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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67521.jpg) Stephen Clark‏ @StephenClark1 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) 17 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/890285644353863681)

Updates to US launch schedule include new target dates for Falcon 9/CRS 12 (Aug. 14) and Atlas 5/TDRS M (Aug. 20). https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ ... (https://t.co/NrskL6V5dZ)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/165220.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/900750696936505344)

ULA e-mail to media: Atlas V carrying NROL-42 is officially scheduled for Sept. 14 - from SLC-3 at Vandenberg.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166456.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/900751347661852672)

And this one's patch isn't a globe grabbing octopus....but again, there's always small clues about the secret mission in the patches.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166458.png)

ЦитироватьAtlas V to Launch NROL-42

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/235316.jpg)

[/li]
• Rocket: Atlas V 541
• Mission: NROL-42
• Launch Date: Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017
• Live Broadcast: Stay tuned for how you can watch live
• Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 3, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
  

Launch Notes: This launch will be ULA's sixth of 2017 and 121st overall. NROL-42 will be the 25th mission that ULA has launched for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) since the company was founded in 2006. This mission will mark the 73rd Atlas V launch since its inaugural launch on Aug. 21 2002.

Launch Updates:To keep up to speed with updates to the launch countdown, dial the ULA launch hotline at 1-877-852-4321 or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch (https://www.facebook.com/ulalaunch), twitter.com/ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) and instagram.com/ulalaunch (https://instagram.com/ulalaunch); hashtags #AtlasV #NROL42.

Go Atlas! Go Centaur! Go NROL-42!

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/906143317817270272)

The Sept. 14 #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch from Vandenberg has been postponed. Rocket and spacecraft are healthy and secure at SLC-3.

ЦитироватьAtlas V to Launch NROL-42

(Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 8, 2017) - The Atlas V carrying the NROL-42 mission scheduled for Sept. 14 from Vandenberg Air Force Base has been postponed. The launch vehicle and spacecraft are healthy and secure at Space Launch Complex-3.

The decision to delay launch is based on the current forecasting for Hurricane Irma. Some critical members of the ULA launch team that support launch on both coasts are returning to Florida due to the threat from Hurricane Irma which is currently forecast to impact the Cape Canaveral area early Monday morning.  The safety of our employees and their families are at the forefront of this decision. Hurricane preparations and hardware securing are underway at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. A new launch date for the NROL-42 mission will be determined once the impacts of the storm are understood.
...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 20 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/908076792392511489)

For NRO missions we release a launch time a few days ahead of time. You can keep an eye on http://ulalaunch.com  (https://t.co/U8XxMjscL2) for the latest.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/908800408881106944)
 
ULA note the Atlas V carrying the NROL-42 mission is now scheduled for September 21 from SLC-3 at Vandenberg.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167593.jpg)

ЦитироватьAtlas V to Launch NROL-42
 

[/li]
• Rocket: Atlas V 541
• Mission: NROL-42
• Launch Date: Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017
• Launch Time: 10:38 p.m. PDT
• Live Broadcast: Tune into ULA's website at 10:18 p.m. PDT.
• Launch Location: Space Launch Complex 3, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
  

...

ЦитироватьFact sheet: Atlas 5 rocket to launch the NROL-42 mission from Vandenberg             
September 16, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/) Justin Ray (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)

Спойлер

Код Выделить Развернуть

*** AV-072/NROL-42 launch fact sheet ***

Payload:               CLASSIFIED NATIONAL SECURITY PAYLOAD
                       NRO satellite in Molniya orbit
      Collects signals intelligence

Launch Date:           Thursday,  Sept. 21, 2017

Target
Launch Time:       10:38 p.m. local
      1:38 a.m. EDT on Sept. 22
      0538 GMT on Sept. 22    

Unclassified
Launch Period:         Four hours
                       7:25-11:35 p.m. local
                       0225-0635 GMT on Sept. 22

Launch Site:           Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
                       Space Launch Complex 3-East

Customer:              National Reconnaissance Office
      Launch Enterprise Directorate, Air Force's
Space and Missile Systems Center

Launch Services
Provider:              United Launch Alliance, Centennial, Colorado

Launch Vehicle:        Atlas 5 designated AV-072
      541 configuration
                       Weight at liftoff: 1.2 million pounds
      Thrust at liftoff: 2.4 million pounds
                       Height: 197 feet (60 m)

                       Common Core Booster with RD-180 engine
   73,800 gallons RP-1 kerosene and liquid oxygen
   Thrust: 860,300 pounds

Four side-mounted solid-fuel rocket boosters
   World's largest monolithic SRB
   Thrust: 380,000 pounds each

                        Centaur upper stage with RL10C-1 engine
    16,450 gallons liquid hydrogen and oxygen
    Thrust: 23,300 pounds

5-meter Short Fairing
     18-foot-dia., 68-foot-tall composite shroud

Construction:          Atlas stage and Centaur upper stage built by
     United Launch Alliance in Decatur, Alabama
      Fairing manufactured by RUAG Space in Zurich
          RD-180 from NPO Energomash, Khimki, Russia
      SRBs by Aerojet Rocketdyne, Sacramento, Calif.
      RL10C-1 from Aerojet Rocketdyne, West Palm
      Beach, Florida

Payload Speculation:   NROL-42 is believed to be the second spacecraft
      in the newest generation of Molniya-orbit
      signals intelligence satellites
                               unofficially called Trumpet Follow-On.
                               The highly-inclined orbit enables the craft
                               to dwell over northern latitudes to collect
                               surveillance.

The fourth Space Based Infrared System-HEO
                               missile-warning senor package is hosted
                               aboard the NROL-42 satellite.

The target orbit is roughly 1,000 by 24,000
miles at an inclination of 63 degrees.

About the NRO: Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, the
National Reconnaissance Office develops
and operates overhead reconnaissance
systems and conducts intelligence-related
activities for U.S. national Security.

NRO Uses:               The NRO is the nation's eyes and ears in
space, supporting policy makers, the Armed
Services, the Intelligence Community,
Departments of State, Justice and
Treasury, and civil agencies. All of them
depend on the unique capabilities NRO
systems provide.

NRO Capabilities:    - Monitoring the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction

   - Tracking international terrorists, drug
traffickers, and criminal organizations

   - Developing highly accurate military
targeting data and bomb damage assessments

   - Supporting international peacekeeping and
humanitarian relief operations

   - Assessing the impact of natural disasters,
such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and
fires.

NRO Constellations: Exquisite-class electro-optical and
       radar-imaging observatories,
geosynchronous and Molniya-orbit
eavesdropping platforms, ocean
surveillance network and data-relay
support spacecraft

* Launch statistics *

- The 655th launch for Atlas program since 1957
- The 298th Atlas launch from Vandenberg AFB since 1959
- The 244th mission of a Centaur upper stage
- The 221st use of Centaur by an Atlas rocket
- The 482nd production RL10 engine to be launched
- The 21st RL10C-1 engine launched
- The 79th flight of an RD-180 main engine
- The 90-91-92-93rd AJ-60 solid rocket booster flown
- The 73rd launch of an Atlas 5 since 2002
- The 15th National Reconnaissance Office use of Atlas 5
- The 5th Atlas 5 launch of 2017
- The 108th Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle flight
- The 25th EELV flight for National Reconnaissance Office
- The 121st United Launch Alliance flight overall
- The 65th Atlas 5 under United Launch Alliance
- The 34th United Launch Alliance flight from Vandenberg
- The 25th NRO launch by United Launch Alliance
- The 23rd 500-series flight of the Atlas 5
- The 5th Atlas 5 to fly in the 541 configuration
- The 47th Atlas to use Space Launch Complex 3
- The 14th Atlas 5 launch from Vandenberg AFB since 2008
- The 48th NRO launch since acknowledging flights in 1996
- The 25th acknowledged NRO launch from Vandenberg
- The 3rd NRO launch this year

Twitter Feeds:
Spaceflight Now
ULA CEO Tory Bruno
National Reconnaissance Office
United Launch Alliance
Aerojet Rocketdyne
30th Space Wing


* GENERAL PUBLIC VIEWING *

The optimal spot for the general public to view the launch will along
West Ocean Avenue CA-246, immediately prior to the South Gate
entrance to Vandenberg Air Force Base. The top of the rocket and
launch pad will be visible only 2.7 miles away.

[свернуть]

Цитировать180803Z SEP 2017

NAVAREA XII 417/2017 (18,21,22)
EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.
CALIFORNIA.
MEXICO.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   0455Z TO 0639Z DAILY 22 THRU 25 SEP
   IN AREAS BOUND BY:

   A. 31-35N 119-03W, 31-29N 119-21W,
   32-59N 119-59W, 33-05N 119-41W.

   B. 23-34N 113-31W, 22-52N 115-18W,
   25-26N 116-32W, 26-09N 114-44W.

   C. 07-14N 104-14W, 05-34N 108-14W,
   10-11N 110-11W, 11-51N 106-09W.

2. CANCEL THIS MSG 250739Z SEP 17.

Цитировать180505Z SEP 2017

HYDROPAC 3204/2017 (75,76)

SOUTHEASTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 05.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
   1506Z TO 1627Z DAILY 22 THRU 25 SEP
   IN AREA BOUND BY

   52-13S 142-32E, 50-39S 145-30E,
   45-58S 139-47E, 47-23S 136-55E

2. CANCEL THIS MSG 251727Z SEP 17.

ЦитироватьF2824/17 - ROCKET LAUNCH WILL TAKE PLACE FLW RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED SURFACE TO UNLIMITED FOR ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY AND SPLASHDOWN OF UPPER STAGE ENTRY AIROP DO-1710 WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: S52 13 E142 32 S50 39 E145 30 S45 58 E139 47 S47 23 E136 55 TO BEGINNING. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1506/1627, 22 SEP 15:06 2017 UNTIL 25 SEP 16:27 2017. CREATED: 18 SEP 23:17 2017

ЦитироватьULA milestone launch for National Reconnaissance Office set for Thursday
September 19, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/) Justin Ray (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126844.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19184146/ULA_nro_patches.jpg)
Patches of the 25 NRO missions, including this week's upcoming launch, that have been entrusted to ULA rockets.

United Launch Alliance, a union of Atlas and Delta rockets formed a decade ago for U.S. government spacelift needs, will conduct its 25th deployment mission for the country's spy satellite agency Thursday night.

The milestone launch in service to the National Reconnaissance Office will occur fr om Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

A heavy-duty Atlas 5 rocket with four side-mounted solid-fuel boosters will loft the classified NROL-42 payload from Space Launch Complex 3-East on Vandenberg's South Base.

Liftoff is scheduled for 10:38 p.m. local time (1:38 a.m. EDT; 0538 GMT on Friday morning).

Спойлер

"We are proceeding as scheduled for Thursday," Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander and the Air Force launch director, said in a telephone interview Tuesday.

"Every National Security Space mission is important. It directly supports national security, helps our senior leaders make key decisions and it ultimately provides capability to the warfighters. Specific to this (launch), I can't go into any details for this mission."

The 4th Space Launch Squadron, a team of military and civilian personnel, is the government's on-site team that oversees the rocket preparations from the point it arrives at Vandenberg until liftoff. The engineers and missile maintenance professionals give assurance that processing and testing of the vehicle performed by United Launch Alliance goes properly.

The squadron was formed in 1994 to support Titan missions at Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 4, then re-chartered in 2003 for the Atlas 5 and Delta 4 launch systems from Slicks 3 and 6.

"Both the space vehicle and the launch vehicle are very complex machines. So we do run into some technical issues. Anytime there is something with elevated risk, we step back and perform that independent look, and we want to be thorough...Our focus is to insure these critical payloads make it to orbit," said Decker.

The closest spot for the general public to view this launch is along West Ocean Avenue CA-246, immediately prior to the South Gate entrance to Vandenberg Air Force Base. The top of the rocket and launch pad will be visible only 2.7 miles away.

Weather forecasters project that there's a 40 percent chance of acceptable liftoff conditions, with visibility and ground winds the main worries.

A backup launch opportunity is available Friday night, if needed, and the weather odds improve to 70 percent favorable with only winds posing a concern.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126845.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19184220/preview-track.jpg)
Illustration of the initial flight path. Credit: United Launch Alliance

The rocket will produce nearly two-and-a-half-million pounds of liftoff thrust and follow a customary coast-hugging trajectory to orbit, according to pre-launch notices issued to mariners.

Analysts believe the payload is destined for a Molniya-style highly elliptical, highly inclined orbit around Earth. That type of orbit enables the clandestine satellite to dwell over the northern latitudes of the globe for long periods of each orbit.

ULA was formed in December 2006 by marrying Lockheed Martin's Atlas 5 rocket and Boeing's Delta 2 and Delta 4 rockets under a single corporate banner.

