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ЦитироватьTeams practice for Cape Canaveral's first launch of Minotaur 4 rocket             
 February 12, 2017 (http://spaceflightnow.com/2017/02/) Justin Ray (http://spaceflightnow.com/author/justin-sfn-ray/)
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/155252.jpg) (http://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DSC_4403.jpg)
The pathfinder vehicle stands atop Complex 46, enclosed by the mobile gantry. Credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now

CAPE CANAVERAL — Three inert Peacekeeper missile stages have been stacked at Cape Canaveral's Complex 46 pad, demonstrating the techniques that will be used to assemble a Minotaur 4 rocket to launch an experimental space surveillance satellite this summer.
Decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles form the basis for Minotaur 4 rockets, operated by Orbital ATK, and will deliver the majority of power to launch a small spacecraft, called SensorSat, into Earth orbit.
Launch is tentatively planned for July 15 at roughly 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT).
Known as the Operationally Responsive Space-5 mission, or ORS-5, it will be the first Minotaur launch fr om Cape Canaveral.
Officials say the Cape was chosen as the launch site because it is best suited to fly the special five-stage Minotaur 4 into the desired equatorial orbit.
The payload will circle the planet in low-Earth orbit to scan the valuable region of space 22,300 miles high — the geosynchronous orbital belt — to spot debris and warn against collisions.
Geosynchronous orbit is wh ere communications satellites, weather observatories and key reconnaissance platforms reside because that altitude allows the craft to fly continuously above the same part of the globe.
Many of the details about ORS-5 remain classified. But SensorSat will test technologies and reduce the risk for future space situational awareness missions.
The launch pad hosting this mission is Complex 46, a former Trident missile test site built in the 1980s for the U.S. Navy, then converted to spaceflight users in the 1990s and employed by Lockheed Martin to launch two Athena boosters including NASA's Lunar Prospector.
Space Florida, an arm of the state, now oversees the complex for commercial customers. It will be the first launch from the pad, which is on the easternmost tip of the Cape, in 18 years.
Five previous Minotaur 4 rockets have launched from Kodiak Island in Alaska and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California since 2010.
The entire Minotaur family has conducted 25 missions since 2000, all successfully. Cape Canaveral will join Kodiak Island, Vandenberg and Wallops Island in Virginia as sites that have hosted launches.
Mission planners selected the Cape to launch SensorSat due to the plane change required en route to achieve the targeted orbit. A Wallops-based launch could not reach such an orbit with Minotaur 4, officials said.
 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/155253.jpg) (http://spaceflightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DSC_4570.jpg)
The pathfinder vehicle stands atop Complex 46, enclosed by the mobile gantry. Credit: Ben Cooper/Spaceflight Now

The successful pathfinder operations at Complex 46 were completed Sunday and punctuated with a photo op for the news media. The inert stages will be destacked beginning Monday.
The real rocket for ORS-5 will be stacked beginning about three weeks before launch. That will be followed by a week-and-a-half of pre-flight testing.
Minotaur 4 will blast off on 500,000 pounds of thrust, propelling the 193,000-pound, 78-foot-tall rocket on a half-hour trip to orbit.
After the three Peacekeeper motors burn, two commercial upper stages deliver the final pushes to reach orbital velocity and then change planes to obtain the correct inclination for ORS-5.

ЦитироватьLaunch of military's new space-based satellite tracker delayed two months
June 21, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

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File photo of a Minotaur 4 rocket on a launch pad in Alaska before a launch in September 2011. Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

The launch from Cape Canaveral of a small U.S. military satellite from built to track objects in geosynchronous orbit has been delayed from mid-July until September, an Air Force spokesperson said.

Спойлер

The Air Force did not disclose a reason for the two-month delay, or a new target launch date for the SensorSat mission. The spokesperson said the launch is now scheduled some time between the end of August and mid-September.

The microsatellite slated to lift off from Cape Canaveral on a Minotaur 4 rocket to locate and monitor movements of spacecraft and debris in geosynchronous orbit, a belt more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator populated by hundreds of commercial and military communications, missile warning, weather and reconnaissance satellites.

The blastoff was previously scheduled for July 15 from Complex 46, a rarely-used facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station that was last used for a launch in 1999. The launch facility is managed by Space Florida, a state economic development agency chartered to attract commercial space business to Florida.

SensorSat is being funded by the Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space office, a program set up in 2007 to investigate new contracting and development methods aimed at reducing the cost and time needed to deploy new satellites.

The ORS office, based at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, awarded a contract to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory to design and built the SensorSat spacecraft. Orbital ATK's Minotaur 4 rocket, which uses decommissioned Peacekeeper missile stages for its initial boost into space, won a $23.6 million contract to launch the mission in 2015.

SensorSat is also called ORS-5 by the Air Force. It is the latest in a series of ORS missions that tested a new battlefield imager, a space-based data relay antenna for combat troops, and an autonomous rocket destruct mechanism similar to the one now used on SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

The ORS-5 launch will be the first flight of a Minotaur rocket from Cape Canaveral. Twenty-five previous Minotaur launches, employing retired Peacekeeper and Minuteman missile parts, have flown on suborbital and orbital missions from launch sites in Alaska, California and Virginia since 2000.

The Minotaur 4 rocket will place SensorSat in an orbit around 372 miles (600 kilometers) over the equator, employing an extra rocket motor to maneuver into the unusual orbit.

The Minotaur 4 usually comes with four stages — three lower boosters culled from the military's Peacekeeper ballistic missile stockpiles, and a commercial Orion 38 upper stage to maneuver payloads into their final orbit.

For the ORS-5 launch, the Minotaur 4 rocket will use two Orion 38 upper stage motors. The final Orion 38 motor burn will reduce the angle of the ORS-5 satellite's orbit, redirecting the spacecraft to fly over the equator.

Some details of SensorSat's mission remain secret, but the satellite will be a gap-filler to provide geosynchronous tracking data to the military after the retirement of the Space Based Space Surveillance, or SBSS, satellite launched in 2010, which is nearing the end of its design life.

With a mass between 175 and 250 pounds (approximately 80 to 110 kilograms), SensorSat will collect "unresolved visible imagery of resident space objects in geosynchronous orbit from a novel low Earth orbit," according to information posted on Lincoln Laboratory's website.

A follow-on space surveillance satellite is scheduled for launch in the early 2020s.

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/877979783795277824)

UPDATE: Cape Canaveral's first Minotaur launch now scheduled for no earlier than Aug 25 after delay from mid-July. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/06/21/launch-of-militarys-new-space-based-satellite-tracker-delayed-two-months/ ... (https://t.co/UYOD5PBEiu)
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Yesterday, LC-46 moved the MAS to the Launch Ready Configuration as part of the preparation for the @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) Minotaur 4 launch on 8/25

Video (https://twitter.com/i/videos/tweet/887663994403737605)

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)
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ЦитироватьBuild-up begins for first Minotaur rocket launch from Cape Canaveral
August 4, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126603.jpg)
File photo of a Minotaur 4 rocket before a launch from Kodiak Island, Alaska. Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

Ground crews at a long-dormant launch pad at Cape Canaveral are stacking surplus military missile motors for the Aug. 25 launch of a Minotaur 4 rocket with a satellite designed to track orbital traffic thousands of miles above Earth.

Спойлер

The process to construct the Minotaur 4 rocket began with the hoisting of the launcher's first stage at pad 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. The lower three solid-fueled stages of the Minotaur 4 come from the Air Force's stockpile of decommissioned Peacekeeper missiles deployed in the 1980s to hurl nuclear weapons to targets around the world.

A spokesperson for Orbital ATK, which operates the Minotaur family in agreement with the U.S. Air Force, confirmed stacking of the Minotaur 4 booster recently started at Cape Canaveral.

Liftoff is set for Aug. 25 at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT on Aug. 26), the opening of a four-hour launch window.

The Minotaur 4 is typically made of four stages — the three Peacekeeper motors and an additional commercial Orion 38 solid rocket on top — to send military satellites into orbit. Minotaur 4 variants have launched payloads into orbit on three occasions from Kodiak Island, Alaska, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, and a shortened three-stage version has launched two times on suborbital missions.

The build-up of the next Minotaur 4 rocket at launch pad 46 should be complete by mid-August, along with the attachment of SensorSat, a microsatellite designed to locate and monitor movements of spacecraft and debris in geosynchronous orbit, a belt more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator.

SensorSat will go into a unique equatorial orbit at an altitude of around 372 miles (600 kilometers). The mission's unusual equator-hugging orbit required engineers to add an additional Orion 38 upper stage, making the Minotaur 4 set to launch later this month a five-stage booster.

The final Orion 38 motor burn will reduce the angle of the ORS-5 satellite's orbit, redirecting the spacecraft to fly over the equator.

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This illustration of SensorSat is the only one released by the Air Force. Many details about the mission remain secret. Credit: U.S. Air Force

Some details of SensorSat's mission remain secret, but the satellite will be a gap-filler to provide geosynchronous tracking data to the military after the retirement of the Space Based Space Surveillance, or SBSS, satellite launched in 2010, which is nearing the end of its design life.

A follow-on space surveillance satellite is scheduled for launch in the early 2020s.

SensorSat is funded by the Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space office, a division established in 2007 to seek less expensive ways to field satellites and launch opportunities for the military. The Air Force also calls the space surveillance mission ORS-5, and the spacecraft was developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory.

With a mass between 175 and 250 pounds (approximately 80 to 110 kilograms), SensorSat will collect "unresolved visible imagery of resident space objects in geosynchronous orbit from a novel low Earth orbit," according to information posted on Lincoln Laboratory's website.

Pad 46 last hosted a space launch in 1999, when a Lockheed Martin Athena rocket took off with an experimental Taiwanese satellite. Located on the easternmost tip of Cape Canaveral, the launch pad was dormant until Space Florida, a state government agency set up to lure commercial aerospace business to the Sunshine State, took over the facility and brokered the deal to bring Orbital ATK's Minotaur rocket to the Space Coast.

Technicians partially assembled an inert Minotaur 4 rocket at pad 46 earlier this year to rehearse stacking procedures.

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Orbital ATK stacks the 4th stage of the #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) rocket in prep for the Aug 25 #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch in Fla. @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) @AF_SMC (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC) @50thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/50thSpaceWing)
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Mission Update: Minotaur IV ORS-5 Launch

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Launch:	August 25, 2017 11:14 p.m. EDT
Launch Site:	SLC-46, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Mission Customer:	United States Air Force

Mission Update

Orbital ATK will launch a Minotaur IV rocket carrying the ORS-5 satellite for the United States Air Force on Friday, August 25, 2017 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. The launch window will be open from 11:14 p.m. EDT August 25 to 3:15 a.m. EDT August 26.

Watch the live broadcast on www.orbitalatk.com (http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/MinotaurIV_ORS5_Mission-Page/www.orbitalatk.com) beginning approximately 20 minutes before launch.

Minotaur Mission Trajectory

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/232238.jpg) (http://www.orbitalatk.com/news-room/feature-stories/MinotaurIV_ORS5_Mission-Page/Images/MinotaurORS5Trajectory_hires.jpg)

About the Mission

Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV space launch vehicle will launch the ORS-5 mission for the U.S. Air Force as a part of the Orbital/Suborbital Program-3 (OSP-3) contract. ORS-5, also known as SensorSat, is designed to scan for other satellites and debris to aid the U.S. military's tracking of objects in geosynchronous orbit. For the ORS-5 launch, the Minotaur IV will use two Orion 38 upper stage motors. The final Orion 38 motor burn will reduce the angle of the ORS-5 satellite's orbit, redirecting the spacecraft to equatorial orbit.

More Information

 Minotaur IV Fact Sheet (http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/BR06005_3862%20MinotaurIV_030117.pdf)
 ORS-5 Fact Sheet (http://www.kirtland.af.mil/Portals/52/documents/ORS-5.pdf?ver=2016-11-22-133146-210)
 Minotaur Webpage (http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/default.aspx)
 Minotaur Mission History (http://www.orbitalatk.com/flight-systems/space-launch-vehicles/minotaur/docs/MinotaurMissionHistory.pdf)

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Air Force, mission partners prepare satellite for August launch

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Operationally Responsive Space Office completed a major program milestone after overseeing the successful delivery of their ORS-5 satellite from Lexington, Massachusetts to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida for final processing, encapsulation, stacking and integration for launch.

Спойлер

The ORS-5 satellite is scheduled for launch Aug. 25 at 11:15 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

"The delivery and upcoming launch of ORS-5 marks a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to the space situational awareness mission and U.S. Strategic Command," said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force program executive officer for Space. "It's an important asset for the warfighter and will be employed for at least three years."

Upon its delivery, the ORS-5 satellite, also known as SensorSat, was processed for encapsulation in the Astrotech Space Operations Florida processing facility.

A combined government and contractor team of mission partners executed final ground activities including a Launch Base Compatibility Test to verify satellite integrity after shipment, an intersegment test to verify communication compatibility from the satellite to the on-orbit operations center and the final battery reconditioning for launch, prior to its integration with the Minotaur IV launch vehicle.

"This is my first launch as the ORS director, and I am thrilled to see this mission get one step closer to operational capability," said Col. Shahnaz Punjani, director of the Operationally Responsive Space Office at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. "As a former launch group commander, it is also very exciting to be part of the first Minotaur launch from Cape Canaveral. Our partners at the 45th Space Wing, Orbital ATK, and Space Florida did a tremendous job restoring Launch Complex 46 to active service and preparing it for this launch."

The satellite was transported from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory facility in Lexington, Massachusetts, in a customized shipping container. The transport crew ensured the satellite was transported safely and according to the time sensitive schedule.

"The safe transport, processing and integration of ORS-5 to the Minotaur IV launch vehicle was paramount and the total government and contractor team worked tirelessly to ensure mission success," Thompson reiterated.

Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.

