location in space for the second burn.

T+25:00.1 Centaur Ignition 2

A final push by Centaur is ignited to raise the orbit’s low point and reduce orbital inclination for the SBIRS GEO Flight 3 spacecraft.

T+28:38.3 Centaur Cutoff 2

The powered phase of flight is concluded as the Centaur reaches the planned geosynchronous transfer orbit of 115 by 22,237 statute miles and inclined at 23.29 degrees.

T+43:48.3 Spacecraft Separation

The SBIRS GEO Flight 3 missile warning sentinel is released into orbit from the Centaur upper stage to complete the launch.

Latest Update:

01/18/2017 00:33 LRR: Launch Readiness Review passed for Thursday's mission

United Launch Alliance and Air Force mission authorities today gave approval for rollout of the Atlas 5 rocket to its pad on Wednesday morning, leading to liftoff Thursday evening of a vital early-warning sentinel to detect incoming missile threats.

The Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite No. 3 is scheduled for liftoff at 7:46 p.m. EST (0046 GMT) at the opening of a 40-minute launch window.

Managers convened the final pre-flight review this morning and came to the formal consensus to proceed with the remaining launch preparations, based on the progress of work schedules and the lack of any technical issues.

On Wednesday, the Atlas 5 rocket aboard its mobile launch platform will be rolled from the vertical assembly building to the pad at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41. The move, which covers 1,800 feet of rail track, should take about 45 minutes to complete.

Thursday's countdown will last seven hours.

The launch will be the 69th for the Atlas 5.

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Live webcast available now!

New Broadcast starts soon!

Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go SBIRS GEO Flight 3!

 

[mike-c]

(they) try again....

 

[GLS]

T-150 seconds.

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T-60 seconds

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T0, liftoff!

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RD-180 shutdown, 1º stage separation, RL10 ignition!

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PLF separation!

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First Centaur burn complete, vehicle currently in orbit!

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Final burn underway!

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Shutdown!
Orbit: 98.81nm x 19416nm x 23.313º

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SBIRS separation!

 

[Nicholas Kang]

Great! Live webcast has ended.

Here is the launch video.

Now, mike-c, why try again? I already reuploaded the webcast. Look carefully.

Nicholas.

EDIT: I mean I already reuploaded the webcast before the launch started. Look at the "Last Edited by" at the bottom of the thread.

 

[mike-c]

not you,
they try again (@Nicolas Klang: listen carefully)

your whole post didn't show up for me at midnight. therefore the double