The aim: Preserve assured access to space by keeping two paths to orbit — the Atlas 5 and Delta 4 families — viable for national security launches under the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.

The new company's first launch, ironically, was an NROL mission from Vandenberg using a Delta 2.

All 24 launches to date for the NRO have been successful, putting every payload into a usable Earth orbit.

The only blip was a marginally off-nominal insertion of a tandem payload in 2007, but it had no impact on the mission and the NRO officially deemed the launch a success. The spacecraft have operated for 10 years.

Цитировать** ULA LAUNCHES FOR NRO **

Delta 322: NROL-21 on D2-7920 (Dec. 14, 2006) Vandenberg
AV-009 : NROL-30 using Atlas 5-401 (June 15, 2007) Cape
AV-015 : NROL-24 using Atlas 5-401 (Dec. 10, 2007) Cape
AV-006 : NROL-28 using Atlas 5-411 (March 13, 2008 ) Vandenberg
Delta 337: NROL-26 on D4-Heavy (Jan. 17, 2009) Cape

AV-025 : NROL-41 using Atlas 5-501 (Sept. 20, 2010) Vandenberg
Delta 351: NROL-32 on D4-Heavy (Nov. 21, 2010) Cape
Delta 352: NROL-49 on D4-Heavy (Jan. 20, 2011) Vandenberg
Delta 353: NROL-27 on D4-Medium+ (March 11, 2011) Cape
AV-027 : NROL-34 using Atlas 5-411 (April 14, 2011) Vandenberg

Delta 359: NROL-25 on D4-Medium+ (April 3, 2012) Vandenberg
AV-023 : NROL-38 using Atlas 5-401 (June 20, 2012) Cape
Delta 360: NROL-15 on D4-Heavy (June 29, 2012) Cape
AV-033 : NROL-36 using Atlas 5-401 (Sept. 13, 2012) Vandenberg
Delta 364: NROL-65 on D4-Heavy (Aug. 28, 2013) Vandenberg

AV-042: NROL-39 using Atlas 5-501 (Dec. 5, 2013) Vandenberg
AV-045: NROL-67 using Atlas 5-541 (April 10, 2014) Cape
AV-046: NROL-33 using Atlas 5-401 (May 22, 2014) Cape
AV-051: NROL-35 using Atlas 5-541 (Dec. 13, 2014) Vandenberg
AV-058: NROL-55 using Atlas 5-401 (Oct. 8, 2015) Vandenberg

Delta 373: NROL-45 on D4-Medium+ (Feb. 10, 2016) Vandenberg
Delta 374: NROL-37 on D4-Heavy (June 11, 2016) Cape
AV-065 : NROL-61 using Atlas 5-421 (July 28, 2016) Cape
AV-068 : NROL-79 using Atlas 5-401 (March 1, 2017) Vandenberg

This will be the 15th Atlas 5 for the NRO. ULA has flown 9 Delta 4s and one Delta 2 for the agency as well.

The collection of rockets has featured Delta 4-Heavy vehicles for maximum performance and high-end Atlas 5s, like the one flying Thursday, to carry large loads to high-energy orbits.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126846.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/19184331/preview_541.jpg)
The first Atlas 5-541 on SLC-3 before its launch in 2014. Credit: James Murati/Bionetics

"The NRO is responsible for developing, acquiring, launching and operating the nation's overhead Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) architecture," NRO Director Betty Sapp said in testimony to Congress this year.

"The unique nature of overhead ISR collection allows timely access to locations around the world without risk of violating international law or putting U.S. personnel in danger. It also allows the flexibility necessary to be wh ere we need to be, when we need to be there and for as long as we're required. And we continue to deliver innovative solutions and enable intelligence integration, assessment and problem solving across geographic boundaries and intelligence domains."

Every aspect of the NRO's mission has flown on the ULA launches, deploying exquisite-class electro-optical and radar-imaging observatories, geosynchronous and Molniya-orbit eavesdropping platforms, the ocean surveillance network and data-relay support spacecraft.

This NROL-42 mission was assigned to ULA as part of the 36-core Block Buy from the U.S. Air Force.

Then-Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James testified to the U.S. Senate, in questions about the Block Buy, that the NROL-42 satellite mass to orbit exceeded the capabilities of SpaceX's Falcon 9 to lift it.

That made this mission unsuitable for competition and left ULA as the only U.S. firm that could launch the payload.

The Atlas 5 family is designed to be modular in concept and tailor each vehicle to the given payload being launched, adding SRBs for additional thrust when needed and enclosing the satellite in either a four-meter shroud or a bulbous five-meter one.

The NROL-42 payload requires a powerful 541 version of the launcher, which has flown four times previously in dispatching NASA's Curiosity rover to Mars in 2011, a pair of NRO missions in 2014 and deployment of the advanced GOES 16 weather observatory last November.

See earlier NROL-42 coverage (http://spaceflightnow.com/tag/av-072/).

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьATLAS V LAUNCH SCHEDULED FROM VANDENBERG
30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published September 19, 2017


VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
Team Vandenberg is scheduled to launch a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload from Space Launch Complex-3 on Thursday, Sept. 21, with a launch window opening at 10:38 p.m. PDT.

Col. Gregory Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander, will be the launch decision authority.

Спойлер

"This launch is the culmination of many months of work by United Launch Alliance, the National Reconnaissance Office and the 30th Space Wing," said Wood. "All of Team Vandenberg is dedicated to mission success and proud to play a part in delivering these capabilities to our nation."

The 4th Space Launch Squadron executes integrated launch operations with a focus on mission assurance for this launch operation.

"This launch is a prime example of teamwork by multiple organizations that have worked around the clock to assure mission safety and security," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander. "Given the dedication of the men and women have worked to ensure readiness of the launch vehicle and payload, we're on track for a successful launch."

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьUpdated: 09/20/2017 01:54 Weather is 60% GO

Weather forecasters, in their L-2 day outlook, predict a 60 percent chance of allowable conditions for the Atlas 5 rocket to launch Thursday night in California.

"A deep trough will move over the range on Thursday throughout the count, with the center of the trough passing over Space Launch Complex-3 by T-0. This lower pressure will begin to mix out the marine layer and cause stronger surface winds," Air Force meteorologists say.

"Throughout the count, the remnants of the marine layer will cause a slight reduction in visibility with patchy fog. Additionally, low stratus and stratocumulus will be present by T-0."

At launch time, the forecast calls for northwesterly winds of 12 to 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots and temperatures between 55 and 60 degrees F. Max upper level winds will be out of the west at 95 knots from 39,000 to 40,000 feet.

The main concerns are launch visibility and ground winds.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 35 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/910543020071591936)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 3, VAFB, Ca., tomorrow. @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167940.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167941.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьElectronic Eavesdropping Satellite Stands Ready for Liftoff atop Atlas V Rocket
 September 20, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/atlas-v-nrol-42-launch-preview/)

A powerful Atlas V rocket sporting four boosters will light up the night over California late on Thursday, aiming for liftoff fr om Vandenberg Air Force Base at 5:38 UTC on Friday with the classified NROL-42 satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, believed to be an eavesdropping and missile-tracking spacecraft working from a highly elliptical orbit in a system of orbiting listening posts operated by the U.S.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151973.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/09/av_nrol42_m49162017123815AM631.jpg)
Photo: United Launch Alliance

Thursday night's launch is the third NRO mission in 2017, following up on the launch of a pair of NOSS ship-tracking satellites (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-79/) in March and the mysterious NROL-76 (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/) that launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 in May and entered an uncharacteristic Low Earth Orbit, likely to test out new sensor technology. Two more NRO launches are on ULA's manifest for 2017 after this week's launch with the NROL-52 data relay satellite next on the company's Cape Canaveral manifest and NROL-47 – likely a radar surveillance satellite – targeting a mid-December blastoff from Vandenberg.

NROL-42 had been targeting a September 14 liftoff, but was pushed one week to allow United Launch Alliance employees to travel back to Florida to prepare for hurricane Irma (http://spaceflight101.com/kennedy-space-center-damage-recovery-team-begins-work-after-hurricane-irma/) that had threatened to impact Cape Canaveral as it made its way north along the Florida Peninsula. The decision to delay the launch was to allow employees to prepare their homes and evacuate their families.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151968.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/NROL42-Patch.jpg)
NROL-42 Mission Patch – Credit: National Reconnaissance Office

Targeting a 10:38 p.m. local time liftoff, Atlas V will race off from Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg under the power of its two-chamber RD-180 main engine and four Solid Rocket Boosters to deliver the initial kick needed to reach the classified orbital destination. Swinging to the south east, Atlas V will be flying on a coast-hugging trajectory for the initial portion of its mission, dropping the boosters just over a minute and a half into the flight. The protective payload fairing will be split from the climbing rocket three and a half minutes into the mission and the first stage will hand off to the Centaur upper stage just past the T+4-minute mark to finish the boost into orbit via a two-burn flight profile.

As is typical for classified NRO missions, live coverage of Thursday night's launch will end at the moment of fairing separation and no details on the satellite, its target orbit and intended mission will be released. The last to be heard of NROL-42 will be a confirmation of launch success after the satellite separates from the Atlas V booster, expected around an hour or hour and a half after launch based on previous missions.

What is hidden under Atlas V's five-meter payload fairing appears to be a high-fidelity electronic intelligence satellite flying under the code name Trumpet and tasked with vacuuming up vast amounts of communications and signals. Placed into a highly elliptical orbit peaking over the northern regions, the Trumpet satellites complement eavesdropping birds in Geostationary Orbit by providing improved coverage in the high-latitude regions wh ere viewing angles from GEO are not favorable.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151971.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/09/av_nrol35_l1112132014111636PM63.jpg)
NROL-35 blasts off from California – Photo: United Launch Alliance

The conclusion on NROL-42's identity is based on two major pieces of information – the type of launch vehicle in use for the mission and the target orbit that can be gleaned from navigational warnings issued for the launch.

Atlas V 541 – sporting four SRBs and a five-meter fairing – is the second most powerful Atlas V version currently in operation and was only used four times to date with NASA's Curiosity rover, the GOES-R weather satellite, NROL-67 and NROL-35. All of these, except NROL-35, occurred from Cape Canaveral, placing the NROL-42 satellite in the same group as NROL-35 launched back in December 2014.

NROL-35 had been suspected to be a new type of Trumpet signals intelligence spacecraft prior to its launch, a theory eventually confirmed by satellite observers finding the vehicle in a highly elliptical Molniya Orbit, inclined 63 degrees. Navigational warnings for NROL-42 closely match those of NROL-35, strongly suggesting the two missions are of similar type.

>> Identifying the classified NROL-42 Satellite (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/nrol-42-satellite/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151970.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/SBIRs-HEO-070110-O-0000U-314.jpg)
SBIRS HEO-4 Payload likely hosted by NROL-42 – Photo: Northrop Grumman

Another common element for the Trumpet HEO satellites is them acting as host spacecraft for the highly-elliptical orbit payloads of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) which uses stand-alone spacecraft in Geostationary Orbit and hosted payloads in Molniya orbits to detect and track missile launches across the globe. Responsible for the SBIRS HEO instrument, Northrop Grumman reported in June 2015 that the HEO-4 payload had been shipped for integration with its host – in-line with a two-year satellite assembly and testing schedule.

Satellite-based signals intelligence, along with image reconnaissance, build the most critical cornerstones in modern intelligence gathering. The U.S. in particular has a long history of in-space signals collection, starting out in the late 60s when the NRO launched its first series of communications intelligence craft known as Canyon, featuring ten-meter dishes to listen in on VHF and microwave communications from a near-Geostationary Orbit.

The desire for optimized and full collection over the Soviet Union, including its northern regions, prompted the inauguration of a second constellation segment, code named Jumpseat, with satellites in elliptical orbits to have at least one craft at high elevation over the regions of interest at any given time to characterize radar signals, capture microwave communications and record telemetry from missiles and re-entry vehicles.

At present, the NRO operates a number of Orion satellites drifting in Geostationary Orbit to collect communications and characterize all types of radio emitters on the ground. Other geostationary listening posts are flying under the Nemesis Program to capture entire satellite up-links, tasked by input from the NSA and CIA. Trumpet, as the primary collection post in Highly Elliptical Orbit, was inaugurated in the 1990s and transitioned into its first follow-on stage in 2006/08 and a second follow-on program whose code name is unknown started with NROL-35 in 2014.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151969.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151969.jpg)
Advanced Orion, redacted Image published by The Intercept

There have been reports that the Trumpet FO-2 satellites are substantially different than their predecessors in terms of technology but their overall mission architecture remains the same – complementing the Orion satellites in GEO by collecting a variety of signals intercepts over the northern hemisphere through a very large deployable antenna. The first Follow-On generation flew on the much smaller Atlas V 411 with only one booster and a four-meter fairing, suggesting the FO-2 satellites have significantly grown in mass.