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NOTE TO EDITORS: Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to smcpa.media@us.af.mil
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ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Куда это мы летим? На геостационар, чтоли?  :o

Цитировать1st ASTS provides critical support for Minotaur launch at Cape

By Senior Airman Ian Dudley, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published August 17, 2017

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
The 1st Air and Space Test Squadron at Vandenberg Air Force Base will be assisting with the first ever Minotaur IV launch fr om Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The 1st ASTS team coordinated the transport for the first three stages of the engine to Cape Canaveral AFS where they will provide support through the day of launch.

The Minotaur IV is an expendable launch system derived from an old Peacekeeper Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

Спойлер

"We have specialized equipment here, wh ere we stack the Minotaur and make sure they are good to go," said Capt. Julian Martinez, 1st ASTS mission integrator. "The upcoming launch at Canaveral is a Minotaur IV vehicle, which is an old peacekeeper system. There are five stages, and the DoD owns the first three. We are the only Air Force blue suit team that is able to maintain, ship and handle all of these rocket components. When we are out there we always get referred to as 'the Air Force guys', because we are the only uniformed personnel that have a direct impact on ground operations."
 
As the only unit in the Air Force that can stack and transport the Minotaur IV, the 1 ASTS utilizes experienced missile maintainers on a space assignment.

"As a unit we rely heavily on the missile maintainers that have prior experience in the missile fields," said Brian Tafoya, 1st ASTS flight chief. "Even though we are now on the space launch side of the house, we are able to use the knowledge of the ICBM delivery systems to ensure we do our part in the launch process. It is a bit different than what we are used to. Instead of loading a missile into a silo we get to stack it on a launch pad. Our ICBM experience translates directly into the small space lift mission and is a pretty unique experience."

The primary responsibility of the 1st ASTS is to ensure the launch vehicle is processed and stacked for a successful mission.

"For this upcoming launch from the Cape, we shipped the first three stages out about a month before the projected launch date," said Martinez. "After the boosters arrive in Florida, we coordinate with the 45th Space Wing to use their cranes to load the boosters onto Minotaur specific trucks called Type-II's, for convoy to the launch pad. After all three stages are stacked on the launch pad, we hand custody off to the launch service provider, Orbital ATK. Stage four and five are owned by Orbital ATK and include the payload, avionics, and instrumentation."

With a low launch tempo for the Minotaur family of vehicles, the 1st ASTS team is constantly training.  This prevents future discrepancies and maintains currency.

"We don't launch a lot of these, so one of the ways we stay ready for a real operation is by practicing," said Martinez. "We run through procedures and talk with quality assurance, keeping everything up to date. This mission will launch August 25th from Cape Canaveral AFS is a pretty monumental event for the whole squadron. The team will be traveling to watch the launch, and perform post-launch equipment recovery."

The team may be small, but what they lack in numbers they make up for in dedication and expertise.
 
"When we conduct an operation like this, from cradle to grave, it gives us a sense of pride," said Tafoya. "We have maintained a mission ready posture and now have a chance to prove what we can do. It is always a challenge to stay consistent across a few year gap between missions, but we do, and when we have a Minotaur launch we are mission ready."

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ЦитироватьORS-5 satellite prepped for launch

SMC Public Affairs / Published August 18, 2017

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
With a Flight Readiness Review successfully concluded Aug. 17, the Air Force's Operational Responsive Space (ORS)-5 satellite is now ready for its journey to equatorial orbit fr om Space Launch Complex-46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. It is scheduled for launch on Aug. 25 during a four-hour launch window that opens at 11:15 p.m., EDT, after being stacked and mated atop a five-stage Orbital ATK Minotaur IV launch vehicle.

ORS-5, also known as SensorSat, was encapsulated Aug. 11 at the Astrotech Space Operations Florida processing facility in preparation for its upcoming launch. Encapsulation of ORS-5 marked the satellite's completion of all major testing prior to transfer to LC-46. The stacking of the Minotaur IV launch vehicle and integration events on the launch pad with the payload are significant milestones in ORS-5's launch progress.

Спойлер

At $87.5 million ($49 million satellite, $11.3 million ground system, $27.2 million launch), ORS-5, also known as SensorSat, measures about five feet long and two and a half feet wide and weighs about 250 pounds (113 kg). The satellite will be placed into a low earth orbit approximately 372 miles (599 kilometers) at zero degrees inclination for test and checkout.

It will remain in that orbit over a three-year design life to aid the U.S. military's tracking of other satellites and space debris in geosynchronous orbit, 22,236 miles above the equator, commonly used by defense-related communications satellites, television broadcasting stations, and international space platforms. ORS-5 will deliver space situational awareness capabilities at a significantly reduced cost compared to larger, more complex satellites, and serves as a gap filler mission for the Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) Block 10 mission, originally launched in 2010. A successor SBSS mission is not expected to launch before 2021.

This satellite's payload has one optical sensor that provides continuous, un-cued, rapid GEO belt search to detect changes and provide precise regional awareness. The sensors were built by the MIT LL in June of 2016, wh ere they began integration with the bus. The fully integrated spacecraft went through several levels of testing to ensure its launch and mission readiness. The testing included subcomponent, component, and full satellite comprehensive functional testing, vibration testing, thermal vacuum testing, final integrated systems testing and factory compatibility testing.

These tests all provided a high level of confidence for the satellite's ability to successfully perform its mission.

Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems.  Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.

NOTE TO EDITORS: Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to //smcpa.media@us.af.mil

SPECIAL NOTICE: Due to launch pad safety restrictions, there will be no remote camera setup opportunities available for media at LC-46. However, media wishing to view the nighttime launch of ORS-5/Minotaur IV from the 5th Space Launch Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station have until Monday, Aug. 21 to submit name and affiliation to //smcpa.media@us.af.mil for coordination with the 45th Space Wing Public Affairs office. 45 SW/PA requires three working days to process access list for controlled escort of media onto CCAFS.

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Ground crews at Cape Canaveral assemble souped-up Cold War-era missile for satellite launch next Friday night. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/19/assembly-complete-for-minotaur-launcher-at-cape-canaveral/ ... (https://t.co/7a7ovrZu5A)
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ЦитироватьAssembly complete for Minotaur launcher at Cape Canaveral
August 19, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Using industrial cranes at a no-frills launch pad on the eastern tip of Cape Canaveral, a team of Orbital ATK and U.S. Air Force technicians have fully stacked a modified Cold War-era missile set for launch next week with a $49 million satellite built to track other objects in orbit.

The Minotaur 4 rocket, made up of five solid-fueled stages, is scheduled to fire into space fr om pad 46 at Cape Canaveral next Friday night, Aug. 25, at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT on Aug. 26).

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126717.jpg)
A view of pad 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where crews have stacked a Minotaur 4 rocket for launch Aug. 25. Credit: Orbital ATK

The mission has a four-hour window to lift off, or else wait until another day.

The spacecraft closed up inside the Minotaur 4's nose cone is named SensorSat. Developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory, the Air Force-funded mission will spend three years scanning orbital traffic lanes, detecting and tracking satellites and space debris in a belt nearly 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) over the equator.

Objects at that altitude remain over fixed geographic positions on Earth, making geostationary orbit an ideal location for military and commercial communications satellites, weather observatories, and intelligence-gathering spy craft.

SensorSat is managed by the Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space division, an office established in 2007 to investigate lower-cost satellites and launchers. The Air Force calls the mission ORS-5, the latest in a line of projects aimed at testing out new satellite and launch innovations.

"The delivery and upcoming launch of ORS-5 marks a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to the space situational awareness mission and U.S. Strategic Command," said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force program executive officer for space. "It's an important asset for the warfighter and will be employed for at least three years."

Next week's nighttime blastoff will mark the first Minotaur launch from Cape Canaveral. Five Minotaur 4 rockets have launched on suborbital and orbital missions since 2010 from sites in California and Alaska.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126087.jpg)
File photo of a previous Minotaur 4 launch from Alaska. Credit: Orbital ATK/William G. Hartenstein

The three main rocket motors that will power the Minotaur 4 into space came from stockpiles left over from the Air Force's retired nuclear-tipped Peacekeeper missiles. The rocket motors were filled with pre-packed solid fuel in the 1980s, then placed on alert in missile silos until the military decommissioned the Peacekeeper.

Two commercially-produced Orion 38 rocket motors built by Orbital ATK, the company charged with operating the Minotaur, will do the extra lifting to place SensorSat into orbit.

The Minotaur 4 usually flies with a single Orion 38 motor as a fourth stage, but SensorSat's unusual orbit requires another boost.

The fifth stage motor will give the relatively small 249-pound (113-kilogram) SensorSat satellite a kick into an equator-hugging orbit at an altitude of approximately 372 miles (600 kilometers) at zero degrees inclination.

The Air Force paid $27.2 million for the launch, opting for a commercial-like launch service to keep costs to a minimum. Orbital ATK considered basing the launch from a Minotaur pad at Wallops Island, Virginia, but the site is too far north to reach the equatorial orbit needed on the ORS-5 mission.

Another option Orbital ATK briefly considered was setting up a temporary Minotaur launch pad at the European-run spaceport in French Guiana, just north of the equator, but Cape Canaveral eventually became the best choice once engineers devised a way to add another rocket motor on top of the Minotaur 4.

Ground crews at pad 46 topped off the Minotaur rocket Tuesday with the addition of the SensorSat satellite and the Orion 38 fifth stage motor already closed up inside the launcher's nose shroud.

The first four stages of the Minotaur 4 will fire in quick succession in the first 15 minutes of the flight to climb into a preliminary parking orbit between around 248 miles and 372 miles (400 to 600 kilometers) above Earth. That temporary orbit will have a tilt of approximately 24.5 degrees to the equator.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126718.jpg)
The SensorSat, or ORS-5, satellites prepares for thermal vacuum testing. Credit: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

During the 10-minute coast until ignition of the fifth stage motor, the Minotaur will release two CubeSats for an undisclosed U.S. government agency, and a three-unit shoebox-sized CubeSat for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.

Seattle-based Spaceflight made arrangements for the CubeSats launching on the Minotaur 4.

The Minotaur's last firing will last a little over a minute.

"The way to think of that fifth stage is it's an insertion stage," said Phil Joyce, vice president of small launch programs at Orbital ATK. "We used the standard Minotaur 4 to put us in a parking orbit ... And then that fifth stage Orion 38 is there to circularize and to do the plane change down to equatorial."

With stacking of the Minotaur 4 now complete, attention turns to testing the rocket.

"Now we're in the process of our post-stack verification tests," said Terry Luchi, Orbital ATK's Minotaur program manager. "This is wh ere we'll go through a series of avionics tests and verify that everything is still playing as expected."

A full mission dress rehearsal with the pad team and launch controllers is scheduled for Monday. The rest of the week leading up to launch day will be spent installing ordnance and preparing to arm the vehicle.

Luchi said the Minotaur team had to work around a busy launch manifest at Cape Canaveral. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket took off last Monday, Aug. 14, and a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 booster launched Friday.

"This is the first time that we'll take Minotaur out of the Cape. We have some experience in the past on other vehicles, but bringing Minotaur to the Cape obviously presents some challenges," Luchi said in an interview with Spaceflight Now.

Orbital ATK is preparing the Minotaur 4 for launch at pad 46, a rarely-used facility operated by Space Florida, the state government agency chartered to lure commercial aerospace business to the area. The last launch from pad 46 occurred in 1999.

The Minotaur launch team raised three inert Peacekeeper stages at pad 46 earlier this year in a pathfinder test to familiarize themselves with the ground facilities and verify their compatibility.

The Air Force-run Eastern Range is also getting acquainted with the Minotaur for the first time.

While there are no more Minotaur missions from Cape Canaveral on Orbital ATK's manifest, Luchi said the experience gained on the ORS-5 campaign could set the stage for future Florida-based flights.

"I think we're done with this one time (at Cape Canaveral), it's going to be all that much easier in the future," Luchi said.

Orbital ATK has one more Minotaur 1 launch in its backlog from Wallops Island, Virginia, in late 2018. That flight, using a smaller version of the Minotaur based on retired Minuteman missile stages, will loft a classified spacecraft for the National Reconnaissance Office.

Joyce said Orbital ATK anticipates future Minotaur launch contracts from the U.S. government for small-class satellites. Because they use government-furnished rocket motors, the Minotaur 1 and 4 families are restricted from competing for commercial launch awards, a U.S. government policy that has drawn the ire of Orbital ATK, which sees privately-owned satellites in the Minotaur's lift envelope, including many U.S. payloads, going up on Indian, Russian and European launchers.

Proponents of the policy say that selling already-built missile motors into the commercial launch market would dampen innovation and keep new companies from introducing commercial rockets.

Several companies are working on commercial small satellite launch vehicles. Some have major strides, including a full-up test flight in the case of the U.S.-New Zealand company Rocket Lab, but none have successfully placed a payload into orbit.

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Take a look at the mission patch for Friday's launch of #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) carrying #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) for @usairforce (https://twitter.com/usairforce). Launch window opens at 11:14 pm EDT
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#ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) (SensorSat) will provide the US military w/ space-based surveillance of satellites & space debris in geosynchronous orbit. Pic: @MITLL (https://twitter.com/MITLL)
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ЦитироватьSatnews Daily
August 17th, 2017

U.S. Air Force and MIT Partner to Assist Warfighters ... SensorSat Set for August Launch

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/234139.png)
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory engineering team stands in front of the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)-5 satellite in the MIT LL clean room at the Lexington, Massachusetts facility, prior to shipment for final processing and stacking atop an Orbital ATK Minotaur IV launch vehicle at Launch Complex 46, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. From left to right: Joe Warfel - Assembly Technician; Michele Weatherwax - Mechanical Engineer; Al Pillsbury - Mechanical Engineer; Marshall Solomon - Thermal Engineer, and; Eui Lee - Thermal Engineer. ORS-5, also known as SensorSat, is a single satellite constellation with a primary mission to provide space situational awareness. It measures about five feet long, two and a half feet wide, and weighs about 250 pounds. It will operate from a low, zero inclination orbit approximately 372 miles above the earth to aid the U.S. military's tracking of other satellites and space debris in geosynchronous orbit, 22,236 miles above the equator, commonly used by defense-related communications satellites, television broadcasting stations, and international space platforms. (Courtesy photo: MIT LL).