Thursday night's launch will be the fifth for Atlas V in 2017 and the sixth for United Launch Alliance. The night's window duration is unknown.

Meteorologists have issued a 60% chance of favorable conditions with ground winds and launch visibility being the primary concerns as a deep trough moves over the range on Thursday and causes stronger surface winds when interacting with the marine layer.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151972.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/09/av_nrol42_m29162017123729AM63.jpg)
NROL-42 Rollout – Photo: United Launch Alliance

Gearing up for a late night liftoff, Atlas V will enter countdown operations eight hours ahead of the opening of its launch window with initial vehicle power-up followed by a multi-hour checkout campaign to fully verify the electrical systems and communications link with the rocket. The Mobile Service Gantry will be rolled back five hours prior to T-0 to enable final pad close outs to occur before Atlas V heads into tanking after the countdown comes out of a planned hold at T-2 hours.

Already loaded with its dose of Rocket Propellant-1, Atlas V will receive -183°C Liquid Oxygen and -253°C Liquid Hydrogen over the course of a 90-minute tanking sequence. The RD-180-powered first stage will hold a total of 284 metric tons of Kerosene & LOX while the Centaur Upper stage will be filled with some 21 tonnes of cryogenics.

A final hold is scheduled at T-4 minutes to allow teams to catch up with any open items and assess the status of the launch vehicle, payload and western range as part of the final pre-launch poll. Ticking back from T-4 minutes, the highly choreographed countdown sequence will put Atlas V through the transition to internal power, the arming of the Flight Termination System, the pressurization of tanks and the handover of control to the vehicle's computers.

The Russian-built RD-180 engine will start breathing fire three seconds ahead of liftoff, putting out a whopping thrust of 392-metric ton force. Atlas V will catapult off its launch pad with a total thrust of 1,080-metric-ton-force when the four Solid Rocket Boosters fire up at the moment clocks reach zero.

Atlas V will enter its pitch and roll program six seconds after liftoff to align itself with its ascent path to the south east, flying along the Californian coast. Based on the performance of the 541 version, Atlas V will pass the speed of sound just 35 seconds after liftoff and encounter Maximum Dynamic Pressure 45 seconds into the flight.

>> Atlas V 541 Launch Vehicle (http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/atlas-v-541/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151965.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/2349749_orig.jpg)
Expected Trumpet-FO-2-2 Ascent Path – Image: Google Earth / Spaceflight101

The four solid-fueled boosters will each consume 41 metric tons of propellant to generate 1,688kN of thrust over a burn of 94 seconds. As thrust tails off on the SRBs, Atlas V will be holding the 17-meter long boosters for another 15 seconds or so before jettisoning them in pairs.

Powered by the 4,152kN RD-180 engine alone, Atlas V will continue its flight toward space, burning 1,150 Kilograms of propellant each second. Approximately three and a half minutes into the flight, the protective payload fairing will be jettisoned, exposing the NROL-42 spacecraft. At this point, the mission will enter the pre-arranged news blackout to allow the classified satellite to reach its secret orbit without the public watching.

Per the typical flight design for the Atlas V, the Common Core Booster will conclude its role in the mission just after passing T+4 minutes – shutting down the RD-180 engine followed by the firing of separation pyros and ignition of small retrorockets to pull the 32.5-meter booster away from the Centaur upper stage. Centaur will then ignite its 101.8kN RL-10C engine for an initial burn aiming for a Parking Orbit followed by a coast phase and a second burn before releasing the satellite less than 50 minutes after launch.

Taking the NROL-35 launch as a basis, satellite analyst Ted Molczan  (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Sep-2017/0087.html)expects NROL-42 to show up in an initial orbit of 2,100 by 37,750 Kilometers, inclined 62.85°. Navigational warnings issued for this mission indicate the Centaur upper stage will perform a deorbit maneuver after dispatching the satellite with re-entry expected in a small corridor south west of Tasmania around nine and a half to eleven hours after launch takes place.

Satellite trackers will swing into action after the NROL-42 payload reaches orbit, attempting to spot the newly launched satellite to provide final confirmation of the mission's identity.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьUpdated: 09/20/2017 20:30

LRR: The Launch Readiness Review today formally gave approval to proceed into countdown operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to deploy the NROL-42 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office on Thursday using an Atlas 5 rocket.

Liftoff is targeted for 10:38 p.m. local time (that's Friday morning at 1:38 a.m. EDT; 0538 GMT).
...

ЦитироватьAtlas V NROL-42 Mission Profile

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220286.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedLaunchAlliance) United Launch Alliance (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnrGPRKAg1PgvuSHrRIl3jg)

Опубликовано: 20 сент. 2017 г.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/910575182028316672)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) Mission Patch.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167963.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/910576611379994625)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) Mission Patch depicts a grizzly bear in motion, representing the unceasing motion of a satellite along its orbital path.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/910599456399147008)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) will carry a national security payload designed, built, and operated by @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc)

ЦитироватьWatch live! Coverage begins Sept. 21 at 10:18 p.m. PDT. Watch via the ULA website (http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx) or YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/vvr_-_XsAY4).

ЦитироватьUpdated: 09/21/2017 13:22

Countdown clocks will begin ticking this afternoon to ready an Atlas 5 rocket to haul a covert governmental asset into orbit from a California launch pad tonight.

The eight-hour launch countdown sequence will prepare the pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base and United Launch Alliance rocket for the NROL-42 flight.

Спойлер

Liftoff is targeted for 10:38 p.m. local time (1:38 a.m. EDT; 0538 GMT).

The unclassified launch period extends to 11:35 o.m., but the actual usable launch window ends before that. The exact duration is secret.

It will be United Launch Alliance's 121st flight and the company's 25th for the National Reconnaissance Office.

"This launch is a prime example of teamwork by multiple organizations that have worked around the clock to assure mission safety and security," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander at Vandenberg.

"Given the dedication of the men and women have worked to ensure readiness of the launch vehicle and payload, we're on track for a successful launch."

According to public warning notices, the rocket will head on a southeasterly track, traveling on the "coast-hugging" trajectory toward orbit to deploy its payload.

It is one of three courses typically followed from Vandenberg, ranging from coast-hugger to produce a 63-degree orbital tilt relative to the equator to sun-synchronous at 98 degrees to full retrograde at 121 degrees inclination.

"All of Team Vandenberg is dedicated to mission success and proud to
play a part in delivering these capabilities to our nation," said Col. Gregory Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander and the launch decision authority.

Air Force meteorologists give 60 percent odds that the weather will allow the launch to occur. Patchy fog and gusty winds are the two concerns.

"A deep trough will move over the range on Thursday throughout the count, with the center of the trough passing over SLC-03 by T-0. This lower pressure will begin to mix out the marine layer and cause strong surface winds," the launch weather team reports.

"Throughout the count, the remnants of the marine layer will cause a slight reduction in visibility with patchy fog. Additionally, low stratus and stratocumulus will be present by T-0. Winds will be out of the northwest between 15 -- 18 knots with gusts to 25 knots at the surface. Temperatures will be between 55F and 60F at T-0."

[свернуть]

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/ula-milestone-launch-for-national-reconnaissance-office-set-for-thursday/

ЦитироватьULA milestone launch for National Reconnaissance Office set for Thursday
 September 19, 2017 Justin Ray

 
 Patches of the 25 NRO missions, including this week's upcoming launch, that have been entrusted to ULA rockets. 

Цитировать

Identifying the classified NROL-42 Satellite

NROL-42, in all likelihood, is the second Trumpet-Follow-On-2 satellite operated by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office as part of its fleet of signals intelligence spacecraft tasked with vacuuming up vast amounts of satellite communications, intercepting telemetry signals fr om missiles and characterizing ground sites of interest based on radio activity.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151968.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/NROL42-Patch.jpg)
NROL-42 Mission Patch – Credit: National Reconnaissance Office

Trumpet satellites, also known as Advanced Jumpseat, operate in a highly elliptical orbit to complement satellites in Geostationary Orbit by providing improved coverage in the high-latitude regions, also carrying sensors for the detection of ballistic missile launches to patch up a blind spot of Geostationary missile monitoring satellites.

The United States National Reconnaissance Office is an intelligence agency tasked with the design, construction and operation of all U.S. reconnaissance satellites and delivers satellite intelligence to other three-letter intelligence agencies including signals intelligence for the NSA, image reconnaissance data to the NGA and measurement & signature intelligence to the DIA. Established in 1961, the NRO has been shrouded in great secrecy and its existence as an agency was only first acknowledged in the early 1990s.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151967.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/av_nrol35_r112132014124531AM63.jpg)
Atlas V with NROL-35 (2014) – Photo: United Launch Alliance

As an intelligence agency, the NRO goes through great lengths to keep its activities secret, therefore the identity of all NRO satellites is classified. However, it is possible to identify the nature of satellites taking into account their launch site, launch window, launch vehicle type and ascent path. Sometimes, hints can be found in mission logos and, after launch, most satellites are typically tracked in orbit by a worldwide network of observers, revealing from wh ere they operate, and often what they are tasked with.

Some cases are easier to solve while other NRO missions can only be narrowed down to a number of candidates. NROL-42 is one of the easier cases to solve, starting with the Atlas V 541 launch vehicle that has so far flown only four missions – NASA's MSL Curiosity Rover, NROL-67, NROL-35 and GOES-R. All these launches with the exception of NROL-35 occurred from Cape Canaveral, putting NROL-42 in the same group as the NROL-35 satellite, being only the second 541 launch from Vandenberg.

NROL-35 was suspected before launching to be inaugurating a new type of Trumpet Signals Intelligence Craft. Hobbyist satellite trackers spotted the satellite in an orbit of 1,120 by 37,560 Kilometers, 63.5° – in-line with the previous generation of Trumpet satellites. Additional confirmation came through the U.S. Air Force that reported some time after the NROL-35 launch that the third HEO Payload of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) had successfully been launched on a host spacecraft operating in a Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO).

NROL-42 uses the same launch vehicle configuration and launch site as NROL-35 and will follow a very similar launch path, leaving little doubt on its identity as the next Trumpet Signals Intelligence bird. Also, Northrop Grumman reported in June 2015 that the SBIRS HEO-4 payload had been shipped for integration with its host, in-line with a two-year satellite assembly & testing schedule leading up to launch.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151965.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/2349749_orig.jpg)
Expected Trumpet-FO-2-2 Ascent Path – Image: Google Earth / Spaceflight101

Signals Intelligence, along with image reconnaissance, are the two major cornerstones in modern intelligence-gathering and, as satellites have taken over much of the world's secure and open communications, space-based intelligence collection has become a major focus among the large space-faring nations. The U.S. in particular has a long history of in-space signals collection, starting out in the late 60s when the NRO launched its first series of communications intelligence craft known as Canyon, featuring ten-meter dishes to listen in on radio communications from a near-Geostationary Orbit.

Six Canyon satellites reached orbit through 1977 and listened in on microwave and VHF communications, also providing a location of the signal source through triangulation from their non-stationary, but synchronous orbits. A complementary program active in Geostationary Orbit was Rhyolite (later re-named Aquacade) that launched four satellites in the 1970s, optimized to capture telemetry signals from Soviet and Chinese missiles and re-entry vehicles as well as microwave emissions from the Soviet Union.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151964.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/20140609111109USA202_Thuraya2.jpg)
Signals Intelligence Gathering in Action – USA-202 (Orion 6) Parked next to Thuraya 2 to intercept satellite phone conversations – Credit: Marco Langbroek, sattrackcam.blogspot.com (http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com)

To provide full coverage of the Soviet Union, including its northern regions, satellites in Geostationary or near-GEO orbit were found to be insufficient due to extremely low elevation for the northern latitudes. This led to the inauguration of the Jumpseat program that deployed a constellation of satellites into highly elliptical Molniya orbits peaking over the northern hemisphere so that at least one satellite was actively listening over the northern regions at any given time, capturing radar signals and microwave communications.

Around half a dozen such satellites were launched from 1971 through the mid-80s (numbers differ among analysts due to similarities between Jumpseat and the Space Data System).

The Canyon satellites were followed by Program 'Vortex' in the late 70s through the 80s with five satellites being deployed to orbit, featuring larger, 38-meter diameter dishes. Later re-named Mercury, the original Vortex satellites were extremely long lived and continued supplying signals intelligence into the 2000s. Two Advanced Mercury satellites were launched into Geostationary Orbit in 1994 and 96 to continue supplying strategic-level communications intercepts and missile telemetry.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151969.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151969.jpg)
Advanced Orion, redacted Image published by The Intercept (https://theintercept.com/document/2016/09/06/menwith-collection-assets/)

The flagship Orion program was inaugurated in 1985 and to this day continues as the primary NRO intelligence-gathering system in Geostationary Orbit – going through its initial generation with two satellites deployed by the Space Shuttle in 1985 and '89, followed by a pair of Advanced Orion Satellites orbited by Titan-4 rockets in 1995 and 98 and a third generation starting in 2003 with three launches through 2010; Orion satellites launched in 2012 and 13 are likely belonging to a fourth generation.

The Orion satellites host very large (100-150-meter) antenna dishes to collect multiple signal types across a broad geographic area. Leaked documentation showed the satellites are sensitive enough to collect Wifi signals from networks some 36,000 Kilometers below them.

Additional Geostationary listening assets include the Nemesis Program (http://spaceflight101.com/snowden-documents-reveal-mysterious-pan-satellite/) with the mysterious PAN and CLIO satellites launched in 2009 and 2014 for direct tasking by the CIA and NSA, and the SHARP (SIGINT High Altitude Replenishment Program) for which there is one candidate satellite in orbit, potentially as an Orion follow-on.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151970.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/SBIRs-HEO-070110-O-0000U-314.jpg)
SBIRS HEO-4 Payload likely hosted by NROL-42 – Photo: Northrop Grumman

Jumpseat, as the primary collection post in Highly Elliptical Orbit, transitioned to Trumpet in the 1990s with three satellites reaching orbit to build a fully functional constellation with each satellite providing around eight hours of coverage per day. A pair of Trumpet-Follow-On Satellites launched in 2006 and 2008 on Delta IV M+(4,2) and Atlas V 411 rockets, hosting the first two SBIRS HEO payloads to take on an additional role of monitoring missile activity in the northern regions to provide advance warnings of threats to U.S. and allied assets.

A follow-on to the Trumpet Follow-On (by some referred to as Trumpet FO-2) debuted on the NROL-35 mission in 2014 using the more powerful Atlas V 541 rocket with four instead of one booster and a larger fairing diameter, indicating the satellite mass and size had grown. There have been reports that the FO-2 satellites are substantially different than their predecessors in terms of technology, but their overall mission architecture remains the same – complementing the Orion satellites in GEO by collecting a variety of signals intercepts over the northern hemisphere through a very large deployable antenna.

Speculative information claims that the satellites host large deployable mesh antennas with a diameter of over 100 meters to pick up even faint radio signals over foreign territory to allow insight into activity at military installations and other sites of interest. It is speculated that the Trumpet satellites were manufactured by Boeing.

The Trumpet satellites are operated in a Molniya Orbit which is a highly elliptical orbit at an inclination of 63.4 (in this case) or 116.6 degrees with a period of half a sidereal day (~12 hours) and a high apogee around 37,000 to 40,000 Kilometers. This type of orbit was first used by a series of Russian military communications satellites known as Molniya (Lightning).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151966.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151966.png)
Molniya Orbit Design – Image: NASA

Choosing an inclination of 63.3 or 116.6 degrees allows the satellite to have a constant argument of perigee of 90 or 270 degrees because the orbits are not perturbed by the gravitational field of Earth (J2 term of the Geopotential Model). This allows the satellite to have a constant perigee and apogee location on Earth over the course of its mission – for Molniya orbits, apogee is located above the northern hemisphere.

Relative to Earth, the satellite's speed is slowest at higher altitudes, meaning that the spacecraft spends the majority of its time around apogee. Communication satellites in Molniya orbits operate for eight hours per orbit centered around the apogee passage. Reconnaissance spacecraft take advantage of the long apogee passage to observe target locations at virtually any point in the northern hemisphere.

The major benefit of a Molniya orbit despite being less energetic than GEO is the coverage of the polar regions which is in many cases not possible from Geosynchronous Orbit due to low elevation angles.

Current NRO programs using Molniya Orbits are the Trumpet electronic intelligence satellites and the HEO Segment of the Satellite Data System which includes spacecraft in Geostationary Orbit and satellites in Molniya Orbits.

[свернуть]

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:  http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/sites/180/2017/08/20140609111109USA202_Thuraya2-512x386.jpg

ЦитироватьThe 4th SLS: Keeping the mission on track
By Senior Airman Ian Dudley, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published September 21, 2017

(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/75370)

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
Vandenberg will launch a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, carrying a National Reconnaissance Organization payload, Sept. 21.

The 4th Space Launch Squadron is one of the many critical teams working to ensure the launch goes off without a hitch.

The 4th SLS ensures the risk of vehicle failure during launch is as small as possible.

Спойлер

"All of the missions we conduct have one main focus; mission assurance," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander. "The government doesn't buy insurance for their launches, so the way I look at it is that we are the eyes and ears on the ground. We are watching the processing of the vehicle as we proceed to the launch date. For mission assurance we are tracking the vehicles and we are doing an independent risk assessment of them. We then provide that information back to the Space and Missile Center. They are the program office for the launch vehicles. We also work directly with the space craft customer, which in this case is the NRO."

While mission assurance is the bread and butter of the 4th SLS, they also provide critical communication between all parties involved in the mission.

"We provide mission integration, which is the role of our launch mission managers," said Decker. "These individuals are helping to facilitate communication between those various organizations that are part of the mission, such as the program office at SMC in Los Angeles, the NRO which is the space vehicle lead, and the 30th Space Wing which provides the safety and the range support, as well as the infrastructure. We also monitor launch infrastructure because we want to ensure the integrity for future launches."

Maj. Alexander Chumpitaz, flight commander technical assurance flight is serving the critical role as the Air Force launch director for the NROL-42 mission.

"This is how I end my Air Force career, since I will be retiring in the spring," said Chumpitaz. "I have been a space operator and served down range, and seen first-hand the effects from the satellites that Vandenberg has placed in orbit. It's a really humbling experience, and to be a part of the early stages of the operation is fantastic. This whole thing has been a long process, correcting issues that we hadn't anticipated, and just pushing through to keep everything on the right schedule."

With less than 50 members, the 4th SLS stays quite busy covering four primary areas, mission assurance preserving launch capabilities, mission integration and operational assessment.

"Mission assurance involves ensuring the integrity of all the processing on the pad," said Decker. "Mission integration, which involves complex coordination with all the organizations involved in the launch. Preserving launch capabilities, which involves the inspection of infrastructure. And the last thing we do is on the day of launch, we provide an operational assessment to the mission director and the space launch commander."

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 19 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/910980599040675843)

Some concerns the Atlas V launch with NROL-42 won't be launching tonight. Webcast still counting down, however.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/910935457768361984)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) stands 196 feet tall or about 20 stories and weighs more than 1 million pounds fully fueled. #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168090.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 20 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911007140713725952)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) mission has been delayed to allow the team time to replace a faulty battery on the booster. @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 21 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911007438928826370)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) vehicle and #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) spacecraft are stable @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 21 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911007613294391298)

#AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch is scheduled for no earlier than Sept 23.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 29 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911006297323180032)

Tonight's Atlas 5 launch of #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) spy satellite is being postponed by a technical issue. Now targeting Saturday. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168125.jpg)

ЦитироватьUpdated: 09/22/2017 02:19

DELAY. Tonight's Atlas 5 launch of a classified spy satellite is being postponed by a technical issue.

"The ULA Atlas 5 rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed. The delay allows the team time to replace a faulty battery on the Atlas 5 booster. The vehicle and spacecraft remain stable. Launch of the NROL-42 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017," United Launch Alliance said in a statement.

Цитировать(https://scontent-frt3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p80x80/14141726_10155247802079897_1176986817781108090_n.jpg?oh=aebd981e16960018e088c28d200faa63&oe=5A467758) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?ref=nf&hc_ref=ARSXx5NvVnAZVgyZbcGQv2qPiJ05uQ392z554ft_RkrfGk_zXzVMny9WpP_2hMpVewU) 30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?hc_ref=ARS-4j5DP3HlpZ6DJAJ2SZJs-HCQQyxTqyYH_a8c6jBSK3SllBxn9pk01UgNwMoLpfM&fref=nf)
14 мин. (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10156517439499897) ·

ATLAS LAUNCH DELAYED -
 The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload is postponed. The launch will be rescheduled no earlier than Saturday, Sep. 23 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/911015839582666752)

Tonight's launch of #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) is delayed. We look forward to launching soon. Stay tuned for updates. #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch)

ЦитироватьUPDATE: The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the classified NROL-42 satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office was delayed from Thursday night due to an issue with the Atlas V booster, ULA confirmed in a statement:

"The ULA Atlas V rocket carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed. The delay allows the team time to replace a faulty battery on the Atlas V booster. The vehicle and spacecraft remain stable. Launch of the NROL-42 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017."

ЦитироватьATLAS LAUNCH DELAYED
30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published September 21, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload is postponed. The launch will be rescheduled no earlier than Saturday, Sep. 23 from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/911038325271568384)

Missed this earlier. Tonight's Atlas V launch from Vandenberg has been delayed to NET Saturday @ 22:38 PDT because of a battery issue.

Цитировать(Sept. 21, 2017, 4:15 p.m. PDT) The ULA Atlas V rocket launch carrying the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office has been delayed. The delay allows the team time to replace a faulty battery on the Atlas V booster. The vehicle and spacecraft remain stable. Launch of the NROL-42 mission is scheduled for no earlier than Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 11 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/911275957977321473)

ULA: The battery replacement on the Atlas V (NROL-42) is on track to support Saturday's launch. Philip Sloss (NSF) photo from yesterday.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168232.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 7 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911291007878254592)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch is confirmed on the Western Range for Sat, Sept. 23. Launch is planned for 10:30pmPT, http://bit.ly/av_nrol42  (https://t.co/fJIk88EMwQ)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/168250.jpg)

Цитировать...

[/li]
• Launch Date: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017
• Launch Time: 10:30 p.m. PDT
• Live Broadcast: Tune in to watch beginning at 10:10 p.m. PDT
  

...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 13 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911291759011024902)

#AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) battery replacement is on schedule and the ULA and #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) customer teams are ready to support the Sept. 23 launch. @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc)

Цитировать

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/132283.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/132283.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/132288.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/132288.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать09/22/2017 21:49

A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket is targeting to fly Saturday night from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to place a classified surveillance satellite into space for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

"The battery replacement is on schedule and the ULA and customer teams are ready to support this new launch date," ULA said in a statement today.

Liftoff is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. local time (1:30 a.m. EDT; 0530 GMT on Sunday morning).

Weather forecasters predict an 80 percent chance of allowable liftoff conditions.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 39 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911315999902846979)

We've updated our #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) fact sheet to reflect a Saturday night launch of the Atlas 5 from Vandenberg AFB, CA https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/16/fact-sheet-atlas-5-rocket-to-launch-the-nrol-42-mission-from-vandenberg/ ... (https://t.co/sFHiIXH5pn)

Цитировать...

Код Выделить Развернуть

Launch Date:           Saturday,  Sept. 23, 2017

Target
Launch Time:       10:30 p.m. local
      1:30 a.m. EDT on Sept. 24
      0530 GMT on Sept. 24
...

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/692443836736507904/4I0Bh5oX_bigger.jpg) AF SMC‏ @AF_SMC (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/911333000629043200)

NROL-42 is confirmed on the Western Range for Sat., Sept. 23. Launch window opens at 10:30 p.m. PDT.

ЦитироватьATLAS LAUNCH RESCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY
By 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published September 22, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying a National Reconnaissance Office payload is rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 23, from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base. The launch time is approximately 10:30 p.m. PDT.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 31 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911658773810380800)

Going into the Atlas 5 #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) countdown tonight, there is an 80% chance of acceptable weather. Fog is only concern https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167730.jpg)

Updated: 09/23/2017 21:30 Weather is 80% GO

Going into the countdown tonight, there is an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions. Reduced visibility from fog will be the only concern.

Спойлер

"High pressure will build into the range over the weekend and reinstate calm, stable weather conditions. Throughout the count, winds will be light out of the north-northwest between 5 - 8 knots and skies will be clear. While the marine layer will be mixed out, radiation fog will form and reduce visibility at SLC-3," Air Force meteorologists say.

The launch time conditions are expected to include clear skies, fog in the area, visibility of 1.5 to 2.5 miles, winds from 340 to 010 degrees at 5 to 8 knots, a temperature of 51 to 56 degrees F and max upper level winds will be out of the west-northwest at 65 knots from 34,000 to 36,000 feet.

If the launch slips to Sunday night for some reason, the outlook is 90 percent favorable.