A milestone has been achieved due to the collaboration of the U.S. Air force and an MIT team, with the end result assisting the warfighter.

The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Operationally Responsive Space Office completed a major program milestone after overseeing the successful delivery of their ORS-5 satellite from Lexington, Massachusetts to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida for final processing, encapsulation, stacking and integration for launch.

The ORS-5 satellite is scheduled for launch August 25 at 11:15 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

"The delivery and upcoming launch of ORS-5 marks a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to the space situational awareness mission and U.S. Strategic Command," said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force program executive officer for Space. "It's an important asset for the warfighter and will be employed for at least three years." 

Upon its delivery, the ORS-5 satellite, also known as SensorSat, was processed for encapsulation in the Astrotech Space Operations Florida processing facility.
 

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/234150.png)

A combined government and contractor team of mission partners executed final ground activities including a Launch Base Compatibility Test to verify satellite integrity after shipment, an intersegment test to verify communication compatibility from the satellite to the on-orbit operations center and the final battery reconditioning for launch, prior to its integration with the Minotaur IV launch vehicle. 

"This is my first launch as the ORS director, and I am thrilled to see this mission get one step closer to operational capability," said Col. Shahnaz Punjani, director of the Operationally Responsive Space Office at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. "As a former launch group commander, it is also very exciting to be part of the first Minotaur launch from Cape Canaveral.  Our partners at the 45th Space Wing, Orbital ATK, and Space Florida did a tremendous job restoring Launch Complex 46 to active service and preparing it for this launch."  
 

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/234151.png)

The satellite was transported from the MIT Lincoln Laboratory facility in Lexington, Massachusetts, in a customized shipping container. The transport crew ensured the satellite was transported safely and according to the time sensitive schedule.

"The safe transport, processing and integration of ORS-5 to the Minotaur IV launch vehicle was paramount and the total government and contractor team worked tirelessly to ensure mission success," Thompson reiterated.

Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the U.S. Air Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems.  Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.

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Orbital ATK engineers are working final preparations for Friday's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launch of #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
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#MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) stands ready at @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) LC-46. Stay tuned for updates!
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This #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launch is one for the books. To date, Minotaur rockets have flown 25 times, but this is the 1st launch from Cape Canaveral

Цитироватьinstml (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/16505/) пишет:
Масса спутника внезапно поменялась на 140 кг и добавилось 3 кубосата (?) хм

Цитировать248 miles and 372 miles (400 to 600 kilometers) above Earth. That temporary orbit will have a tilt of approximately 24.5 degrees to the equator.

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Correction: the launch window for #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) will open at 11:15 pm EDT on Friday night

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Watch SMC's #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch live on http://orbitalatk.com  (https://t.co/JGmHU9j5R9). Satellite will deliver Space Situational Awareness Capabilities for warfighter.

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#MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch window will open at 11:15 pm EDT Friday. Live coverage will begin on http://orbitalatk.com  (https://t.co/Q6JHnQsDUy) 20 min prior

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"The primary mission of @usairforce (https://twitter.com/usairforce) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) is to provide space situational awareness from LEO belt to GEO belt." Lt. Col. Heather Bogstie

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We are keeping an eye on local weather for tomorrow's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch. Weather go, no-go call will occur later this afternoon.

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This graphic shows the trajectory of tomorrow's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch. Also available on our mission page http://bit.ly/2x7o20P  (https://t.co/el1uXNv8B4)
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#MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) Peacekeeper motors are provided by @usairforce (https://twitter.com/usairforce). Our launch team integrates & tests motors prior to shipment to launch site

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Cape Canaveral launch site for this #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) was chosen based on the final orbit of #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

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This will be the largest low-Earth orbit inclination plane change in history - 28.5 degrees latitude to equatorial orbit #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

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#MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) 4th stage will put #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) into initial orbit & the payload insertion stage will make a hard left to get to equatorial orbit

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Weather has improved to 40% POV, we are proceeding with tomorrow's launch attempt of #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) pending tomorrow's weather update

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Orbital ATK Set to Launch Minotaur IV Rocket Carrying ORS-5 Satellite for the US Air Force

ORS-5 Launch will be 26th Flight for Minotaur Family of Launch Vehicles

Dulles, Virginia 24 August 2017 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, today announced it is in final preparations to launch the company's Minotaur IV rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, on Friday, August 25, at approximately 11:15 p.m. EDT. The Minotaur IV will carry the U.S. Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space-5 (ORS-5) spacecraft, which will monitor satellites and space debris to aid the U.S. military's space situational awareness.

Спойлер

Building on the Minotaur family's 100 percent success rate, this mission will mark the 26th flight for Orbital ATK's Minotaur product line and the sixth flight of the Minotaur IV configuration. Minotaur vehicles are based on government-furnished Peacekeeper and Minuteman rocket motors that Orbital ATK has upgraded and integrated with modern avionics and other subsystems to produce an affordable launcher based on reliable, flight-proven hardware. The Minotaur IV is capable of launching payloads up to 4,000 lbs. (or 1,800 kg.) to low-Earth orbit. Minotaur rockets have previously launched from ranges in California, Virginia and Alaska. This will be the company's first launch of a Minotaur rocket from Launch Complex-46, managed by Space Florida.

"Launching from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station expands the Minotaur launch vehicle's capability to meet specific mission requirements for our customer," said Rich Straka, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK's Launch Vehicles Division. "We are pleased to be able to provide continued launch support for the ORS office with our reliable Minotaur family of launch vehicles and look forward to a successful launch of the ORS-5 mission."

The Minotaur product line is provided via the Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP-3) contract and managed by the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), Launch Enterprise, Experimental Launch and Test Division (LE/LEX), and Rocket Systems Launch Program (RSLP) located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

Live coverage of the Minotaur launch and details about the mission are available at www.orbitalatk.com (http://www.orbitalatk.com).
...

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Tomorrow's late night launch will look similar to the 2010 #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launch of SBSS-1. Launch window opens at 11:15 pm EDT #tbt (https://twitter.com/hashtag/tbt?src=hash)
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ЦитироватьMinotaur launch, GAO report rekindles debate over surplus ICBM motors
by Mike Fabey (http://spacenews.com/author/mike-fabey/) — August 24, 2017

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/155733.jpg)
Orbital ATK is set to launch Minotaur 4 fr om Cape Canaveral for the first time. Credit: U.S. Air Force

WASHINGTON — As Orbital ATK readies for its first scheduled Minotaur 4 launch from Cape Canaveral as soon as Aug. 25, a debate is flaring up again about whether the company should be able to use converted surplus intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) motors to launch commercial satellites.

Rekindling the argument is a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released this month examining the pros and cons of such a course and provides plenty of fodder for both sides.

Спойлер

While surplus ICBM motors can be used for government launches, the 1998 Commercial Space Act forbids their use for commercial launches. The U.S. Air Force has a stockpile of about 720 surplus motors, the GAO says in its Aug. 16 report, "Surplus Missile Motors, Sale Price Drives Potential Effects on [Defense Department] and Commercial Launch Providers."

Changing the law to allow the use of surplus ICBM motors for commercial space launch could give U.S. companies more domestic options for sending small satellites to low-Earth orbit while making U.S. launch companies more globally competitive, the GAO says. Commercial rockets used surplus ICBM solid rocket motors could  also provide launch customers with more service options and greater schedule flexibility, according to the report.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/155736.png)
Surplus Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Motor-Based Launch Vehicles. Credit: U.S. Government Accountability Office

But the GAO notes the sole beneficiary of such a policy change appears to be Orbital ATK, the Dulles, Virginia, company. "Orbital ATK is the sole U.S. provider of ICBM motor-based space-launch vehicles."

The Minotaur 1, first launched in 2000, uses two surplus Minuteman 2 motors and the Minotaur 4, first launched in 2010, uses three Peacekeeper motors.

For the Aug. 25 mission from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Minotaur 4 will launch from the revamped Complex 46, which was last used for a launch in 1999 and is next scheduled for launch use in 2019 when NASA tests the Orion crew capsule's abort system.

The Minotaur 4 will carry the Air Force's 113-kilogram Operational Responsive Space (ORS)-5 satellite, known as SensorSat, into a low-inclination orbit from wh ere it will track satellites and other space objects in geosynchronous orbit. The ORS-5 system cost $87.5 million, the Air Force says, including $49 million for the satellite and $11.3 million for its ground system. Orbital ATK's $27.2 million launch contract, awarded in 2014 after no other launch venture was deemed qualified to bid, was about $7 million more than ORS officials initially expected to spend.

Спойлер

Industry is concerned, though, that the sale of converted ICBM motors could help Orbital ATK drive down costs for commercial launches of small satellites. The company is already pushing its Minotaur-C, an upgraded Taurus rocket whose only scheduled flight is an Oct. 18 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California with six SkySat Earth-observation satellites for Planet.

Orbital ATK wants to replace the Castor 120 motors it builds for the Minotaur-C with surplus Peacekeeper motors in order to reduce costs on commercial launches, says Barron Beneski, Orbital ATK vice president of corporate communications. "Whether it would be a Minotaur-C or something we would rebrand, I don't know."

Some in the launch industry, GAO notes, say that if the Air Force were to sell the converted motors, it should offer a Peacekeeper motor set (three are required for a launch) at the market price of a Castor 120, or about $11.2 million. But at least one party – Orbital ATK won't say if it was them – told government officials the Air Force should sell a Peacekeeper motor set for $1.3 million, significantly less than what it would cost the Air Force to refurbish and transfer the motors to industry.

While it looks like the Air Force likely will not offer the motors at such a cut-rate price — there are concerns any below-cost pricing would violate U.S. international trade agreements — launch competitors fret that any kind significant savings the government offers with motor sales could send the wrong signal to the reemering U.S. commercial launch industry.

"This is exactly the wrong time to start intervening in the commercial launch industry," said Richard DalBello, vice president for business development and government affairs for Virgin Orbit. "Especially in a way that can pick winners and losers."

"The GAO points out a change in policy could have a significant negative result," said DalBello, who helped organize the Next-Generation Launch Coalition, a group of companies that oppose relaxing the restrictions on surplus motors.

Beneski said if Orbital ATK were permitted to buy the converted motors for commercial launches, it would agree to a Pentagon process meant to ensure the company wasn't given an unfair advantage.

Beneski also said Minotaur-class rockets are generally overpowered for small satellite launches, adding that Orbital ATK would be going after customers needing to launch satellites weighing at least 1,000 kilograms.

Still, Department of Commerce officials have warned the motor sales could disrupt competition by lowering costs for a select group of launch providers. NASA officials told the GAO that allowing motor sales may stifle commercial space innovation.

But Beneski said U.S. launch providers losing cubesat contracts and other small payload customers to foreign competitors should not fear the Minotaur rocket family, which is meant for bigger payloads.

"What they are worried about is secondary payloads," Beneski said "We're not their competition. India just launched a hundred of them."

In February, India's PSLV rocket launched 101 cubesat-class spacecraft — 88 for San Francisco-based Planet and eight for neighbor Spire —  into addition to the primary payload, the Cartosat-2D imaging satellite, and two smaller Indian satellites.

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 56 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/900865272613134336)

Final touches on our #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) rocket (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)
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Final prep underway for tomorrow's #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch. The launch window opens at 11:15 pm EDT.
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It's launch day! Tune in to our launch broadcast tonight at 10:55 ET here http://bit.ly/2x7o20P  (https://t.co/el1uXNv8B4). Will you be watching? #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

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A US military satellite the size of a coffee table set to launch fr om Cape Canaveral Friday night on Minotaur rocket https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/25/military-satellite-ready-for-launch-aboard-converted-cold-war-era-missile/ ... (https://t.co/x7CmnmaZcI)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166555.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166571.jpg)

ЦитироватьMilitary satellite ready for launch aboard converted Cold War-era missile
August 25, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

A U.S. military satellite awaiting launch Friday night fr om Cape Canaveral is small enough to fit on a coffee table, but it will punch above its weight, scanning a region more than 20,000 miles above Earth to catalog spacecraft movements and space junk.

The 249-pound (113-kilogram) spacecraft carries a telescope and a camera to locate and help track objects in geosynchronous orbit, a belt thousands of miles over the equator home to commercial and military communications, surveillance and weather satellites.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126722.jpg)
The Minotaur 4 rocket stands at Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The thermal insulation covering the lower stages of the rocket will be manually removed in the final hours of the countdown. Credit: Orbital ATK

Developed by the military's Operationally Responsive Space office, the spacecraft fills a looming data gap expected once the Air Force's current Space Based Space Surveillance Block 10 satellite ends its mission, and before a follow-on program is ready for liftoff.

Named ORS-5, or SensorSat, the spacecraft will ride a Minotaur 4 rocket into orbit from Complex 46, a long-dormant launch pad located near the eastern tip of Cape Canaveral.

A four-hour launch window opens at 11:15 p.m. EDT Friday (0315 GMT Saturday).

Forecasters from the Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron predict a 60 percent chance conditions will be acceptable for liftoff Friday night. Their primary worry is with cumulus and thick clouds over the launch site influenced by a nearby tropical wave.

The five-stage booster is comprised of three modified solid-fueled rocket motors from the Air Force's decommissioned Peacekeeper missile stockpile, and two commercially-produced stages to inject the ORS-5 satellite into orbit.

Friday night's launch will be the first Minotaur flight from Cape Canaveral. Fifteen previous Minotaur missions, all using retired Minuteman or Peacekeeper missile parts, have launched satellites into orbit from pads in California, Virginia and Alaska.

The $87.5 million ORS-5 mission is the latest in a line of relatively low-cost military projects managed by the ORS office. Previous ORS missions have tested plug-and-play satellite technology, deployed experimental imaging and data relay satellites, and demonstrated an autonomous rocket destruct mechanism now used on commercial launchers.

Air Force Col. Shahnaz Punjani, director of the ORS office, compared the ORS-5 satellite's function to the A-10 attack jet, an aircraft that carries a powerful armor-piercing cannon.

"When people talk about the A-10 aircraft, (they say) it's really a gun with an airplane wrapped around it," Punjani said. "In this case, the ORS-5 satellite is essentially a telescope in low Earth orbit with a spacecraft wrapped around it, looking at the geosynchronous belt."

Another way to look at it is to compare the ORS-5 satellite to an airport radar, said Grant Stokes, head of the space systems and technology division of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory, wh ere the spacecraft was developed and manufactured.

"It's sort of analogous to a surveillance radar at an airport, which goes around and around, surveilling the domain," Stokes told reporters in a prelaunch briefing Thursday. "Once per orbit, what ORS-5 will do is scan the GEO (geosynchronous) belt and keep track, essentially, of all the items there.

"The GEO belt is particularly important," Stokes said. "There's a huge collection of satellites there, and a tremendous amount of economic value in that special orbit, so it is one that generally we want to keep fairly good tabs on what's there and wh ere things are."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126723.jpg)
Technicians pose with the ORS-5, or SensorSat, spacecraft. Credit: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Satellites in geosynchronous orbit nearly 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) above the equator orbit Earth at the same rate the planet rotates. The effect at that altitude keeps satellites over the same geographic position at all times.

Designed for a three-year mission, ORS-5 should feed military officials data on how objects are moving around geosynchronous orbit. After identifying which objects might be threats, the Air Force could task the more capable SBSS Block 10 satellite to take better pictures, or send one of the military's four close-up inspection satellites in geosynchronous orbit to take a closer look, according to Lt. Col. Heather Bogstie, ORS-5 program manager.

The data output from ORS-5 "gives you dots on a screen," Stokes said.

"We very carefully measure how bright they are, but it does not resolve in any way," he said. "It's a dot at a distance of something like 40,000 kilometers (nearly 25,000 miles)."

Punjani said the ORS-5 satellite is a "change detection agent" to collect imagery of broad swaths of space. In keeping with the ORS program's low-cost ethos, the ORS-5 mission was conceived to meet minimum standards required by the military's space surveillance division, without the bells and whistles on more expensive spacecraft.

The SBSS Block 10 satellite launched in September 2010 cost more than $800 million, around 10 times more than ORS-5.

SBSS Block 10 will exceed its seven-year design life later this year, and a full-up replacement satellite is not expected to launch until at least 2021.

"When you look at how ORS builds our satellites, we're going to go small," Punjani said. "We're going to go to threshold requirements, and then we're going to hold to those requirements and not change those requirements throughout the life cycle, in order to ensure we rapidly acquire these programs. This program was done within three years, compared to other satellite programs that have a five-to-ten year life cycle."

The Air Force said the ORS-5 satellite itself cost around $49 million. Another $27.2 million went toward purchasing the Minotaur 4 launch from Orbital ATK, the rocket's commercial operator, and ground systems cost $11.3 million.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126724.jpg)
The top of Orbital ATK's Minotaur 4 rocket ready for launch with the ORS-5 satellite. Credit: Orbital ATK

The military needed a dedicated rocket for the ORS-5 mission because of its unique orbit 372 miles (600 kilometers) directly over the equator. That type of orbit required the Air Force and Orbital ATK to base the launch from Cape Canaveral instead of from an already-used Minotaur pad at Wallops Island, Virginia.

Officials looked at several launch options, including building a temporary Minotaur launch pad at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, or at the European-run Guiana Space Center in South America.

The cheapest and least risky option ended up being an uprated Minotaur 4 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral.

The Minotaur 4 usually comes with four stages, but the ORS-5 satellite's equator-hugging orbit needed an extra boost. Instead of flying with a single Orion 38 rocket motor on top of the Peacekeeper missile stack, Friday night's launch will carry two Orion 38 stages.

It was a case of necessity breeding invention, officials said.

The Minotaur 4, which stands about eight stories tall, will take off from pad 46, a complex which last hosted a launch in 1999. Space Florida, an arm of the state government, paid $6.6 million to refurbish the launch pad for the ORS-5 mission and future launch opportunities, according to Jim Kuzma, Space Florida's chief operating officer.

Heading east from Florida's Space Coast, the Minotaur 4 will race into the sky on top of a half-million pounds of thrust before dropping its Peacekeeper first stage into the Atlantic Ocean about a minute after liftoff.

Two more Peacekeeper motors will fire back-to-back until T+plus 3 minutes, 17 seconds. The Minotaur's nose cone will jettison during the third stage burn once the rocket flies into space.

The three Peacekeeper rocket stages were originally manufactured and packed with solid fuel in the 1980s. The motors launching Friday are 28, 29 and 30 years old, according to Lt. Col. Chad Melone, division chief of the Space and Missile Systems Center's launch enterprise services directorate.

The motors were stored at Hill Air Force Base in Utah until they were pulled from the military's stockpile. Technicians repainted the rocket stages and handed them over to Orbital ATK, which installed avionics and other equipment to make them ready for a satellite launch.

The Minotaur's Orion 38 fourth stage will ignite around 14 minutes into the flight, burning for approximately one minute to reach an elliptical, oval-shaped orbit ranging in altitude between 248 miles and 372 miles (400-600 kilometers). The temporary parking orbit will have a tilt of 24.5 degrees to the equator.

Three CubeSats will release from the Minotaur rocket beginning about 17 minutes after launch.

The secondary payloads include two 1.5-unit CubeSats, weighing around 3.3 pounds (1.5 kilograms) each, from Los Alamos National Laboratory. A larger shoebox-sized CubeSat from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, with a weight around 6.6 pounds (3 kilograms) is also hitching a ride.

Soon after the CubeSat deployments, the fourth and fifth stages of the Minotaur 4 will detach. The final Orion 38 stage will fire for a little more than a minute to circularize ORS-5's orbit at 372 miles and steer it onto a course that stays over the equator.

Separation of the ORS-5 satellite from the Minotaur 4 rocket is expected at T+plus 28 minutes, 28 seconds.

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Цитировать08/25/2017 16:15 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197191064?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
A U.S. military satellite awaiting launch Friday night from Cape Canaveral is small enough to fit on a coffee table, but it will punch above its weight, scanning a region more than 20,000 miles above Earth to catalog spacecraft movements and space junk.

Спойлер

The 249-pound (113-kilogram) spacecraft carries a telescope and a camera to locate and help track objects in geosynchronous orbit, a belt thousands of miles over the equator home to commercial and military communications, surveillance and weather satellites.

Developed by the military's Operationally Responsive Space office, the spacecraft fills a looming data gap expected once the Air Force's current Space Based Space Surveillance Block 10 satellite ends its mission, and before a follow-on program is ready for liftoff.

Named ORS-5, or SensorSat, the spacecraft will ride a Minotaur 4 rocket into orbit from Complex 46, a long-dormant launch pad located near the eastern tip of Cape Canaveral.

A four-hour launch window opens at 11:15 p.m. EDT Friday (0315 GMT Saturday).

Read our full story. (http://24liveblog.com/url?go=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/25/military-satellite-ready-for-launch-aboard-converted-cold-war-era-missile/)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьMinotaur IV Stands Ready to Fire Off fr om Cape Canaveral with ORS-5 Space Surveillance Satellite
 August 25, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/minotaur-iv-ors-5-launch-preview/)

Orbital ATK's Minotaur rocket is set for its first launch fr om Cape Canaveral Friday night, tasked with carrying into orbit the ORS-5 mission for the U.S. Air Force comprising the SensorSat space surveillance spacecraft and three CubeSats riding shotgun with the primary payload. The mission has a four-hour launch window opening at 3:15 UTC on Saturday, 11:15 p.m. local time on Friday.

Friday night's mission is one for the history books as the first flight of a Minotaur rocket fr om Cape Canaveral and it will also set the record for the largest inclination change ever carried out in Low Earth Orbit, aiming to place the 113-Kilogram SensorSat into an equatorial orbit from wh ere it can monitor activity in the Geostationary Belt wh ere the world's communications, TV and weather satellites reside.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153285.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/DH6VdiBUQAA7Ok91.jpg)
Photo: Orbital ATK

The mission uses a modified Minotaur IV rocket, featuring the standard stack of three government-furnished Peacekeeper missile stages and a solid-fueled Orion 38 acting as fourth stage plus another Orion 38 sitting on top to complete the major plane change from the initial parking orbit inclined 24.5 degrees into an orbit with zero inclination, directly above the equator.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153284.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/7522159_orig.jpg)
Populated GEO Regime – Image: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

Geostationary Orbit is arguably among the most important orbital regimes for commercial and government communications, meteorology and intelligence-gathering. Given its importance for national security, there is a strong desire to monitor activity in Geostationary Orbit to identify threats arising from a large population of debris and zombie satellites as well as potentially purposeful action by a foreign entity to impede the operation of another nation's space assets.

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) has received growing attention in recent years as several countries develop space systems that could potentially be used for harmful action against another satellite. SSA can be accomplished through tracking sizeable objects with radars or optical sensors on the ground as well as space-based systems monitoring activity from different orbits to deliver advance warning of any potential threats.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153278.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153278.jpg)
Photo: Lincoln Lab / MIT

The U.S. currently operates two pairs of 'patrol satellites' under the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, using optical sensors for close-up characterization of objects in Geostationary Orbit and likely employing radio sensors to track radio emissions from satellites as an indicator of satellite identity and activity. The GSSAP satellites typically roam below and above GEO and have extensive maneuvering capabilities to link up with any object of interest.

Although GSSAP is useful for close-up characterization, the satellites can only monitor a small sector of the GEO Belt and can not deliver an overview of activity ongoing throughout the GEO regime. This is wh ere SensorSat comes in – circling the Earth 600 Kilometers above the equator and staring up 35,000 Kilometers to Geostationary Orbit with a high-fidelity optical system to scan each object in GEO more than a dozen times per day.

SensorSat is a gap filler between the Space-Based Space Surveillance System SBSS-1 pathfinder launched in 2010 and an operational SBSS solution that has yet to be funded. Developed at MIT / Lincoln Lab, SensorSat comes with a price tag of $87.5 million including the launch vehicle – only a tenth of the SBSS-1 project as cost was made a primary driver of this mission to demonstrate cost-effective technology that is sufficient for Geosynchronous SSA and to develop an enabler mission for future responsive, taskable sensors for various applications.

>> SensorSat Mission Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/sensorsat/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153277.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/20819518_1636035499760491_774102540553868213_o.jpg)
Photo: MIT/Lincoln Lab

SensorSat's secret lies within its observation geometry that revolves around what is known as the 'magic angle' – pointing the spacecraft's telescope to a portion of the GEO Belt well ahead of its own position so that the sensor's velocity perpendicular to its line of sight exactly matches the target satellite velocity perpendicular to the vector joining the two. This way, the target satellite can remain momentarily motionless against the celestial background, allowing for longer exposure times to create a much higher sensitivity & pick up fainter (smaller) objects.

SensorSat will operate in a circular orbit 600 Kilometers in altitude, at zero inclination. Over the course of the mission, the satellite's altitude will decline as a result of drag, requiring constant adjustments to maintain the magic angle with decreasing altitude. The satellite is expected to operate for at least three years and prove the concepts for a possible future constellation of optical spacecraft keeping tabs on activity in GEO and other orbits.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153286.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153286.jpg)
Photo: Orbital ATK

Called upon for the launch of SensorSat is Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV rocket, flying in a modified version to accomplish the equatorial injection. The Minotaur family of rockets is operated by Orbital ATK under the Orbital/Suborbital Program (OSP-3) by the U.S. Air Force that combines government-provided missile stages from the Peacekeeper and Minotaur programs with commercial upper stages and avionics to create cost-effective launch systems for government missions.

As a cost-driven mission, SensorSat was looking for cheap launchers and settled on the Minotaur IV with a launch cost of $27.2 million, significantly less than a fully commercial alternative like Orbital's Pegasus. It will be the 26th launch for the Minotaur family and the first from Cape Canaveral, using Space Launch Complex 46 that was utilized for Trident II test flights in the 1980s, Athena launches in the 1990s and has since been turned over to Space Florida for commercial and government use. SLC-46 will be the site of the ORS-5 mission, support the Orion Crew Vehicle Ascent Abort 2 test in 2018 and has been chosen by Vector Space Systems for their Vector-R space launch vehicle.

Minotaur IV, a family of launchers comprising a lite, baseline and IV+ version, has flown five times since 2010 on two sub-orbital and three orbital missions, using Alaska's Kodiak launch complex and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Although launch capabilities for Minotaur IV exist at the Wallops Flight Facility, the ORS-5 mission needed a site closer to the equator in order to achieve its target orbit and Orbital ATK opted for Cape Canaveral after also studying the possibility of launching from the Guiana Space Center in South America.

>> Minotaur IV Launch Vehicle Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/minotaur-iv/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153287.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/DICEFpvXUAI5GZG.jpg)
Photo: Orbital ATK

The Minotaur IV version flying Friday night is a five-stage vehicle, using three Peacekeeper stages that will fire in close succession and an initial Orion 38 Solid Rocket Motor will inject the stack into an orbit near 600km in altitude and at the Cape's typical inclination of 28.5°. Three government-operated CubeSats will be dropped off in this initial orbit followed by the firing of the second Orion 38 that will accomplish the reduction of inclination into the desired equatorial orbit.

Minotaur IV stands 23.9 meters tall, is 2.34 meters in diameter and weighs 87 metric tons at liftoff, capable of placing up to 1,591 Kilograms into Low Earth Orbit when flying in its baseline four-stage configuration. As an all-solid launch vehicle, Minotaur does not require dynamic countdown events like propellant loading, using a compressed testing timeline to validate all onboard avionics are functional before pressing into final preparatory steps like flight software load, transition to internal power and flight termination system arming in the final minutes of the count.

Thundering into the night, Minotaur IV will fire its SR-118 first stage for 56.5 seconds, delivering 227 metric-ton-force of thrust and consuming 49 metric tons of solid propellant. The first stage will accelerate the vehicle to a speed of 1.32 Kilometers per second, separating from the second stage 25.7 Kilometers in altitude. SR-119 generates 125 metric ton-force of thrust for a burn of 58 seconds to boost the rocket's speed to 3.9 Kilometers per second, burning 25 metric tons of propellant.