"High pressure will continue to strengthen, keeping weather conditions benign. The marine layer will still be gone, leaving clear skies and patchy radiation fog overnight as winds turn offshore. Temperatures will warm to 53F to 58F at T-0 and surface winds will turn out of the northeast at 5 - 8 knots," forecasters say.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/911695933221597185)

ARTICLE: Atlas V preparing to launch NROL-42 - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/09/atlas-v-preparing-to-launch-nrol-42/ ... (https://t.co/x0NypYeZNM) - by William Graham
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167726.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167727.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167728.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167729.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать

Atlas V preparing to launch NROL-42 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/09/atlas-v-preparing-to-launch-nrol-42/)

ЦитироватьUpdated: 09/24/2017 00:59 Countdown for today's NROL-42 launch

Clocks are ticking for today's flight by the Atlas 5 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to deliver the NROL-42 space payload into orbit for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Спойлер

As the countdown gets started, the launch team will power up the rocket to conduct standard pre-flight tests and ready the vehicle.

Rollback of the mobile service tower from around the rocket is expected in about three hours. Once the gantry is removed, crews at the pad will make preparations to systems and equipment before the site is cleared of all personnel for fueling.

Supercold liquid oxygen begins flowing into the Centaur upper stage a little more than two hours before liftoff, followed by the Atlas first stage. Liquid hydrogen fuel loading for Centaur will be completed a short time later.

A final built-in hold is scheduled when clocks hit the T-minus 4 minute mark. That will give the team a chance to finish any late work and assess the status of the rocket, payload, Range and weather before proceeding into the last moments of the countdown.

Liftoff is targeted for 10:30 p.m. local time (1:30 a.m. EDT; 0530 GMT).

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/911729039093547008)

Launch weather tonight: 80% chance of acceptable conditions. Concern: Launch Visibility. 24hr scrub = 90% "go" conditions. #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167741.jpg)

Цитировать09/24/2017 02:16

Atlas and Centaur have been powered up. Guidance system testing is starting now.

Цитировать09/24/2017 02:22

The mobile service tower is about to be jacked up in preparation to roll. Work to ready the gantry for retraction has been completed.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911733374573793280)

Just over 5 hours until #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch. The team is preparing to roll the Mobile Service Tower away from the rocket.


5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911734575805628416)

Corrected. 6 hours until #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch. The team is preparing to roll the Mobile Service Tower away from the rocket.

ЦитироватьСтарый (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/13420/) пишет:
Когда летим то?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 6 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911737471909720064)

. @30thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing): Weather forecast shows a 90% chance of favorable weather for #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) liftoff at 10:30pmPT.

ЦитироватьUpdated: 09/24/2017 02:40 Weather forecast improves to 90% GO

A check of the current weather shows it is a clear afternoon at Vandenberg and there's a 90 percent chance of favorable conditions at liftoff time for the Atlas 5 rocket from California tonight.

Спойлер

There are no constraints to proceeding with mobile service tower rollback in about an hour. That will reveal the rocket to the elements, allowing the vehicle to be fueled and launched.

The launch time outlook predicts ground fog could hamper visibility a bit. Conditions are expected to include clear skies, patchy ground fog in the area, visibility of 1.5 to 2.5 miles, northerly winds at 5 to 8 knots and a temperature of 51 to 56 degrees F.

The only concern for tonight's launch opportunity is launch visibility due to the fog.

[свернуть]

Цитировать09/24/2017 02:56 GO for MST roll

A readiness poll of the team has verified all systems are GO for retraction of the gantry at Space Launch Complex 3-East as the countdown continues.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911743284149592064)

The 11-million-pound Mobile Service Tower is rolling back from the #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) with #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) at Vandenberg Air Force Base. @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167749.jpg)

Цитировать09/24/2017 03:08 Tower retraction started

Rollback of the launch pad's service gantry is underway. This is a major milestone in today's countdown, getting the mobile tower retracted to uncover the Atlas 5 rocket.

Спойлер

The structure's internal crane was instrumental in bringing the rocket stages and payload together. And now the fully assembled Atlas 5 is being unveiled for its 73rd launch, the 14th to originate from Vandenberg.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911745619731013632)

First look at the #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) with #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) on the launch pad at Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167750.jpg)

ЦитироватьAtlas V to Launch NROL-42

Watch live! Coverage begins Sept. 23 at 10:10 p.m. PDT. Watch via the ULA website (http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx) or YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/vvr_-_XsAY4).

Цитировать09/24/2017 03:30

The mobile service tower has been retracted from around the Atlas 5 rocket, revealing the 20-story-tall vehicle for liftoff at 10:30 p.m. local time today.

The ground crews are getting the gantry's doors closed, plus finishing the final buttoning up of pad equipment before all workers clear the pad for the remainder of the countdown.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:  в 08:30 ДМВ.

ЦитироватьСтарый (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/13420/) пишет:
Эххх, не увижу

Цитировать09/24/2017 04:47

The mobile service gantry has been secured in its launch position with the doors closed. Final steps to configure the umbilical tower have been accomplished as well.

Цитировать09/24/2017 05:00

Workers are leaving the pad area in advance of today's propellant loading and launch of the Atlas 5 rocket.

Цитировать09/24/2017 05:12

In the pre-fueling weather update, conditions remain ideal at Vandenberg for a rocket launch this evening. Skies are clear, winds are light and visibility remains good. Air Force meteorologists give a 90 percent chance of favorable weather at launch time, with the only slight concern for the development of patchy ground fog.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29931.jpg) Tory Bruno‏Подлинная учетная запись @torybruno (https://twitter.com/torybruno) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/911776653776265216)

Pgo holding at 90% #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911780145035448325)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) countdown has just entered a planned 30-minute hold. This is the first of 2 planned holds in the countdown.

Цитировать09/24/2017 05:30 Countdown in pre-planned hold

T-minus 2 hours and holding. The countdown just entered the first of the planned holds over the course of the day that will lead to launch of the Atlas-Centaur rocket.

This initial pause lasts 30 minutes, giving the team some margin in the countdown timeline to deal with technical issues or any work that is running behind. The final hold is scheduled to occur at T-minus 4 minutes.

At this time, the countdown is progressing very smoothly with no problems being worked.

Цитировать09/24/2017 05:40
Fueling of the Atlas 5 rocket will be getting underway shortly. Watch this ULA video for more information on the process:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWgLsOErV0Y (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWgLsOErV0Y)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWgLsOErV0Y)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29931.jpg) Tory Bruno‏Подлинная учетная запись @torybruno (https://twitter.com/torybruno) 48 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/911783640803061760)

In the planned 30 min hold at T-2 hours. The board is green

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 24 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911784692978012160)

Trumpet-FO-2 satellites are designed to complement the Orion sats in Geostationary Orbit, offering favorable look angles at high latitudes.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911785015243091969)

For some details on current eavesdropping efforts going on high above: http://spaceflight101.com/snowden-documents-reveal-mysterious-pan-satellite/ ... (https://t.co/tXL9OJoY0f)

Цитировать

Secret Endeavors of Mysterious Spy Satellite revealed in Snowden Documents (http://spaceflight101.com/snowden-documents-reveal-mysterious-pan-satellite/) - статья за 2016 г.

Цитировать09/24/2017 05:55

The Atlas launch conductor is briefing his team on procedures before entering into the final two hours of the countdown. A readiness check of the team members is next.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911786730994487297)

Launch team polled and all is ready for fueling Atlas-Centaur with 66,000 gallons of cryos for #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo) (ULA pic)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167768.jpg)

09/24/2017 05:57 GO for fueling

The launch team and all systems are "ready" to proceed with the countdown and begin fueling the Atlas 5 rocket as planned.

Loading of cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the Atlas 5 rocket will be getting started a few minutes from now.

Цитировать09/24/2017 05:59 Countdown running again

T-minus 2 hours and counting! The launch countdown has resumed for today's flight of the Atlas 5 rocket following the planned half-hour built-in hold.

Clocks have one more hold scheduled at T-minus 4 minutes. That pause will last 30 minutes during which time the final "go" for launch will be given.

All remains targeted for liftoff at exactly 10:29:48 p.m. local time (1:29:48 a.m. EDT; 0529:48 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911787257165746176)

Counting down once again! The ULA launch team has given the "GO!" to begin cryogenic fueling operations. #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 46 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911788477871730688)

Now inside T-2 hours, #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) is starting prop load operations with Liquid Oxygen ground systems and tank chilldown.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:06

The Centaur liquid oxygen system's pad storage area has been prepped. The next step is conditioning the transfer lines, which is now beginning to prepare the plumbing for flowing the cryogenic oxidizer.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 57 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911789171395751936)

Fueling has started! Loading of 4,150 gallons of liquid oxygen now underway for Centaur stage to loft #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo) (ULA)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167770.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911789240425607169)

Beginning to load liquid oxygen into the Centaur upper stage. #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:08 Centaur LOX loading

Filling of the Centaur upper stage with about 4,150 gallons of liquid oxygen is beginning at Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 3 following the thermal conditioning of the transfer pipes.
The liquid oxygen -- chilled to Minus-298 degrees F -- will be consumed during the launch by the Centaur's single RL10 engine along with liquid hydrogen to be loaded into the stage a little later in the countdown.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:13 Atlas LOX loading

The conditioning of the systems for the first stage liquid oxygen tank have been completed. And a "go" has been given to begin flowing supercold liquid oxygen into the Atlas 5's first stage.

The Common Core Booster stage's liquid oxygen tank is the largest tank to be filled today. It holds about 48,800 gallons of cryogenic oxidizer for the RD-180 main engine.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 25 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911790728598212610)

Beginning to load liquid oxygen into the #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) with #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash).

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:16

Now passing the 20 percent level on the Centaur liquid oxygen tank.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:22

Half of the Centaur liquid oxygen tank has been filled so far.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:29

The Centaur liquid oxygen tank is 75 percent full now.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:29

And the chilldown conditioning of liquid hydrogen propellant lines is starting to prepare the plumbing for transferring the Minus-423 degree F fuel into the rocket. The Centaur holds about 12,300 gallons of the cryogenic propellant.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:35

The first stage liquid oxygen loading is transitioning from slow-fill to fast-fill mode.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:43

Centaur liquid oxygen is topping to flight level.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:45

First stage liquid oxygen tank is passing the 30 percent mark. Chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, the liquid oxygen will be used with RP-1 kerosene by the RD-180 main engine on the first stage during the initial minutes of flight today. The 25,000 gallons of RP-1 were loaded into the rocket previously.

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:53 Centaur hydrogen loading

Chilldown of the liquid hydrogen system has been accomplished. The launch team has received the "go" to begin filling the Centaur upper stage with the supercold fuel.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911800587271983104)

Final step in fueling now with loading of 12,700 gallons of liquid hydrogen into Centaur for #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo) (ULA pic)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167762.jpg)

Цитировать09/24/2017 06:57

First stage liquid oxygen now at 60 percent.

Цитировать09/24/2017 07:00

Centaur liquid oxygen has reached flight level.

Цитировать09/24/2017 07:03

Now beyond the three-quarters level of liquid oxygen on the first stage.

Цитировать09/24/2017 07:04

The Centaur liquid hydrogen tank is 50 percent loaded so far. The cryogenic propellant will be consumed with liquid oxygen by the stage's Aerojet Rocketdyne-made RL10 engine.

Цитировать09/24/2017 07:12

The liquid hydrogen tank in the Centaur upper stage just reached the 96 percent level. Topping is now beginning.

Цитировать09/24/2017 07:12

Fast-filling of the first stage liquid oxygen has been completed. Topping mode is now underway.

Цитироватьoby1 (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/14184/) пишет:
Сам нашёл

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911807391418773504)

L-70 Minutes: All #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) tanks are topping up to flight level. Final preps of the hydraulic system commence at this time in the count.