>> Launch Profile (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/flight-profile/)

Thrust tail-off on the second stage will be followed by 11 seconds of coasting before staging at an altitude of 105.5 Kilometers, with the third stage immediately igniting on its burn of 72.6 seconds. Generating 29.5 metric tons of thrust, the third stage will accelerate the stack to a speed of 6.88 Kilometers per second, placing the two Orion 38 stages and payload assembly onto a sub-orbital arc. There will be a 10-minute and 27-second coast phase to allow the stack to climb from 194 to 571 Kilometers in altitude so that the initial Orion 38 burn can inject the stack into a Parking Orbit.

Stage 3 separation is planned 13 minutes and 44.4 seconds after launch, to be followed by Stage 4 ignition at T+13:55 for a burn of 66.6 seconds.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153283.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/20900768_1636035783093796_2503639264558193456_o.jpg)
Photo: MIT / Lincoln Lab

Orion 38 is 1.34 meters long and 0.97m in diameter, packed with 770 Kilograms of propellant to deliver a peak thrust of 3,765-Kilogram-force, using energy management to accomplish accurate orbital injections. The first Orion 38 is tasked with lifting the stack into an orbit of approximately 400 by 600 Kilometers, 24.5 degrees.

Minotaur IV will release three CubeSats during a ten-minute coast phase after fourth stage burnout, starting two minutes after thrust tail-off with 30 seconds in between deployment events. Seattle-based Spaceflight Industries arranged the secondary payload flight opportunity on the ORS-5 mission for two 1.5 CubeSats built at Los Alamos National Laboratory and a 3U CubeSat for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA.

Separation of the fourth stage is expected 25 minutes and eight seconds into the flight and the second Orion 38 will ignite 11 seconds later, completing its firing out of plane to reduce the orbital inclination to zero degrees and raise the low point of the orbit to reach the target circular orbit at 600 Kilometers.

SensorSat separation is targeting T+28 minutes and 28 seconds into a perfect equator-hugging orbit to begin its mission of tracking activity around Earth's prime orbital real estate. For Minotaur, the mission ends with venting of reaction control system propellant, set to be complete at T+37 minutes.

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Цитировать

Minotaur IV - ORS-5 - Launch Profile

Launch Data

Спойлер

Launch Vehicle: Minotaur IV - Orion 38
Launch Site: SLC-26 Cape Canaveral
Launch Date: August 26, 2017
Window: 03:15-07:15 UTC
Payload: ORS-5 (140kg)
Satellites: SensorSat (113kg), 3 CubeSats
 
Backup Date: August 27, 2017

Target Orbit:
Type: Equatorial Low Earth Orbit
Perigee: 600 Kilometers
Apogee: 600 Kilometers
Inclination: 0.0 °

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153271.jpg)
Photo: U.S. Air

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Launch Timeline

Спойлер

[TH]Time[/TH] [TH]Event[/TH] [TH]Altitude (km)[/TH] [TH]Velocity (km/s)[/TH] [TH]Range (km)[/TH]

T+00:00	SR-118 Ignition & LIFTOFF	0.00	0.00	0.00
T+00:36	Maximum Dynamic Pressure	9.97	0.72	6.02
T+00:56.5	Stage 1 Sep / SR-119 Ignition	25.65	1.32	20.38
T+01:54	Stage 2 Burnout	92.65	3.86	141.67
T+02:05	Stage 2 Sep / SR-120 Ignition	105.46	3.84	177.49
T+02:24	Payload Fairing Separation	130.10	4.35	252.38
T+03:17.5	Stage 3 Burnout	194.00	6.88	529.20
T+13:44.5	Stage 3 Separation	571.49	6.38	4369.15
T+13:55	Orion-38 (Stage 4) Ignition	572.77	6.38	4433.55
T+15:02	Stage 4 Burnout	578.01	7.07	4840.23
T+17:02	CubeSat #1 Separation
T+17:32	CubeSat #2 Separation
T+18:02	CubeSat #3 Separation
T+25:08	Stage 4 Separation	598.83	7.05	8746.92
T+25:18.5	Orion-38 (Stage 5) Ignition	598.82	7.05	8817.70
T+26:27.5	Stage 5 Burnout	600.70	7.05	9256.20
T+28:27.5	Sensor Sat Separation	600.78	7.05	9935.89
T+33:27.5	Reaction Control System Blowdown	600.30	7.05	11622.42
T+36:48	End of Mission	599.53	7.05	12728.85

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153272.jpg)                 
Image: Orbital ATK

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSMC ORS-5 Launch Broadcast Video

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220742.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6xqe7Ur3Nt8Ezsh44-Dr6A) Space and Missile Systems Center Los Angeles AFB (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6xqe7Ur3Nt8Ezsh44-Dr6A)

Опубликовано: 25 авг. 2017 г.

The Operational Readiness Space Office, located at Kirtland AFB, plans and prepares for the rapid development of highly responsive space capabilities that enable delivery of timely warfighting effects and, when directed, develop and support deployment and operations of these capabilities to enhance and assure support to Joint Force Commanders' and other users' needs for on-demand space support, augmentation and reconstitution. ORS' latest satellite ORS-5 is launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The satellite will provide deliver space situational awareness capabilities at a significantly reduced cost compared to larger, more complex satellites, and serves as a gap filler mission for the Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) Block 10 mission, originally launched in 2010.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 17 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901132242394730496)

Weather remains at 40% POV for tonight's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch. Live launch coverage will begin at 10:55pm ET http://bit.ly/2x7o20P (https://t.co/el1uXNv8B4)

Цитировать08/25/2017 20:03 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197191695?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The official launch weather forecast from the U.S. Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron calls for isolated thunderstorms and rain showers and mostly cloudy conditions at launch time.

There is a 60 percent chance that weather will be acceptable for liftoff during tonight's four-hour launch window, which opens at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT).

Спойлер

The primary concerns are with thick clouds and cumulus clouds, but officials will also watch for lightning in the area. The mobile gantry at Complex 46 is scheduled to be retracted to launch position around two-and-a-half hours prior to liftoff, and the launch team must be assured there is a minimal chance of lightning near the pad before giving the go to remove the service structure.

Once the gantry is retracted to reveal the Minotaur 4 rocket, the vehicle is exposed to weather and lightning.

Any storms over Cape Canaveral this evening could force the Minotaur team to push back the liftoff time later int he launch window.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/901171944959160320)

FEATURE ARTICLE: Minotaur IV set for Cape debut with ORS-5 launch - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/minotaur-iv-cape-debut-ors-5-launch/ ... (https://t.co/1NSC95wgSM) - by William Graham
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Спойлер

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Цитировать

Minotaur IV set for Cape debut with ORS-5 launch (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/minotaur-iv-cape-debut-ors-5-launch/)

ЦитироватьAugust 25, 2017

SensorSat (ORS-5)

The ORS-5 mission, also known as SensorSat, is operated by the Operationally Responsive Space Office under leadership by the U.S. Air Force. ORS-5 is a Space Situational Awareness Mission serving as a gap filler between the Space-Based Space Surveillance System SBSS-1 pathfinder satellite launched in 2010 and an operational follow-on SBSS satellite which has not yet been funded and is therefore not expected to fly until the early 2020s.

The 113-Kilogram ORS-5 satellite, hosting a high-fidelity optical sensing instrument, will circle the Earth 600 Kilometers in altitude, right above the equator fr om where it will monitor satellites in the Geostationary Belt, 35,000 Kilometers above its orbit wh ere the satellite's orbital speed matches that of Earth so that they can remain locked in a fixed position above the ground.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153278.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153278.jpg)
Photo: Lincoln Lab / MIT

Geostationary Orbit is arguably the among most important orbital regimes, populated by the world's television, telecommunications and data satellites as well as meteorological craft, military and government communications assets, and spy satellites (particularly signals intelligence).

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153284.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/7522159_orig.jpg)
Populated GEO Regime – Image: Analytical Graphics, Inc.

Given its importance for national security, there is a strong desire to monitor activity in Geostationary Orbit to identify threats arising from a large population of debris and zombie satellites as well as potentially purposeful action by a foreign entity to impede the operation of U.S. space assets in this vital orbital regime. To that end, GEO is monitored extensively using ground-based radar and optical tracking assets as well as space-based systems operating from different orbits to characterize activity in the Geostationary Belt and provide advance warning of any potential threats.

Two pairs of "patrolling satellites" were deployed to Geosynchronous Orbit in 2014 and 2016 under the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (http://spaceflight101.com/afspc-6/gssap/). The satellites – outfitted with visual Space Surveillance Sensors and radio characterization equipment – patrol above or below the GEO belt to provide precise orbital tracking for objects of interest, monitor a satellite's activity using the electro-optical payload and track radio emissions from satellites as an indicator of satellite identity and activity.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153294.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/GSSAP-USAF.jpg)
GSSAP Satellites – Image: U.S. Air Force

The 700-Kilogram GSSAP satellites have extensive maneuvering capability and can link-up with any object of interest for close-up characterization; however, due to their proximity to the GEO belt, they can not provide an overview of activity ongoing throughout the GEO regime.

SensorSat, placed into Low Earth Orbit right below the GEO Belt, will be able to stare up at GEO and collect tracking information on every sizeable object in GEO 15 times per day (on every orbit). The mission has three core objectives: a) demonstrating cost-effective technology that is sufficient for geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness, b) retire risk for a future operational Space Situational Awareness Program, and c) develop and demonstrate ORS enablers and principles through a mission with a responsive, taskable sensor capable of supporting event-driven operations.

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SBSS Satellite – Image: Boeing

The SBSS pathfinder satellite launched in 2010 came at a total program cost of $823 million, featuring a one-metric-ton satellite built by Boeing and Ball Aerospace coupled with an articulated telescope built by Northrop Grumman. SBSS-1 hosted a 30-centimeter telescope on a two-axis gimbal feeding a 2.4-megapixel image sensor. The mission operated from a Sun Synchronous Orbit, meaning the satellite would intersect the equatorial plane twice for every lap around the planet, allowing each object in GEO to be imaged at least twice per day.

SensorSat, operating in a zero-degree orbit, will remain directly under the GEO Belt at all times, permitting continuous observations.

The ORS-5 project comes with a price tag of just one tenth of the SBSS mission with $49 million allocated for the satellite, $11.3 million for the ground system, and $27.2 million for the Minotaur IV launch vehicle & Orbital ATK launch services.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153280.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153280.jpg)
Photo: MIT / Lincoln Lab

The SensorSat spacecraft was developed and built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology /Lincoln Laboratory and has been conceptualized to implement a high degree of autonomy in a low-cost framework, leveraging miniaturized satellite systems, a small satellite launch vehicle and an existing ground infrastructure at the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center.

SensorSat represents a highly integrated package with system components integrated around the purpose-built instrument and its large stray light baffle. The satellite measures 1.5 meters in length and weighs around 113 Kilograms; all satellite components were sourced from commercial space vendors with the notable exception of the Camera Electronics Board that was designed and built at MIT.

Much of the satellite's specifications and capabilities of the optical imaging system are classified.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153300.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/ors5-geost.jpg)
GeOST – Image: 'Crosslink' – The Aerospace Corporation

SensorSat employs the Geometry Optimized Space Telescope (GeOST) concept developed at Lincoln Lab which calls for the satellite to fly in an orientation that points the telescope toward the GEO Belt on what is referred to as a "magic angle" that permits celestial objects to appear as fixed to discern them from Resident Space Objects at GEO altitude.

The GeOST concept has been developed specifically for a low orbiting satellite in an equatorial orbit. Rather than staring straight up to the GEO Belt, the satellite points to a portion of the belt well ahead of its own position. The location is sel ected so that the sensor's velocity perpendicular to its line of sight exactly matches the target satellite velocity perpendicular to the vector joining the sensor and target satellite. This geometry causes the image of the target satellite to remain momentarily motionless on the focal plane, permitting greater integration time which enables more sensitive imaging. If pointed straight up, the satellite would need a detector ten times larger compared to what is possible with GeOST.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153279.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/20840929_1636035499760491_774102540553868213_n.jpg)
Photo: MIT / Lincoln Lab

Per the operational mission concept, the satellite will fly in an Earth-centered fixed (ECF) orientation and its orbital motion will sweep around the GEO Belt with only short interruptions during solar exclusion angles. The craft's attitude control system makes use of the imaging instrument as part of a "sensor in the loop" technique to ensure it accurately maintains the magic angle. As a non-propulsive satellite, ORS-5 will be subject to a slow orbital decay which will require the satellite's orientation to be adjusted over the course of its life to maintain the magic angle as a function of orbital altitude.

The novel flight geometry is combined with a TDI (Time Delay Integration) technique in the sensor's camera system that reads out subsequent detector rows and shifts their practical measurements to the adjacent row synchronously with the motion of the image across the detector. This allows for continuous imaging and readout fr om the sensor for non-stop imaging of the GEO Belt down to very faint objects like small debris pieces.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153282.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/20842259_1636035783093796_2503639264558193456_n.jpg)
Photo: MIT / Lincoln Lab

SensorSat is targeting an initial operational orbit 600 Kilometers in altitude at zero inclination, taking 104 minutes for one lap around the planet that allows for high awareness of change activity in the GEO regime. The mission is expected to have a duration of at least three and a half years with emphasis on the operational aspect of the mission over the technical demonstration.

The ORS-5 ground segment will be located at Kirtland Air Force Base for the launch and early orbit phase before transitioning to Schriever AFB for regular mission operations. SensorSat uses the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center running the Neptune common ground architecture operation system with a purpose-built extension by Lincoln Lab for mission data processing. Special tasking and data analysis will be completed at the Air Force Satellite Control Network. ORS-5, due to its unique orbit, can only use the Guam and Diego Garcia AFSCN ground stations with Hawaii in a limited backup role for the event of a loss of signal at the primary stations.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/692443836736507904/4I0Bh5oX_bigger.jpg) AF SMC‏ @AF_SMC (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/901189762823856128)

Team SMC is on console making final checks for tonight's #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch aboard a Minotaur IV from CCAFS.
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Цитировать08/26/2017 00:20 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197192987?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The first members of the Minotaur launch team should be getting ready to remove a thermal blanket covering the lower three stages of the rocket. The blanket ensures temperature and humidity inside the Minotaur 4's Peacekeeper missile motors remains within constraints.

Спойлер

The rocket stages were originally built to be housed inside a climate-controlled canister in an underground silo.

Managers will give approval to remove the blanket if weather conditions look OK. Scattered rain showers and thunderstorms are currently moving over Cape Canaveral.

"We've developed what we call a thermal conditioning blanket," said Terry Luchi, Orbital ATK's Minotaur program manager, during a recent prelaunch interview. "We have that covering all three of the Peacekeeper stages. That is a manual removal, so what we've done is we've moved our timeline back a little to account for that removal of the thermal blanket. At about T-minus 7 hours or so, we'll come on station with a small team and a pad crew to go out and make a weather call to remove the blanket.

Pre-launch checkouts of the Minotaur 4 begin at T-minus 4 hours, 30 minutes.

"We'll finish that all up, and at about four-and-a-half hours is the prelaunch check. That's when we'll bring up the range, and make sure we can flow data, and our emitters are working and all that."

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 12 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901191271385112576)

Mission control is on console & countdown has begun for tonight's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch. T-6 hours until launch window opens

Цитировать08/26/2017 03:44 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193518?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 2 hours, 30 minutes. The countdown remains on track for liftoff at the opening of tonight's launch window at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT), but the launch team continues to watch storms near Cape Canaveral.

At this point in the countdown, crews at pad 46 should be preparing to retract the mobile gantry away from the Minotaur 4 rocket and begin final arming and closeouts of the launch vehicle.

Цитировать08/26/2017 04:08 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193545?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The countdown is holding at this time, meaning launch will not occur on time at 11:15 p.m. EDT (0315 GMT). The launch window has been shortened slightly, now closing at 3 a.m. EDT (0700 GMT).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/901251629827198976)

The Minotaur launch countdown is currently in a hold as launch team waits for storms to clear at Cape Canaveral.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901251717001498627)

Current radar. General storm movement is to the north. T-2hrs to the opening of tonight's window. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK)
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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/901253036147920897)

Currently in a holding pattern to wait for storms to clear out before proceeding with ordnance arming, FTS safe/arm tests on the Minotaur IV

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901255110453379072)

Countdown is holding. Launch will be delayed. No new T0 at this time. Launch window shortened to close at 03:00a ET. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901257537030209536)

Count is holding because of storms off shore. Launch team is waiting for them to clear out before continuing. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)
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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901258083661258752)

Hearing new No Earlier Than launch target of 12:15a EDT. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901259087995908097)

We are in a hold due to lightning in the area, assessing new T-0. Minimum delay of 1 hour

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/692443836736507904/4I0Bh5oX_bigger.jpg) AF SMC‏ @AF_SMC (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/901260531713032193)

ORS Team at Kirkland AFB, NM, is awaiting launch of #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) so they can perform ops once the satellite is on orbit.
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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901260403228917760)

This is the storm that's causing the hold in our count. Movement is to the north. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)
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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/901260906100903936)

Liftoff of Minotaur 4 rocket from Cape Canaveral delayed to at least 12:15am EDT (0415 GMT), and likely later.

Цитировать08/26/2017 05:20 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193719?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The countdown remains in a hold at T-minus 2 hours, 45 minutes, pushing liftoff until some time after 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT) once launch preps are cleared to resume.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 57 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901268700677849089)

Liftoff now NET 01:00 EDT. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901272566119247872)

Live coverage of #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launch will begin as planned at 10:55 p.m. EDT with a weather update. Tune in here: http://bit.ly/2x7o20P  (https://t.co/el1uXNv8B4)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 43 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901275924108255233)

Per where the countdown clock is holding, we're realistically NET 1:45a EDT at this point. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 22 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901276229684281344)

Per Launch Director loop. "GOOD TRENDS. Prepared to give 1hr block of 0% on lightning probability." #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901277246131888129)

Range is "NO GO" at this time due to no confirmed launch time from the Launch Team. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901277487203729408)

Weather is GREEN. 70% go odds for remainder of window.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 31 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901278149727485953)

There was a technical issue on the Ground Support Equipment side that has been worked and fixed. Details attached. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)
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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 28 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901281814513295360)

Realistically w/ count holding @ T-2hrs 45mins, we're @ No Earlier Than 2a ET for launch. Window close @ 3a ET #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 06:15 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193802?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The countdown clock at Cape Canaveral continues to hold at T-minus 2 hours, 45 minutes. This means the launch time is likely now pushed after 2 a.m. EDT (0600 GMT).

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/901281948794064896)

The count will have to pick up in the next 60 minutes to permit liftoff within tonight's launch window. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 52 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901284083707240448)

Well people are back at he pad. That's positive. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

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/901284311298592768)

Per the Launch Team audio loop, we have a recycle time in work. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901284643025985536)

Confirmed. Teams are work on recycle and a new T0 time for tonight. Window extends to 3a ET. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 06:26 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193817?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
Once the Minotaur launch team resumes launch preps, they expect to pick up the count at T-minus 2 hours, 20 minutes.

ЦитироватьMinotaur 4 launch timeline with the ORS-5 satellite
August 25, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Track the major events during the Minotaur 4 rocket's 28-minute climb into a unique equatorial orbit with the ORS-5 space surveillance satellite for the U.S. military's Operationally Responsive Space office.
Standing around eight stories tall, the five-stage rocket is set for liftoff during a four-hour launch window opening at 11:15 p.m. EDT Friday (0315 GMT) Saturday from Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

Here is a diagram of the Minotaur 4's flight sequence, and a list of major events during the rocket's ascent into space.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126725.jpg)
Credit: Orbital ATK

T+00:00 —  Liftoff: The first stage's decommissioned Peacekeeper SR118 solid rocket motor ignites to begin the Minotaur 4 rocket's mission. Pitch and roll commands two seconds later will put the rocket on the proper trajectory.
T+00:36 — Max-Q: Aerodynamic pressure on the vehicle reaches its peak as the Minotaur 4 accelerates through the lower atmosphere.
T+00:56 — Stage 1 Separation/Stage 2 Ignition: At an altitude of 16 miles, the rocket's ATK-built solid-fueled first stage exhausts its supply of propellant and is jettisoned. The second stage's SR119 motor ignites to continue the flight toward space.
T+01:50 — Stage 2 Burnout: The second stage SR119 motor, built by Aerojet Rocketdyne, burns out at an altitude of 58 miles.
T+02:05 — Stage 2 Separation/Stage 3 Ignition: After a 15-second coast, the Hercules SR120 third stage motor fires for a 72-second burn.
T+02:24 — Fairing Jettison: The 92-inch graphite-epoxy aluminum honeycomb payload fairing that protected the satellites during the ride through the lower atmosphere is jettisoned as the rocket ascends into space at an altitude of 81 miles.
T+03:17 — Stage 3 Burnout: The Hercules SR120 motor completes its burn and the Minotaur 4 enters a coast period lasting more than 10 minutes, during which the vehicle's altitude will soar to more than 350 miles.
T+13:44 — Stage 3 Separation: The Minotaur's third stage is released to re-enter Earth's atmosphere.
T+13:55 —  Stage 4 Ignition: An Orion 38 solid rocket motor is ignited to deliver the ORS-5 satellite and three CubeSat secondary payloads into a preliminary parking orbit between 248 miles and 372 miles (400-600 kilometers) in altitude at an inclination of 24.5 degrees.
T+15:02 — Stage 4 Burnout: The fourth stage Orion 38 motor uses up its propellant and burns out as it enters the targeted elliptical parking orbit, beginning a 10-minute coast phase.
T+17:02 — Begin CubeSat deployments: Three U.S. government CubeSats begin deploying from the Minotaur 4, separating at 30-second intervals.
T+25:07 — Stage 4 Separation: The fourth stage Orion 38 jettisons in preparation for ignition of the fifth stage Orion 38 rocket motor, a segment added to the Minotaur 4 to direct the ORS-5 satellite into its unique equatorial orbit.
T+25:18 — Stage 5 Ignition: The fifth stage Orion 38 motor ignites for a 69-second burn.
T+26:27 — Stage 5 Burnout: The Orion 38 motor burns out after reaching a circular 372-mile-high (600-kilometer) orbit over the equator.
T+28:28 — ORS-5 Separation: The 249-pound (113-kilogram) ORS-5 spacecraft separates from the Minotaur 4's fifth stage.

[свернуть]

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/901286106787917824)

#MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) / #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) - New T-0 set for 6:04 UTC. Count to resume from T-2:25:00 at 3:39 UTC. http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/live-minotaur-launch-coverage/ ... (https://t.co/FDR5ig88d7)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901286074281897984)

New launch time: 02:04:00 EDT (06:04:00 GMT) Pick up/Recycle count to T-2hrs 25mins.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901286426179809280)

How can they pick up count at T-2hrs 25min when clock is at T-2hrs 45mins? This is why: #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166640.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901286620875313152)

Range CONFIRMS new T0 launch time of 2:04a ET.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901286803868598274)

Range CONFIRMS new T0 launch time of 02:04:00 EDT (06:04:00 GMT).

Цитировать08/26/2017 06:34  Launch set for 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 GMT) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193837?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The Minotaur 4 launch team is now targeting liftoff at 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 GMT), with the countdown set to resume at T-minus 2 hours, 25 minutes, at 11:39 p.m. EDT (0339 GMT).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901286902837501952)

New launch time for #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch is confirmed for 2:04 a.m. EDT

Цитировать08/26/2017 06:38 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193845?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 2 hours, 25 minutes and counting. The Minotaur 4 countdown has resumed after a nearly three-hour hold to wait for lightning to clear the area.

Цитировать08/26/2017 06:40 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193849?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The launch team is proceeding with final arming of the Minotaur 4 launch vehicle at this time.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901288655284600832)

All stations GO for final vehicle arming. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 06:42 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193854?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
Ground crews at pad 46 are also preparing to remove the thermal blanket covering the Minotaur 4's three Peacekeeper rocket motors.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901289420933914624)

Launch gantry now being removed from around #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash). #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901289950125191169)

Live launch broadcast now set to begin at 1:39 a.m. ET. Tune in now to hear launch prep proceedings http://bit.ly/2x7o20P (https://t.co/el1uXNv8B4)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901290436123340800)

Gantry is now rolling back from #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166641.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901290462832599045)

Current winds at SLC-46: 14 G 20 from 200 degree. No wind constraint expected during gantry roll. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901291856863961091)\

An update on status that's too long for a Tweet. So here's a screengrab from @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight). #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166642.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901291706057986049)

Weather is go, launch vehicle and ground crew working no issues

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901292031716319232)

Live launch broadcast now set to begin at 1:44 a.m. ET. Tune in now to hear launch prep proceedings http://bit.ly/2x7o20P (https://t.co/el1uXNv8B4)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901294272690798592)

Under 2hrs to launch now. All proceeding well at this time. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901294732906643461)

Launch team confirms there are no COLAs (Collision Avoidances) w/ orbital objects at launch time of 2:04a ET. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 07:04 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193896?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 2 hours and counting. The mobile service structure at pad 46 is now moving into position for launch, revealing the Minotaur 4.

ЦитироватьGantry retract (Step 11) complete at 00:10 EDT (04:10 GMT)

Цитировать08/26/2017 07:12 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193918?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The mobile gantry is confirmed in the correct position for liftoff. The pad team is now continuing vehicle closeouts and arming procedures.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 23 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901297506377773057)

Gantry roll is complete and final arming is in progress #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 07:23 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197193946?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
Today's launch is the first Minotaur rocket flight from Cape Canaveral. The Minotaur 4 rocket is standing at Complex 46, a long-dormant facility on the eastern tip of Cape Canveral that last hosted a launch 18 years ago.
Space Florida, an arm of the state government, paid $6.6 million to refurbish the launch pad for the Minotaur 4 flight and future launch opportunities.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 49 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901300146960568322)

Fun Fact: @SpaceFlorida (https://twitter.com/SpaceFlorida) LC-46 will come roaring back to life tonight for the first time in 18 years with first Minotaur launch from Florida

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/901302082787057664)

Riding as secondary payloads on #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) are two 1.5U CubeSats from Los Alamos National Lab (Prometheus?) and a 3U CubeSat from DARPA.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 8 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/901304502644600832)

Launch Pad Team confirms completion of #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) arming, launch vehicle close out & pad preparations. T-79 minutes. #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 48 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901304547666034689)

Launch pad evacuation in work. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 29 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901306882916319232)

Final arming is complete and site evacuation is underway #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 07:57 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194052?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
Weather is currently go for the planned launch time of 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 GMT).

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:03 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194069?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 60 minutes. Members of the Minotaur team are opening up their final prelaunch checklists at this time.

08/26/2017 08:04 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194071?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The ORS-5 spacecraft is reported ready for final launch preps.

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/901309503416803328)

Launch Control is GO for #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launch vehicle power-up.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901309651161014272)

Teams are proceeding into final #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launch checklists. The launch area is clear of personnel. #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901310489086402561)

T-55mins and COUNTING. All is going well for a launch at 2:04a EDT (6:04a GMT). #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901311119972859905)

Final launch check is underway. No issues are being worked and range is green for weather

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 17 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901313767832768513)

Launch site is clear and we are beginning external power on

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/901313654372610048)

The Space-Integrated GPS/INS (SIGI) navigation system is aligned for flight & programmed to the correct heading. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901316798691155969)

Hurrah! T-30mins and counting. We're in the home stretch now. Everything is "GO" at this time. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:34 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194153?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 30 minutes and counting. The Minotaur 4's telemetry transmitters are being powered on.