Цитировать09/24/2017 07:30 L-60 minutes and counting

The 1.2-million-pound Atlas 5 rocket now stands fueled for flight and activities are proceeding toward a liftoff at 10:30 p.m. local time (1:30 a.m. EDT; 0530 GMT).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) сейчас (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911810300483162112)

Inside one hour to launch. #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) stands fully fueled atop its SLC-3E launch pad, weather is GO and countdown is on track. #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911812472205692928)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) Flight Control System is being configured for launch & receives an updated version of the flight software inside L-1 hour.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 49 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911816347524444160)

Cryogenic fuels in the #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) booster and Centaur upper stage are at flight level. #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911816533600546816)

The #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) countdown has just entered a 30-minute hold. This is the second and final hold in today's countdown.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911816460737155072)

T-minus 4 minutes and holding. Count in 30-min hold. Still targeting 10:30pmLocal (1:30amEDT; 0530 GMT) liftoff https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/911817021939228672)

A5/NROL42: Because the payload is classified, ULA launch commentary will end shortly after payload fairing separation

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911817749583843328)

Weather is observed and forecast GO for launch of the Atlas 5 rocket from Vandenberg tonight #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167771.jpg)

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:00 Weather is GO

Weather is observed GO and forecast GO for launch.
There is a 100 percent chance of acceptable conditions for tonight's launch with no areas of concern.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29931.jpg) Tory Bruno‏Подлинная учетная запись @torybruno (https://twitter.com/torybruno) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/911818971413745665)

The board is green. No significant issues being worked.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 37 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911819499682320384)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) should be in its final reconfigurations at this point, switching to battery power for the climb into orbit.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:10 L-minus 20 minutes

Here's a look at some stats about today's mission. This will be: 

Спойлер

- The 655th launch for Atlas program since 1957
- The 298th Atlas launch from Vandenberg AFB since 1959
- The 244th mission of a Centaur upper stage
- The 221st use of Centaur by an Atlas rocket
- The 482nd production RL10 engine to be launched
- The 21st RL10C-1 engine launched
- The 79th flight of an RD-180 main engine
- The 90-91-92-93rd AJ-60 solid rocket booster flown
- The 73rd launch of an Atlas 5 since 2002
- The 15th National Reconnaissance Office use of Atlas 5
- The 5th Atlas 5 launch of 2017
- The 108th Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle flight
- The 25th EELV flight for National Reconnaissance Office
- The 121st United Launch Alliance flight overall
- The 65th Atlas 5 under United Launch Alliance
- The 34th United Launch Alliance flight from Vandenberg
- The 25th NRO launch by United Launch Alliance
- The 23rd 500-series flight of the Atlas 5
- The 5th Atlas 5 to fly in the 541 configuration
- The 47th Atlas to use Space Launch Complex 3
- The 14th Atlas 5 launch from Vandenberg AFB since 2008
- The 48th NRO launch since acknowledging flights in 1996
- The 25th acknowledged NRO launch from Vandenberg
- The 3rd NRO launch this year

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911820652616781824)

ULA's #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) rocket is fueled and ready to launch the #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) mission for the @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 2 мин.

Today's [url=https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash]#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911820870158516224) launch time is 10:29:48 pm PDT #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash)

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:15 L-15 minutes

The countdown continues in this planned hold. Liftoff remains targeted for 10:29:48 p.m. local time (1:29:48 a.m. EDT; 0529:48 GMT) tonight for the 15th National Reconnaissance Office mission using the Atlas 5 launch vehicle and the 9th to occur from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 56 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911821455209443329)

There is a 100% chance of favorable weather for today's launch #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) (Thanks @30thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing)!)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911822683716882432)

T-4 min and holding; getting ready for the poll that gives final "GO" to resume the countdown to #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch on a ULA #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash)

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:24 GO for launch

The ULA launch director and NRO mission director have given the formal approvals to press onward with the countdown.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:26

T-minus 3 minutes, 50 seconds. The ground pyrotechnics have been enabled.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:27

HOLD.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 29 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911824399455723525)

HOLD HOLD HOLD

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:28

Countdown safing is in progress.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911824457081196544)

HOLD! The Countdown has been stopped inside T-4 minutes due to a problem. Vehicle safing is in progress! http://bit.ly/2wcQWN5  (https://t.co/zyMks9rlW0) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 16 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911825086763716608)

#AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) moving back into its safe T-4 configuration with tanks in topping and Flight Termination System on external power & disabled #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:32

NEW LAUNCH TIME is being targeted for 10:49:47 p.m. local (0549:47 GMT).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911825969446604800)

NEW LAUNCH TIME is being targeted for 10:49:47 p.m. local (0549:47 GMT) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167752.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/911825817763827712)

49 mins past the hour for the second attempt.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167753.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29931.jpg) Tory Bruno‏Подлинная учетная запись @torybruno (https://twitter.com/torybruno) 14 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/torybruno/status/911826995905830912)

Issue resolved. Board is green

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:35

The vehicle cryogenic tanks are being topped off. Recycle is complete.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:41

Liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen tanks are at flight level again.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:44

Countdown clocks will resume in one minute.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 57 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911828610331369472)

Re-Polling is GO for #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash)'s second attempt at getting off the ground tonight. Automated count to start in 90 seconds. #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 50 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911828773645033472)

Re-polling is complete. We're on track to launch at 10:49:47pmPDT. Watch live at http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx (https://t.co/xZFxYjYUOT)

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:46

T-minus 3 minutes, 50 seconds. The ground pyrotechnics have been enabled.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:54

There was a loss of telemetry in Denver, which limited the call of data. But the vehicle was continuing to fly smoothly.

Цитировать09/24/2017 08:54

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket has flown into a pre-arranged news blackout following jettison of the rocket's payload shroud. The veil of secrecy surrounding the launch of this clandestine satellite cargo means no further information about the progress of the ascent, upper stage engine firings or release of the payload will be announced in real-time.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 57 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911831164255600640)

Payload fairing jettison confirmed #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911831081795686400)

#AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) now heading into its classified orbit without the public watching. Confirmation of #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch success coming later.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911831412784943104)

At our customer's request, we're wrapping up live #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) coverage. Watch ULA's social media and http://www.ulalaunch.com  (https://t.co/S6v3GrEKcX) for updates

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 50 сек.51 секунду назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911831666171219968)

Solids and fairing have separated. Launch now in news blackout for national security https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167757.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/911831695854379008)

According to analysis by Ted Molczan, #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) is likely to show up in an orbit of 2,100 x 37,750 Kilometers, 62.85° http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Sep-2017/0087.html ... (https://t.co/vZ99uMWTaE)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/911830467229470720)

LAUNCH! Atlas V 541 launches with NROL-42 - Follow Along Live: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37827.80 ... (https://t.co/EgoCxvpT7I) - ARTICLE: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/09/atlas-v-preparing-to-launch-nrol-42/ ... (https://t.co/x0NypYeZNM)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167756.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167754.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167755.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать

Atlas V launches NROL-42 spy satellite (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/09/atlas-v-preparing-to-launch-nrol-42/)

Цитировать09/24/2017 09:02

To recap, the United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket departed California's Vandenberg Air Force Base atop 2.4 million pounds of thrust at 10:49:47 p.m. local time (1:49:47 a.m. EDT; 0549:47 GMT) today to deliver the classified NROL-42 payload into space for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office.

It is the 73rd Atlas 5 launch and the rocket's 15th for the NRO.

We will pause our live updates at this time. Check back later for confirmation of a completed mission.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186112.jpg) Mike Seibert‏ @mikeseibert (https://twitter.com/mikeseibert) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/mikeseibert/status/911832881390956545)

Tonight's @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) launch as seen from La Crescenta, CA...a thing of beauty in the night sky
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167759.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167758.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167760.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьAtlas V NROL-42 Live Launch Broadcast

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220286.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedLaunchAlliance) United Launch Alliance (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnrGPRKAg1PgvuSHrRIl3jg)

Трансляция началась 1 час назад

Tune in for the live launch broadcast as United Launch Alliance's Atlas V launches the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

ЦитироватьAtlas V launches NROL-42

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220782.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/SciNewsRo) SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 23 сент. 2017 г.

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V 541 configuration rocket launched the NROL-42 mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) from Space Launch Complex (SLC)-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, on 24 September 2017, at 05:49:47 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXclmCe_zE&t=20987s) UTC (23 Sept. at 22:49:47 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXclmCe_zE&t=82187s) PDT). NROL-42 mission was the 73rd Atlas V launch since its inaugural launch on 21 August 2002 and the 25th mission that ULA has launched for NRO.

ЦитироватьLaunch of Atlas V 541 Rocket with NROL-42 from Vandenberg AFB

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220764.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/SpaceVidsNet) Space Videos (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5d0UwSJJunRcRVzP1uDg)

Опубликовано: 23 сент. 2017 г.

United Launch Alliance has successfully launched an Atlas V541 from Space Launch Complex 3E at Vandenberg Air Force Base carrying a top secret payload called NROL-42 for the National Reconnaissance Office. Liftoff took place at 05:49 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z-F7nD9c4g&t=349s) UTC.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911834771499700230)

LIFTOFF of Atlas 5 and #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)! (Gene Blevins/LA Daily News) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167761.jpg)

ЦитироватьAtlas V Thunders off fr om California on Secret Mission Assignment with NROL-42 Spy Satellite
 September 24, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-launches-secretive-nrol-42-satellite/)

Thundering off on a hush-hush mission, ULA's Atlas V rocket lit up the night skies over California on Saturday to deliver a classified satellite into orbit for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office – joining a fleet of secret orbiting listening posts collecting vast amounts of communications and characterizing foreign ground sites from high above.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151959.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nrol42launch3x.jpg)
Photo: ULA Webcast

Enlisting the help of four Solid Rocket Boosters, Atlas V catapulted off its Vandenberg Air Force Base launch pad at 10:49 p.m. local time, 5:49 UTC on Sunday. Carrying its clandestine NROL-42 payload into orbit along a coast-hugging trajectory, the ascending rocket could be spotted along the coast of California down to San Diego with spectacular plumes in the sky reported from multiple locations.

The 62-meter tall rocket dropped its four boosters just shy of two minutes into the flight and continued on powered by the Russian-built RD-180 engine. When the five-meter payload fairing separated three and a half minutes after launch, Atlas V flew into the typical news blackout of NRO missions with no more information on the mission's progress coming forward except for a confirmation of launch success expected later in the day.

Heading into a shroud of secrecy, Atlas V was expected to go through staging just over four minutes into the mission to hand powered flight duties over to the Centaur upper stage for what was expected to be a two-burn mission profile to boost the classified NROL-42 into a highly elliptical orbit peaking over the northern hemisphere.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151956.png) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/NROinsignia.png)
Image: NRO

As one of numerous three-letter U.S. intelligence agencies, the National Reconnaissance Office goes through great lengths to keep its activities secret. Even the NROs existence was a closely guarded secret any only acknowledged in the 1990s, over three decades into the agency's existence.

The NRO is tasked with the design, construction and operation of all U.S. reconnaissance satellites and delivers satellite intelligence to other three-letter agencies including the NSA, CIA and DIA. Despite the NRO's efforts of secret-keeping, many of its satellite missions are well understood through declassified information on past projects, satellite trackers extracting a satellite's function from its behavior in space and occasional leaks exposing ongoing programs.

The case of NROL-42 was fairly straightforward as the mission appeared to be a clone of NROL-35 that launched in December 2014 also using an Atlas V 541 which was the only previous use of this particular vehicle configuration from the west coast. The two craft are believed to represent a new generation of signals intelligence satellites operating in specialized elliptical orbits to provide coverage of the northern regions wh ere viewing angles are unfavorable for the NRO's high-altitude listening assets in Geostationary Orbit.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151969.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151969.jpg)
Advanced Orion Signals Intelligence Satellite, redacted Image published by The Intercept

Flying under the code name Trumpet, these satellites and their predecessors host large deployable antennas to collect signals intelligence in the form of radio communication intercepts (COMINT) and gathering information on signal sources on foreign territory which can provide valuable strategic information on the properties of radars and other radio emitters (ELINT).

Signals intelligence and image reconnaissance build the cornerstones of modern space-based intelligence collection with efforts underway by a number of nations to collect information from high above. The U.S. in particular has a long history of in-space signals collection, starting out in the late 60s when the NRO launched its first orbiting listening posts into the Geostationary Orbit regime via the Canyon and Rhyolite programs to intercept VHF/microwave communications, pin-point the location of emitters on the ground and capture telemetry from Soviet and Chinese missile systems.

HEO (Highly Elliptical Orbit) signals intelligence was inaugurated in the early 1970s to patch up a blind spot of sorts as the GEO satellites only had limited coverage over the high-latitude regions of the Soviet Union.

>> Identifying the Classified NROL-42 Satellite (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/nrol-42-satellite/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151963.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/SBIRS-Architecture.jpg)
SBIRS System Level Architecture – Image: Lockheed Martin

Flying under the code name Jumpseat, the satellites used specialized orbits with a duration of half a day and an apogee location over the northern hemisphere – allowing the satellites to dwell over the northern regions for several hours of their orbit.

Jumpseat, as the primary collection post in Highly Elliptical Orbit, transitioned to Trumpet in the 1990s with three satellites reaching orbit to build a fully functional constellation with each satellite providing around eight hours of coverage per day. A pair of Trumpet Follow-On (FO) Satellites launched in 2006 and 2008 on Delta IV M+(4,2) and Atlas V 411 rockets, also hosting the Space-Based Infrared System HEO payloads to monitor missile activity in the northern regions.

The NROL-35 and 42 missions are a follow-on to the Trumpet-FO satellites, rumored to be substantially different in terms of technology than their predecessors – a theory supported by the switch to the much more powerful Atlas V 541 rocket for the NROL-35 and 42 missions, offering a performance increase of nearly two metric tons over the 411 version. The satellites continue to serve as host for the 240-Kilogram SBIRS HEO payloads – NROL-35 is host to the HEO-3 payload and Northrop Grumman reported in 2015 that HEO-4 was ready for integration on its host, in-line with a two-year spacecraft integration and test campaign.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151955.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/DKdQ6FfUQAAnJDF.jpg)
Photo: United Launch Alliance

At present, the NRO operates a number of Advanced Orion satellites drifting in Geostationary Orbit to collect communications and characterize all types of radio emitters on the ground. Other geostationary listening assets are flying under the Nemesis Program to capture entire satellite up-links, tasked by input from the NSA and CIA.

>> Related: Secret Endeavors of Mysterious Spy Satellite revealed in Snowden Documents (http://spaceflight101.com/snowden-documents-reveal-mysterious-pan-satellite/)

Saturday night's launch marked the 73rd Atlas V launch since its inauguration in 2001 and the fifth in 2017; it was the fifth flight of the Atlas V 541 variant that had been tasked with lifting NASA's Curiosity rover, the GOES-R weather satellite and three classified payloads for the NRO.

For ULA, the mission was the sixth of the year with another three on the manifest. It also marked the company's 25th mission for the National Reconnaissance Office, representing a good chunk of ULA's 121 missions completed to date.

Coming back from a two-day delay, Atlas V enjoyed a very smooth countdown on Saturday – starting eight hours before the opening of the launch window with the activation of the launch vehicle for a detailed testing operation while workers at the pad put the finishing touches on the rocket and its ground equipment. The Mobile Service Tower rolled back from Atlas V at L-5 hours and day turned to night while final preparatory steps were underway to set the stage for tanking.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151958.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nrol42launch2.jpg)
Photo: ULA Webcast

Propellant loading started when the countdown resumed from a pre-planned hold at T-2 hours. Atlas V had already received 94,600 liters of Rocket Propellant 1 ahead of the count, leaving the first stage to be loaded with 185,500 liters of Liquid Oxygen and the Centaur upper stage received some 21 metric tons of -253°C Liquid Hydrogen and -183°C oxidizer. Tanking was by the book and weather – a watch item earlier in the week – shaped up as winds calmed down and the typical Vandenberg fog dissipated just enough to provide a clear view of the rocket atop its SLC-3E pad.

>> Atlas V 541 Launch Vehicle Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/atlas-v-541/)

Standing fully fueled, Atlas V headed into a second pre-planned hold at T-4 minutes to provide time for final polls and to switch the NROL-42 satellite into its launch configuration. Cleared via final polling of all stations, Atlas V needed two attempts at getting off the ground – the first ended at T-2 minutes and 39 seconds due to a loss of commanding on the Western Range, an issue that was quickly resolved to permit another attempt within the night's classified launch window.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151960.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nrol42launch4.jpg)
Photo: ULA Webcast

Entering its fully automated countdown sequence, Atlas V pressurized its tanks, switched to battery power, and assumed full control of the countdown leading up to ignition at T-2.7 seconds.

Roaring to life, the two-chamber RD-180 engine was monitored closely as it throttled up to a launch thrust of 392 metric ton-force, passing the engine ready checkpoint at T-0 and setting in motion the ignition of the boosters at 0.8 seconds and catapulting the 540-metric-ton Atlas V off the ground at 5:49:47 UTC with a thrust of 1,080-metric-ton-force.

Lighting up the night over Vandenberg, Atlas V balanced in a vertical posture for just six seconds before initiating its pitch and roll maneuver to attain a south-easterly heading toward an orbital inclination of 63°.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151961.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nrol42launch6.jpg)
Photo: ULA Webcast

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151962.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nrol42launch7.jpg)
Photo: ULA Webcast

Navigational warnings issued for Saturday night's launch were a close match with NROL-35 – confirming the mission's destination as Molniya Orbit, a specialized elliptical orbit reaching peak altitude over the northern hemisphere and with an inclination of 63.3 or 116.6 degrees to remain undisturbed by Earth's uneven gravitational field.

Burning 2,850 Kilograms of propellants every second of powered flight, Atlas V pushed through the sound barrier 35 seconds after launch and encountered Maximum Dynamic Pressure 12 seconds later with the RD-180 throttling back for a moment to reduce stress on the ascending vehicle. Each consuming nearly 41 metric tons of propellants to generate 172 metric-ton-force of thrust, the boosters burned out 94 seconds into the flight.

Separation of the 17-meter long boosters occurred in pairs one minute and 51 seconds into the flight and Atlas V continued on towards orbit powered by the NPO Energomash RD-180 engine alone, increasing its thrust to 422 metric-ton-force as it departed the discernible atmosphere.

Three minutes and 24 seconds into the flight, AV-072 had reached 120 Kilometers in altitude, traveling 3.6 Kilometers per second. At that point, Atlas V shed no-longer needed weight by splitting open and separating the protective payload fairing as the NROL-42 satellite could no longer be harmed by aerodynamic forces. Fairing separation marked the end of real time mission coverage as Atlas V headed on toward orbit without the public watching – a standard feature of NRO launches.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/151957.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/atlas-v-nrol-42/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/nrol42launch1.jpg)
NROL-42 Ascent Path toward a 63° Orbit – Image: United Launch Alliance

Per the usual Atlas V launch procedure, the Common Core Booster was to continue firing until around T+4 minutes and 20 seconds into the flight at which point the RD-180 would be shut down followed six seconds later by stage separation and another ten seconds later by ignition of the Centaur upper stage. Firing up its 10,400-Kilogram-force RL-10C engine, Centaur was tasked with an initial burn into an elliptical parking orbit followed by a period of coasting before a second burn in the southern hemisphere that was designed to significantly raise the orbit's high point and bring up the perigee as well.

Taking the NROL-35 launch as a basis, satellite analyst Ted Molczan  (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Sep-2017/0087.html)expects NROL-42 to show up in an initial orbit of 2,100 by 37,750 Kilometers, inclined 62.85°. Navigational warnings issued for this mission indicate the Centaur upper stage will perform a deorbit maneuver after dispatching the satellite with re-entry expected in a small corridor south west of Tasmania around nine and a half to eleven hours after launch takes place.

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ЦитироватьС базы ВВС в Калифорнии запустили спутник-разведчик
НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 24 сентября. /ТАСС/. Ракета-носитель Atlas V со спутником NROL-42 Национального управления военно-космической разведки (НУВКР) была запущена в воскресенье со стартового комплекса базы ВВС США Ванденберг в штате Калифорния. Об этом сообщила американская компания United Launch Alliance (ULA).
Первоначально запуск был запланирован на пятницу, но был отложен буквально в последнюю минуту из-за необходимости заменить батарею на разгонном блоке носителя.
Информация о грузе и оборудовании спутника не разглашается, как и сроки его эксплуатации, цели и задачи. Согласно НУВКР, NROL-42 предназначен для своевременного обнаружения потенциальных угроз национальным интересам США. По данным интернет-ресурса SpaceFlight, на борту аппарата может также находиться прибор HEO-4, который оснащен инфракрасными сенсорами, позволяющими вести круглосуточное наблюдение за определенными объектами на Земле. Как считают специалисты ресурса, главное предназначение NROL-42 заключается в оперативном фиксировании ракетных запусков в Северном полушарии.

Спойлер

Запуск в воскресенье стал седьмым по счету у ULA в текущем году и 121-м с момента основания компании в 2006 году. Эта компания является совместным предприятием авиационных гигантов Boeing и Lockheed Martin. Число миссий ULA, выполненных для НУВКР, достигло 25.
29 июля 2016 года ULA запустила с космодрома на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида) ракету-носитель Atlas V с аппаратом NROL-61. 1 марта 2017 года компания осуществила запуск с базы ВВС Ванденберг (штат Калифорния) ракеты-носителя Atlas V со спутником NROL-79.

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186133.jpg) Michael Okuda‏ @MikeOkuda (https://twitter.com/MikeOkuda) 21 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/MikeOkuda/status/911836541495894016)

My photos of tonight's NROL-42 Atlas V launch, seen in the sky above Los Angeles a few minutes ago.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167766.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167765.jpg)
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Цитировать(https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p80x80/14141726_10155247802079897_1176986817781108090_n.jpg?oh=aebd981e16960018e088c28d200faa63&oe=5A467758) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?ref=nf&hc_ref=ARQO7XUIkLvVKFn2ptRgdlRDXMSujTjklWNEki9IeF1zC_b1JKrje6SJzXF78whEi-Q) 30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?hc_ref=ARTFSnlSJXBv1psogB6uhqSh4JP9rbgM9ou6quh3L1D1P_ibwqnaNkj0oM0iXOpp1kA&fref=nf)
1 мин (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10156523517684897) ·

ATLAS LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Team Vandenberg successfully launched a National Reconnaissance Office payload on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Space Launch Complex-3 here Saturday, Sep. 23, at 10:49 p.m. PDT.

Спойлер

Col. Greg Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander, was the Space Launch Commander.

"Team members of the 30th Space Wing, our partners at the National Reconnaissance Office, and United Launch Alliance worked together to ensure the success of this critical mission," said Wood. "This unified effort is what delivers the essential reconnaissance capability to the nation."

The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base manages the safety and launch operations from the Western Range.

"We've worked diligently over the course of many months to conduct mission assurance for launch site operations and reduce technical risk," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander. "We are very proud to be part of the team that contributed to the success of this mission."

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185165.jpg) LAFD‏Подлинная учетная запись @LAFD (https://twitter.com/LAFD) 47 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/LAFD/status/911831827395964928)

ADVISORY: Vandenberg AFB @30thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing) just successfully launched #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) rocket. *May* have been visible. No need to call 9-1-1

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185569.jpg) Royce Hutain‏ @RoyceHutain (https://twitter.com/RoyceHutain) 15 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/RoyceHutain/status/911840204213719040)

Pretty awesome rocket launch tonight from VAFB. Check out my shots from HB! #atlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/atlasV?src=hash) #vafb (https://twitter.com/hashtag/vafb?src=hash) #rocket (https://twitter.com/hashtag/rocket?src=hash) #ufo (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ufo?src=hash) #abc7eyewitness (https://twitter.com/hashtag/abc7eyewitness?src=hash) @ABC7 (https://twitter.com/ABC7)
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Спойлер

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 33 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911846693158694912)

LIFTOFF of Atlas 5 and #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash)! (Alex Polimeni) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167780.jpg)

Цитироватьzandr пишет:
А что за факел полыхает

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/911857989694435328)

MISSION SUCCESS declared in today's Atlas 5 launch of #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/19/av072_journal/ ... (https://t.co/Q7IxpZZCXo) (ULA photo)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167787.jpg)

Цитировать(https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/p80x80/14141726_10155247802079897_1176986817781108090_n.jpg?oh=aebd981e16960018e088c28d200faa63&oe=5A467758) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?ref=nf&hc_ref=ARSNbvfMF0Ev0gmt8_nfKHUa6syfbH8tMRs4PmeYfWmY6cus4CcbCQWmXbX-AlJ0bPE) 30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/?hc_ref=ARStsmiqTU7Cf2vjP3VXSBUxrEDrXLNNt6b89qT-DbL3QLud5337dnVo0BPmfTJ7JPY) добавил(-а) 3 новых фото в альбом «Atlas V Launch (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10156523613204897.1073742436.95781119896&type=3)».
12 мин (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/posts/10156523613384897) ·

A National Reconnaissance Office payload on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launched from Space Launch Complex-3, Sept. 23, 2017, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

(https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/s720x720/21768709_10156523613384897_7619730575452106861_o.jpg?oh=824052c8c46fb7bc0a37a59d1a1c8ec7&oe=5A3F59FB) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/photos/ms.c.eJwzNDA0NTM1MjYzNDa2MLGwNNczRBIxtUQVMTExAIkAACFQCsY%7E-.bps.a.10156523613204897.1073742436.95781119896/10156523613384897/?type=3)

Спойлер

(https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s480x480/22007774_10156523613359897_9161823750747761665_n.jpg?oh=5d6771c28039d3fe2e5afaa9d9c8fa26&oe=5A563506) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/photos/ms.c.eJwzNDA0NTM1MjYzNDa2MLGwNNczRBIxtUQVMTExAIkAACFQCsY%7E-.bps.a.10156523613204897.1073742436.95781119896/10156523613359897/?type=3)

(https://scontent-frt3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/s552x414/22007817_10156523614409897_3043290098132946054_n.jpg?oh=34ce17143921c9442c01439f54456df1&oe=5A4CA331) (https://www.facebook.com/30thSpaceWing/photos/ms.c.eJwzNDA0NTM1MjYzNDa2MLGwNNczRBIxtUQVMTExAIkAACFQCsY%7E-.bps.a.10156523613204897.1073742436.95781119896/10156523614409897/?type=3)

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ЦитироватьUnited Launch Alliance Successfully Launches NROL-42 Mission for the National Reconnaissance Office

Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., (Sept. 24, 2017) – A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office lifted off  from Space Launch Complex-3 on Sept. 23, at 10:49:47 p.m. PDT. Designated NROL-42, the mission is in support of national security.