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:36 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194156?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 28 minutes and counting. The rocket's safety system is being turned on and tested.

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/901317839252054016)

T-26 Minutes: The Flight Termination System is now being put through a pre-launch test to verify its functionality. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/901318138926596096)

T-minus 25 minutes. Range safety checks now underway for Minotaur 4 launch from Florida at 2:04am EDT (0604 GMT).

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/901318885185650688)

#ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) battery charging is complete.

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:46 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194183?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 17 minutes and counting. All stations report they are go for launch at 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 GMT) in a final readiness check.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 46 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901319990506176513)

Final launch readiness poll complete. We are GO FOR LAUNCH! #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:50 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194194?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 14 minutes and counting. The launch hazard area and impact limit lines are clear of personnel. And the ORS-5 satellite is confirmed healthy and ready for launch.

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:54 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194197?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 9 minutes, 30 seconds. The launch vehicle's flight termination system has been switched to internal power and the external power source has been turned off.

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/901322116150304768)

Flight Termination System A & B strings are nominal on internal power. Final safe & arm checks are proceeding. #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 20 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901322814388551680)

Final launch clearance given. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать08/26/2017 08:59 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194216?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T-minus 4 minutes and counting. The rocket's guidance system has been switched to navigation mode and the flight computer is armed for flight.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901324346689552384)

Liftoff!


5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901324490780618753)

Supersonic #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)


4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901324634502696960)

Stage 1 separation & stage 2 ignition is confirmed. All is nominal


3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901324880381173760)

We have stage 2 burnout and 3 ignition #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)


3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901325023817936896)

Payload fairing separation confirmed #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash)


5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901325221457793024)

Third stage burnout is confirmed. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) is now entering 10 min coast phase.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901326396122963968)

Six minutes to stage 4 ignition #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901326712612429825)

Minotaur IV has passed over the horizon from Cape tracking station. In a 10min LOS period. #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/901324757051768832)

LAUNCH! Minotaur IV launches with ORS-5! Follow along live: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37999.240 ... (https://t.co/5qzveRCSIy)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166643.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166644.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166645.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/901327336909537280)

M4/ORS5: The view from the press area as the Minotaur 4 shot into low clouds
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166647.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/901327843422072832)

M4/ORS5: 3rd stage separation, 4th stage ignition confirmed

Цитировать08/26/2017 09:19 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194270?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T+plus 15 minutes, 10 seconds. Fourth stage burnout. The Minotaur 4 should now be in a parking orbit between 248 miles and 372 miles (400-600 kilometers) above Earth at an inclination of 24.5 degrees.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901327824342134784)

Stage 4 ignition. This motor will burn for approx 1 minute before next 10 min coast phase #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)


55 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901328266799271936)

Stage 4 burnout #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901328278278946817)

Now in another coast period of 10mins before Stage 5 will ignite.

Цитировать08/26/2017 09:21 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194276?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
Orbital ATK's launch team reports the preliminary parking orbit achieved following the fourth stage burn is as expected.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901328750209413121)

Acquisition of Signal at Ascension Island!

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901329222714707972)

Secondary payload deployment is confirmed

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 27 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/901329783509962752)

Coming up on final maneuver to inject the ORS-5 satellite into a 372-mile-high orbit hugging the equator.

Цитировать08/26/2017 09:24 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194290?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
The rocket will continue this ballistic coast until T+plus 25 minutes, 7 seconds, when the spent fourth stage Orion 38 motor will jettison. Ignition of the Orion 38 fifth stage motor will occur 11 seconds later.

Цитировать08/26/2017 09:28 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194303?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T+plus 25 minutes, 20 seconds. The final burn of this morning's flight is underway as the Orion 38 fifth stage motor ignites to redirect the ORS-5 satellite into a unique 0-degree inclination orbit hugging the equator.

Цитировать08/26/2017 09:30 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/197194305?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1405992)
T+plus 26 minutes, 30 seconds. Fifth stage burnout. The rocket and ORS-5 should now be in a circular 372-mile-high (600-kilometer) orbit over the equator.
Separation of the ORS-5 satellite is scheduled for T+plus 28 minutes, 28 seconds.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901331094141718528)

Stage 5 SHUTDOWN. Orbit nominal!

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185396.jpg) Chris G - NSF‏ @CwG_NSF (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/901331547520876544)

Planned payload SEPARATION. We're in another planned Loss Of Signal period.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 51 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901331947951202304)

We have spacecraft separation! #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) is now in orbit. This completes the Minotaur IV portion of the ORS-5 mission

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/901332384095797250)

Assumed S/C Sep! Minotaur IV deploys ORS-5. ARTICLE: https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/minotaur-iv-cape-debut-ors-5-launch/ ... (https://t.co/1NSC95wgSM) - by William Graham - COVERAGE: https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37999.120 ... (https://t.co/WT1m2LudWI)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIIrWVzW0AEICnY.jpg)

Цитировать

Minotaur IV debuts from the Cape with ORS-5 launch (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/08/minotaur-iv-cape-debut-ors-5-launch/)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186131.jpg) John Kraus‏ @johnkrausphotos (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos) 6 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/johnkrausphotos/status/901332027873660928)

Beautiful 2:04am launch of @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK)'s #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) rocket carrying #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) for the @usairforce (https://twitter.com/usairforce). #OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/hashtag/OrbitalATK?src=hash) #Minotaur (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Minotaur?src=hash)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DIIssqAU0AIB-Cz.jpg)

ЦитироватьMinotaur IV launches ORS-5 Satellite

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

ЦитироватьLaunch of First Minotaur IV Rocket from Cape Canaveral with ORS-5

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

ЦитироватьMission Update - August 26, 2017

Liftoff of Minotaur IV carrying the ORS-5 satellite for the U.S. Air Force occured at 2:04 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.ORS-5 was placed in to orbit at approximately 2:34 a.m.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901337372620664832)

Streak shot of our #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) launching the @usairforce (https://twitter.com/usairforce) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) early this morning from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Credit: Ben Cooper
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166648.jpg)

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/692443836736507904/4I0Bh5oX_bigger.jpg) AF SMC‏ @AF_SMC (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC) 11 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/AF_SMC/status/901335771164135424)

#ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) successfully launched aboard Minotaur IV from CCAFS.

ЦитироватьКомпания Orbital ATK запустила с мыса Канаверал спутник для ВВС США
Космос (http://tass.ru/kosmos) 26 августа, 9:23 дата обновления: 26 августа, 9:34 UTC+3

SensorSat предназначен для отслеживания передвижений всех действующих и бездействующих спутников, а также фрагментов космического мусора

НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 26 августа. /ТАСС/. Американская компания Orbital ATK запустила в субботу ракету-носитель Minotaur IV с предназначенным для ВВС США спутником отслеживания передвижений космических аппаратов и объектов.

Старт ракеты состоялся в 02:04 по времени Восточного побережья США (09:04 мск) с базы ВВС на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида). Прямую трансляцию запуска компания вела на своем сайте (https://www.orbitalatk.com/).

Спойлер

Аппарат под названием SensorSat будет располагаться на низкой околоземной орбите. Он предназначен для отслеживания передвижений всех действующих и бездействующих спутников, а также фрагментов космического мусора. SensorSat заменит спутник наблюдения космического базирования SBSS, который был запущен ВВС США с той же целью в 2010 году.

Небольшой аппарат стоимостью около $50 млн и весом чуть более 110 кг будет работать на орбите высотой 600-700 км. Срок его службы составит как минимум три года или до тех пор, пока не будет найдено финансирование для запуска нового спутника из серии SBSS.

ВВС США заключили контракт с Orbital ATK на вывод SensorSat на орбиту в 2015 году. Для его доставки решили использовать разработанную компанией четырехступенчатую ракету легкого класса Minotaur IV. Однако из-за нестандартности угла наклонения расчетной орбиты спутника для его успешного вывода носитель пришлось оборудовать дополнительной пятой ступенью.

Это первый запуск Minotaur IV с мыса Канаверал. С 2010 года с помощью данного носителя совершено пять пусков с площадок в штатах Калифорния и Аляска.

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Цитировать...
The 24-meter tall Minotaur IV leapt off its SLC-46 launch pad at precisely 6:04:00.224 UTC
...

ЦитироватьMinotaur IV Blasts into Orbit fr om Cape Canaveral with ORS-5 Space Situational Awareness Satellite
 August 26, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/minotaur-iv-cape-canaveral-debut-ors-5-success/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153288.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/DIIxjkkWAAAz97e.jpg)
Photo: Orbital ATK / Ben Cooper

Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV rocket shot up into the night skies over Florida's Space Coast in the early hours on Saturday, carrying out its debut launch fr om Cape Canaveral to dispatch the ORS-5 Space Situational Awareness Satellite into a perfect equator-hugging orbit to keep tabs on activity in prime orbital real estate in the Geostationary Belt where the world's communications, weather and intelligence-gathering satellites roam.

Powered by three leftover Peacekeeper missile stages, Minotaur IV did not hang around after firing off from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 2:04 a.m. local time, 6:04 UTC – marking that pad's first use since 1999. The three-decade old Peacekeeper stages propelled Minotaur IV onto a sub-orbital arc and a pair of commercial Orion 38 stages built by Orbital ATK fired in methodical fashion to first put the stack into orbit, then release three CubeSats hitching a ride on the vehicle and firing the second Orion 38 motor to bend the orbital trajectory and transition into a zero-inclination orbit, 600 Kilometers in altitude.

Спойлер

The 113-Kilogram SensorSat spacecraft was pushed off by loaded springs 28.5 minutes after liftoff into a nominal orbit, set to begin a three-year gap-filler mission providing vital space situational awareness data to the U.S. military. Although the satellite is small enough to fit into the trunk of a typical car, it will become a critical operational tool to keep track of activity in Geostationary Orbit by scanning each resident space object inhabiting GEO more than a dozen times a day to catalog potentially dangerous space junk and purposeful movement of satellites that may represent a threat to U.S. or allied space assets.

...

The primary objective of SensorSat is closing an imminent Space Situational Awareness (SSA) data gap as the Space Based Space Surveillance SBSS-1 satellite reaches the end of its planned seven-year service life later this year. The $823 million SBSS mission uses a one-metric ton satellite in a Sun-Synchronous Orbit, hosting a gimbaled imaging platform to scan a sector of the GEO Belt every time the satellite's polar orbit intersects the equatorial plane – allowing it to examine every spacecraft in GEO at least once per day.

SensorSat comes with a more affordable price tag of $87.5 million and establishes a permanent stakeout post in an equatorial orbit 600 Kilometers in altitude, circling some 35,000 Kilometers directly below the GEO Belt, allowing for continuous scanning to track every resident GEO object once every 104 minutes.

Geostationary Orbit is one of the most critical orbital regimes, representing a narrow band 35,800 Kilometers over Earth's equator wh ere a satellite's orbital velocity matches that of Earth's rotation – permitting spacecraft to be 'parked' in a fixed position relative to the ground in order to beam communications to the same area on Earth, collect weather data from a constant viewing sector or vacuum up communications intelligence from a location of interest. This makes Geostationary Orbit a particularly important orbital regime for government and commercial use.

>> SensorSat Spacecraft Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/sensorsat/)

The Geostationary Belt is currently populated by 441 satellites in various states of activity and other members of the GEO population include zombie satellites that have become uncontrollable from the ground as well as a large number of smaller and larger debris. Objects in other orbits also intersect the GEO Belt and require close monitoring to ensure a collision-free passage, making Space Situational Awareness a priority when it comes to protecting a nation's prime space assets.

Scanning the entire GEO Belt 15 times per day, SensorSat will feed critical tracking data to military officials to identify threats arising from debris and purposeful action by foreign entities. Data delivered by SensorSat will be used to task SBSS-1 to obtain better data while the satellite remains in operation and it will also inform decisions on wh ere to direct the U.S. military's patrol satellites roaming near GEO. Launched in 2014 and 16, the U.S. operates a two pairs of satellites under the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program that can provide close-up characterization of resident objects in GEO to assess their identity and intent.

Built by MIT's Lincoln Lab, the SensorSat satellite packs quite a punch despite its low cost – setting out to become an enabler for future responsive & taskable sensors that can be deployed on cost-effective small satellite platforms. The mission's secret lies within a novel observation geometry revolving around the 'Magic Angle' – pointing SensorSat's telescopic imager to a portion of the GEO Belt well ahead of its own position so that the sensor's velocity perpendicular to its line of sight exactly matches the target satellite velocity perpendicular to the vector joining the two.

This imaging geometry allows objects in GEO to appear momentarily motionless which, when combined with the proper exposure time and Time Delay Integration scheme on the detector, allows the instrument to pick up very faint (small) objects through their optical signature. Finesse is required when setting up the magic angle as SensorSat will have to adjust its orientation ever so slightly as its orbital altitude decreases over the course of the mission due to drag.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153281.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/20842081_1636035879760453_7750066559820456567_n-1.jpg)
Image: U.S. Air Force / SMC

The cost for the ORS-5 mission is broken down to $49 million for the satellite, $27.2M for the Minotaur IV launch service and $11.3 million for the ground system that is responsible for converting optical tracks collected by SensorSat into precise & constantly upd ated tracking elements for the large population of GEO objects. The mission's brief commissioning phase will be run from Kirtland Air Force Base before moving over to Schriever AFB for regular mission operations.

Called upon for the launch of ORS-5 was a tailor-made version of Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV rocket, employing the standard stack of three surplus solid-fueled Peacekeeper stages and a commercial Orion 38 motor as fourth stage plus an additional Orion 38 added to the stack as fifth stage to accomplish the equatorial injection. The requirement for an equator-hugging orbit also drove the decision to move the launch to Cape Canaveral as the closest U.S. launch site to the equator after evaluations had also been made for launching from the Guiana Space Center in South America.