Спойлер

"Congratulations to the entire team for overcoming multiple challenges throughout this launch campaign. From Hurricane Irma schedule impacts to replacing to a first stage battery this week – the team maintained a clear focus on mission success," said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch. "NROL-42 marks the 25th ULA-launched NRO mission, building upon our legacy of partnership with the NRO in providing reliable access to space for our nation's most critical missions."

This mission was launched aboard an Atlas V Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) 541 configuration vehicle, which includes a 5-meter payload fairing (PLF) and four solid rocket boosters. The Atlas booster for this mission was powered by the RD AMROSS RD-180 engine, and the Centaur upper stage was powered by the Aerojet Rocketdyne RL10C engine.

This is ULA's sixth launch in 2017 and the 121st successful launch since the company was formed in December 2006.

ULA's next launch is the NROL-52 for the National Reconnaissance Office. The launch is scheduled for Oct. 5 from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

The EELV program was established by the U.S. Air Force to provide assured access to space for Department of Defense and other government payloads. The commercially developed EELV program supports the full range of government mission requirements, while delivering on schedule and providing significant cost savings over the legacy launch systems.

With more than a century of combined heritage, United Launch Alliance is the nation's most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 120 satellites to orbit that aid meteorologists in tracking severe weather, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, provide critical capabilities for troops in the field and enable personal device-based GPS navigation.

For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch (https://www.facebook.com/ulalaunch), twitter.com/ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) and instagram.com/ulalaunch (https://instagram.com/ulalaunch).

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185645.jpg) ULA‏Подлинная учетная запись @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch/status/911862217087340544)

Mission success! ULA's #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) rocket successfully launches #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) for the @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) http://bit.ly/nrol52_launch  (https://t.co/oMgju0YU6z)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167798.jpg)

ЦитироватьATLAS LAUNCH SUCCESSFUL
By 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published September 24, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
Team Vandenberg successfully launched a National Reconnaissance Office payload on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V from Space Launch Complex-3 here Saturday, Sep. 23, at 10:49 p.m. PDT.

Спойлер

Col. Greg Wood, 30th Space Wing vice commander, was the Space Launch Commander.

"Team members of the 30th Space Wing, our partners at the National Reconnaissance Office, and United Launch Alliance worked together to ensure the success of this critical mission," said Wood. "This unified effort is what delivers the essential reconnaissance capability to the nation."

The 30th Space Wing at Vandenberg Air Force Base manages the safety and launch operations from the Western Range.

"We've worked diligently over the course of many months to conduct mission assurance for launch site operations and reduce technical risk," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Decker, 4th Space Launch Squadron commander. "We are very proud to be part of the team that contributed to the success of this mission."

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьPhotos: Gantry rolled back to reveal Atlas 5 rocket for launch
September 24, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/) Justin Ray (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)

The mobile service tower retracts from the Atlas 5 rocket, revealing the 197-foot-tall vehicle for liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, carrying the classified NROL-42 national security payload for the U.S. government.

Credit: United Launch Alliance

See earlier NROL-42 coverage (http://spaceflightnow.com/tag/av-072/).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126849.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24070113/1.jpeg)

Спойлер

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ЦитироватьSignals intelligence gatherer successfully launched by powerful Atlas 5 rocket
September 24, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/) Justin Ray (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)

A signals intercepter for the U.S. spy satellite agency was successfully launched into a high orbit over the top of the world by an Atlas 5 rocket on Saturday night.

Liftoff from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California came at 10:49:47 p.m. local time (1:49:47 a.m. EDT; 0549:47 GMT Sunday) after a smooth countdown.

Спойлер

Rapidly departing the launch pad and powering to the southeast on a coast-hugging trajectory, the 197-foot-tall rocket burned four solid-fuel boosters in addition to its kerosene-fed main engine for 2.4 million pounds of thrust to dazzle in a spectacular ascent.

The launch was known simply as NROL-42, a top-secret satellite-delivery flight for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The NRO is the government body that controls the country's spy satellites.

Within a few minutes of takeoff, the launch disappeared into the now-customary news blackout for national security reasons. More than two hours later, officials announced a successful outcome had been achieved.

It marked the 144th consecutive successful Atlas program launch spanning more than two decades, the 73rd for an Atlas 5 and the 121st for United Launch Alliance.

What's more, it was the 25th mission ULA has successfully performed for the NRO.

"NROL-42 marks the 25th ULA-launched NRO mission, building upon our legacy of partnership with the NRO in providing reliable access to space for our nation's most critical missions," said Laura Maginnis, ULA vice president of Government Satellite Launch.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126858.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24075045/ULA_NRO.jpg)
This was the 25th ULA launch performed for the NRO. Photos by Pat Corkery, Jeff Spotts, Gene Blevins, Ben Cooper, Walter Scriptunas II, Alex Polimeni, the Air Force and Justin Ray

The identity of the payload launched was not released to the public. But conventional wisdom said this was the second satellite in a new generation of electronic signals intelligence-gathering spacecraft, informally called Trumpet. It will operate in a Molniya-style orbit of approximately 1,000 by 24,000 miles, tilted 63 degrees to the equator.

"We think these satellites carry a signals intelligence (possibly mainly communications intercept) payload and an additional missile early-warning payload," said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and noted space historian.

This deployment builds upon 46 years of launching an evolutionary series of platforms into a similar kind of orbit aboard Titan rockets, and the Delta 4 and Atlas 5 more recently.

The orbit got its name from Soviet and Russian Molniya communications satellites that have occupied this space since the 1960s.

It takes 12 hours to complete one revolution, and the spacecraft enjoy several hours before and after apogee "hanging" high above Russia, Canada, northern Europe and Greenland.

"The Molniya orbit satellites complement similar geostationary ones by providing better coverage over the north pole. The satellite will spend most of its orbit near apogee," McDowell said.

"For most elliptical orbits Earth oblateness (the flattening of the Earth at the poles) makes the apogee's latitude change with time, but the magic of the Molniya orbit is that it instead leverages the oblateness to lock in that apogee at a fixed latitude.

"Having good coverage of Arctic areas is particularly important if you are trying to observe Russia, and possible Russian submarine SLBM missile launches from Arctic waters. It would also give a good view of North Korea."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126857.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126857.jpg)
An illustration of the Molniya orbit that NROL-35 uses. See more here. (http://www.heavens-above.com/SatInfo.aspx?satid=40344) Credit: heavens-above.com

The NRO began sending up eavesdropping satellites to Molniya orbit, known by the codename Jumpseat, in 1971 to surveil Soviet radar transmissions.

After five successful launches in the 1970s and early 1980s, the lineage moved to three much-larger Trumpet satellites launched by Titan 4 rockets in the 1990s. Two follow-on missions, requiring smaller boosters, were lofted a decade ago by Vandenberg's first Delta 4 and Atlas 5 launches.

The newest generation likely started with the NROL-35 launch on the more powerful Atlas 5-541 in 2014.

"U.S. signals intelligence satellites have demonstrated long service lives. Recent observations by my colleagues Peter Wakelin and Brad Young reveal that all six previously launched Trumpets continue to maintain operational orbits. They consist of the first generation satellites launched in 1994, 1995 and 1997, and the follow-on satellites launched in 2006, 2008 and 2014," said respected satellite observer Ted Molczan.

"Whether NROL-42 is intended to grow the fleet, or replace one of the older members remains to be seen."

Код Выделить Развернуть

** PREVIOUS TRUMPET LAUNCHES **

Trumpet 1 -- Titan 4-Centaur -- May 3, 1994
Trumpet 2 -- Titan 4-Centaur -- July 10, 1995
Trumpet 3 -- Titan 4-Centaur -- Nov. 8, 1997

Trumpet F/O 1-1 -- Delta 4M+(4,2) -- June 27, 2006
Trumpet F/O 1-2 -- Atlas 5-411 -- March 13, 2008

Trumpet F/O 2-1 -- Atlas 5-541 -- Dec. 12, 2014
Trumpet F/O 2-2 -- Atlas 5-541 -- Sept. 23, 2017
Also, NROL-42 likely carries the military's fourth Space Based Infrared Systems-HEO early-warning missile alert sensor. SBIRS is a global network that covers the entire planet with persistent monitoring to detect and track adversarial missile launches.

The system is on constantly vigil to alert the U.S., its deployed military forces and allies of a potentially deadly missile launch taking aim.

SBIRS HEO-4 is a 600-pound payload that remains attached to its NRO host satellite. It features a scanning infrared sensor in a Schmidt telescope to determine the launch site, trajectory and impact
point of a missile.

The Air Force says SBIRS HEO-4 completes the replenishment of the U.S. military's polar missile warning capability.

Now having served the NRO successfully 25 times, ULA will strive for No. 26 on its next mission. The NROL-52 launch aboard an Atlas 5-421 rocket from Cape Canaveral will occur Oct. 5 some time between 4 and 8 a.m. EDT.

See earlier NROL-42 coverage (http://spaceflightnow.com/tag/av-072/).

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 59 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/911869221667090432)

Thank you to all the men & women involved in our successful #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch tonight! #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) @ulalaunch (https://twitter.com/ulalaunch) @30thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/30thSpaceWing) @AF_SMC (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC) @AFSpace (https://twitter.com/AFSpace)

ЦитироватьUnited Launch Alliance confirmed the successful outcome of the night's launch two hours and ten minutes after Atlas V lifted off – confirming NROL-42 had been delivered to its target orbit.

ЦитироватьAtlas V NROL-42 Launch Highlights

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220286.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/UnitedLaunchAlliance) United Launch Alliance (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnrGPRKAg1PgvuSHrRIl3jg)

Опубликовано: 24 сент. 2017 г.

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office lifts off from Space Launch Complex-3. Designated NROL-42, the mission is in support of national security.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/35114.png) Cees Bassa‏ @cgbassa (https://twitter.com/cgbassa) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/cgbassa/status/911872569103568897)

The #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) satellite is alive and transmitting at the same frequency as USA 259, confirming a Trumpet FO @spaceflightnow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) @Spaceflight101 (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167779.png)

ЦитироватьPhotos: Atlas 5 powers NRO payload into the night
September 24, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/) Justin Ray (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)

The Atlas 5 rocket blasts off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for its late-night ascent to deploy the NROL-42 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Credit: Alex Polimeni/Spaceflight Now

See earlier NROL-42 coverage (http://spaceflightnow.com/tag/av-072/).

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126859.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182014/01.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126869.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182251/av-072-1.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126870.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182301/av-072-2.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126871.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182310/av-072-8.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126860.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182021/02.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126861.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182028/03.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126862.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182036/04.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126863.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182047/05.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126864.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182053/06.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126865.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182100/07.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126866.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182107/08.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126867.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182113/09.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126868.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24182118/10.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьPhotos: News media images of Atlas 5 launch
September 24, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/09/) Justin Ray (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket leaves Space Launch Complex 3-East at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on the NROL-42 satellite-deployment mission for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

See earlier NROL-42 coverage (http://spaceflightnow.com/tag/av-072/).

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126872.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126872.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126873.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126873.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126874.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24183736/031.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126875.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24183742/041.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126876.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126876.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126877.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126877.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126878.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126878.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126879.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24183803/081.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126880.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126880.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126881.jpg) (https://assets.cdn.spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/24183814/101.jpg)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126882.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126882.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 5 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/912648796105981952)

Teamwork + super cool mission = Great day at the office. #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launched aboard #AtlasV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AtlasV?src=hash) at 10:49 pm PDT from VAFB. http://www.nro.gov/news/articles/2017/2017-04.pdf ... (https://t.co/uj8jV3aSV5)

ЦитироватьАтяпа пишет:
Столько сообщений! Я уж подумал, грешным делом, не рвануло ли там чего. Обычно такое количество страниц после пуска верный признак аварии...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 24 сент. (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/912033692624633856)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) AOS nice and strong! @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) @Spaceflight101 (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101) @cgbassa (https://twitter.com/cgbassa)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/155923.jpg) (https://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/912033692624633856)


25 сент. (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/912152407622086656)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) initial orbital parameters confirmed and identity clearly consistent with TRUMPET FO. Active also on 2232.5MHz as was #NROL35 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL35?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167857.png)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167856.png)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167859.jpg)

[свернуть]

25 сент. (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/912191659051384832)

#NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) full pass Doppler curve. LOS was interesting,2277.5MHz faded long before s/c setting. 2232.5MHz was there to bitter end...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167880.png)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167883.png)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167884.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 20 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/913974185918992384)

USA 278, 2017-056A, 42941 from #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) launch Doppler curves from the last few days. Impressive signal on omni antenna.
https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DK8WqFPVAAARUeq.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DK8WqFPVAAARUeq.mp4)


18 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/914012538584498177)

USA 278, 2017-056A, 42941 launched by #NROL42 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL42?src=hash) Doppler curve summary 6 days after launch.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/167707.png)