>> Minotaur IV Launch Vehicle Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/minotaur-iv/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153296.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/ors5-2.jpg)
Photo: Orbital ATK Webcast

The five-stage, 87-metric-ton Minotaur IV completed stacking starting in early August and went through a Mission Dress Rehearsal on Monday to be ready for countdown operations into Friday night. A lengthy hold-up to launch preparations was caused by a series of thunderstorm cells moving north over the Cape area, requiring teams to hold off on retracting the service gantry at SLC-46 and pushing liftoff deep into the night's 3-hour & 45-minute window.

Countdown operations ran like clockwork after the weather delay and teams completed arming of the Minotaur IV followed by a last se t of electrical checks, verifications of the Flight Termination System and navigation system setup, clearing the way for the launcher to take over control at the T-2-minute mark.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153297.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/ors5-3.jpg)
Photo: Orbital ATK Webcast

The 24-meter tall Minotaur IV leapt off its SLC-46 launch pad at precisely 6:04:00.224 UTC, departing the Space Coast in a hurry with a total thrust of 227-metric ton force and an initial thrust to weight ratio in excess of 2.6. Given its ICBM heritage, the vehicle did not hang around and raced into partly cloudy skies, pushing through the sound barrier and hitting Maximum Dynamic Pressure just 36 seconds after taking off and starting a trek to the east-south-east toward the equator.

The SR-118 first stage burned through 45.4 metric tons of propellant in just 56.5 seconds, lifting the vehicle to an altitude of over 25 Kilometers and boosting its speed to 1.3 Kilometers per second. Stage 2, designated SR-119, took over as soon as thrust began tailing off on the first stage, generating a thrust of 125 metric-ton-force for a burn of 57.6 seconds to raise the vehicle's velocity to 3.9 Kilometers per second, consuming 25 metric tons of packed propellant.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153298.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/ors5-4.jpg)
1/2 Separation – Photo: Orbital ATK Webcast

The second and third stage parted ways eleven seconds after Stage 2 burnout with the SR-120 taking over powered flight for the next 72.6 seconds, generating some 29,500 Kilogram-force of thrust to push the stack to a speed of 6.9km/s and place it onto a sub-orbital arc. Passing 130 Kilometers in altitude, Minotaur IV dropped its fairing two minutes and 24 seconds into the flight to shed no-longer-needed weight on its way toward orbit.

The third stage exhausted its propellant supply of 7,100 Kilograms three minutes and 17 seconds into the flight, marking the start of a ten-and-a-half-minute passive flight phase to allow the vehicle to climb from 194 to 573 Kilometers in altitude so that the fourth stage could inject the stack into a preliminary Parking Orbit.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153295.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153295.jpg)
Orion 38 Motor – Image: Orbital ATK

The upper composite of the Minotaur IV in use on Saturday was specifically tailored for this mission, featuring the standard Minotaur IV Orion 38 / Guidance and Control Assembly module as fourth stage and the Orion 38 / Insertion Stage Assembly borrowed from the Minotaur I as a fifth stage, complete with its own avionics and attitude control system. Orion 38 itself is 1.34 meters long and 0.97m in diameter, packed with 770 Kilograms of propellant to deliver an average thrust of 3,335-Kilogram force over a 67-second burn.

Orion 38/GCA fired up 13 minutes and 51 seconds into the flight and successfully injected the stack into a parking orbit of around 400 by 600 Kilometers, inclined 24.5 degrees. Two minutes after burnout of the fourth stage, Minotaur IV began the release of three CubeSats that hitched a ride as secondary payloads, arranged through Seattle-based launch broker Spaceflight Industries. Two of the CubeSats were 1.5U satellites developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory (likely belonging to LANL's Prometheus project demonstrating a CubeSat-based communications infrastructure) and a 3U CubeSat from the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA.

The fourth stage dropped away just after passing the T+25-minute mark and the Orion 38/ISA fired up at T+25 minutes and 20 seconds to accomplish the most significant Low Earth Orbit plane change ever carried out – reducing the orbital inclination from 24.5 to zero degrees and also increasing the perigee altitude to 600 Kilometers to reach a circular orbit. Propulsive flight went by the book and concluded at T+26 minutes and 28 seconds, setting up for two minutes of coasting and thrust tail off before SensorSat was planned to be sent on its way. Orbital parameters based on Minotaur's navigation system were reported as 599 by 604 Kilometers, 0.02° – indicating the vehicle hit its orbital mark perfectly.

Saturday's launch marked the 26th flight of the Minotaur series, the sixth of the Minotaur IV family and the first from Cape Canaveral. Orbital ATK has two launches lined up before the end of the year, targeting October for the launch of a commercial Minotaur-C (formerly named Taurus) with six SkySat Earth Imaging Satellites and November for the company's next Antares mission with the Cygnus OA-8 resupply craft headed to the International Space Station.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/141102.jpg)Orbital ATK (@OrbitalATK) (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK)
Confirmation of successful #MinotaurIV #ORS5 launch. The spacecraft has now had 2 successful passes, confirming they are separated & stable

Цитировать45th Space Wing supports successful Minotaur IV ORS-5 launch
By 45th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published August 26, 2017

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --
The 45th Space Wing supported Orbital ATK's successful Minotaur IV rocket launch carrying the United States Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space 5 satellite Aug. 26, 2017, at 2:04 a.m. from Space Launch Complex 46 here.

Спойлер

ORS-5 is a single satellite constellation with a primary mission to provide space situational awareness of the geosynchronous orbit belt for Combatant Commanders' urgent needs. ORS-5 is not only a significant milestone for the ORS program office, but for the 45th Space Wing.  

According to Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th Space Wing commander and mission Launch Decision Authority, today's launch shows the Wing is on track to complete 30 launches this year and signifies the barriers the 45th Space Wing is breaking to guarantee assured access to space. ORS-5 marks the first Minotaur IV launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and the first time launching from SLC-46 since 1999, and demonstrates the Range's ability to support every vertical launch system in the U.S. inventory.

The Minotaur IV includes three solid rocket motors from decommissioned peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles.

"The ORS-5 Minotaur IV launch was the true epitome of partnership," Monteith said. "A collaborative effort between multiple mission partners, each group came together flawlessly to revolutionize how we work together on the Eastern Range. Teamwork is pivotal to making us the 'World's Premier Gateway to Space' and I couldn't be prouder to lead a Wing that not only has launched over a quarter of the world's launches this year, but also three successful, launches from three different providers, in less than two weeks."

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 20 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901348247045906432)

Confirmation of successful #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch. The spacecraft has now had 2 successful passes, confirming they are separated & stable

Цитировать

Orbital ATK Successfully Launches Minotaur IV Rocket Carrying ORS-5 Satellite for the US Air Force

Successful Flight Extends Flawless Record of Minotaur Product Line to 26 Missions

Dulles, Virginia 26 August 2017 – Orbital ATK (NYSE: OA), a global leader in aerospace and defense technologies, announced its Minotaur IV space launch vehicle successfully launched and placed into orbit the U.S. Air Force's Operationally Responsive Space-5 (ORS-5) spacecraft on August 26, 2017. The Minotaur IV launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex 46 (SLC-46), which is operated under license by Space Florida. This mission marks the 26th consecutive successful launch for the company's Minotaur product line.

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The rocket's first stage ignited at 2:04 a.m. (EDT). Approximately 28 minutes later, the Minotaur IV deployed the ORS-5 satellite into its targeted low inclination orbit 372 miles (599 kilometers) above the earth. From this orbit, ORS-5 will deliver timely, reliable and accurate space situational awareness information to the United States Strategic Command through the Joint Space Operations Center.

"This was our first Minotaur launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, demonstrating the rocket's capability to launch from all four major U.S. spaceports," said Rich Straka, Vice President and General Manager of Orbital ATK's Launch Vehicles Division. "With a perfect track record of 26 successful launches, the Minotaur family has proven to be a valuable and reliable asset for the Department of Defense."

The Minotaur family of launch vehicles is based on government-furnished Peacekeeper and Minuteman rocket motors that Orbital ATK has upgraded and integrated with modern avionics and other subsystems to produce an affordable launcher based on flight-proven hardware. Minotaur rockets have now launched from ranges in California, Virginia, Alaska and Florida. The vehicles are procured under the OSP-3 contract administered by Kirtland Air Force Base.

"Orbital ATK has launched nearly 100 space launch and strategic rockets for the U.S. Air Force," said Scott Lehr, President of Orbital ATK's Flight Systems Group. "We're proud to be a partner they can count on."

The ORS-5 launch was the sixth Minotaur IV flight. The Minotaur IV is capable of launching payloads up to 4,000 lbs. (or 1,800 kg.) to low-Earth orbit. This mission's Minotaur IV configuration included three decommissioned Peacekeeper stages, an Orion 38 solid-fuel upper stage and an additional Orion 38 insertion stage for the payload. The Minotaur rockets are manufactured at Orbital ATK's facilities in Chandler, Arizona; Vandenberg, California; and Clearfield and Magna, Utah.

The ORS-5 team is led by the Space and Missile Systems Center's Operationally Responsive Space Office, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts, is the ORS-5 prime contractor. The 50th Space Wing at Schriever AFB, Colorado Springs, Colorado, operates the ORS-5 system.

The Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the Air Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems such as ORS-5. Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.

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ЦитироватьORS-5 satellite successfully launched
SMC Public Affairs Office / Published August 26, 2017

LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
The U.S. Air Force and its mission partners successfully launched the ORS-5 satellite on an Orbital ATK Minotaur IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 46 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Aug. 26, at 2:04 a.m..m. EDT

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"The hard work and dedication of the launch team and its mission partners has absolutely paid off," stated Col Shahnaz Punjani, Director of the Operationally Responsive Space Office. "Today's launch of ORS-5 culminates a fast-paced and very demanding effort by a broad team of government and industry professionals."
 
The spacecraft separated from the upper stage approximately 28 minutes after launch. Engineers and operators will now begin complete checkout and tests in preparation for operational use.

"The capabilities ORS-5 brings to the nation are ushering in a new era of faster, cheaper satellite development. ORS-5 will deliver global, persistent, optical tracking of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, enabling the nation to have increased global situational awareness of space objects," said Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center and Air Force program executive officer for Space.

At $87.5 million, the ORS-5 satellite will operate from a low inclination orbit 372 miles above the earth to aid the U.S. military's tracking of other satellites and space debris in geosynchronous orbit, 22,236 miles above the equator, commonly used by defense-related communications satellites, television broadcasting stations, and international space platforms. ORS-5 will deliver space situational awareness capabilities at a significantly reduced cost compared to larger, more complex satellites, and serves as a gap filler mission for the Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) Block 10 mission, originally launched in 2010. A successor SBSS mission is not expected to launch before 2021.

Additionally, three CubeSats -- two from Los Alamos National Laboratory, and one from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, were aboard the Minotaur IV launch vehicle via a rideshare agreement, resulting in a lower price to the government for the launch.

The ORS-5 program is managed by the Space and Missile Systems Center's Operationally Responsive Space Office, located at the Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, Massachusetts, is the prime space vehicle contractor.

The launch was led by SMC's Launch Enterprise Directorate on the first Orbital ATK Minotaur IV launch from Cape Canaveral. SMC's Advanced Systems and Development Directorate integrated the ground system into its Multi-Mission Space Operations Center (MMSOC) version 2.1. ORS-5 is the first system on the updated ground system, which serves as the foundation for Enterprise Ground Services. Air Force Space Command's 50th Space Wing/1st Space Operations Squadron, will operate the ORS-5 system.

The ORS-5 program is designed to deliver timely, reliable and accurate space situational awareness information to the United States Strategic Command through the Joint Space Operations Center. The system enhances space tracking capability, supports the nation's space programs, and bolsters safety of satellites in geosynchronous orbits.

Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base in El Segundo, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force's center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes the Global Positioning System, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.

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ЦитироватьMinotaur 4 ORS-5 Launch Over the Ocean From Cape Canaveral

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220301.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChpfKViPwWkq2GKrX6C6FcA) Cocoa Beach 365 (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChpfKViPwWkq2GKrX6C6FcA)

ЦитироватьU.S. military sleuth launched to track satellite and space debris movements
August 26, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Receiving a boost fr om a modified decades-old Peacekeeper missile originally built for nuclear war, a U.S. military space surveillance satellite streaked into space early Saturday fr om Cape Canaveral to help the Air Force track threats and debris in orbit.

Running nearly three hours late after storms delayed final launch preparations, the eight-story Minotaur 4 rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral's Complex 46 launch pad at 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 GMT).

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126727.jpg)
Credit: Orbital ATK

The booster quickly climbed through a deck of clouds, exceeded the speed of sound within 20 seconds, and headed toward orbit on top of a half-million pounds of thrust.

Heading east over the Atlantic Ocean, three solid-fueled rocket motors stacked atop one another fired in quick succession to send the Minotaur 4 rocket and its payload, the military's ORS-5 satellite tracking craft, into space.

The Minotaur's lower three stages were repurposed from the Air Force's stockpile of retired Peacekeeper nuclear missile. The modified Peacekeeper motors launched Saturday were originally built in the 1980s and put on alert in a missile silo ready to hurl nuclear warheads to distant targets.

The Air Force phased out the Peacekeeper in 2005 in favor of the Minuteman missile, leaving the leftover rocket stages available for satellite launches.

Two commercial Orion 38 rocket motors built by Orbital ATK did the extra lifting needed to reach a unique orbit hugging the equator, an unusual perch required for the ORS-5 satellite to conduct its space surveillance mission.

Two Prometheus CubeSat secondary payloads for Los Alamos National Laboratory and a CubeSat for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, deployed from the rocket after an on-target fourth stage burn that reached a preliminary parking orbit ranging in altitude between 248 and 372 miles (400 to 600 kilometers).

The fourth stage firing put the rocket in an orbit tilted around 24.5 degrees to the equator. A final rocket burn redirected the ORS-5 satellite into an orbit that stays above the equator.

The military's ORS-5 satellite, roughly the size of a coffee table, deployed from the Minotaur upper stage around 28-and-a-half minutes after liftoff.

Orbital ATK, the Minotaur 4 rocket's commercial operator, confirmed the upper stage injected the ORS-5 payload into an orbit between 372 and 375 miles (599 to 604 kilometers), very near prelaunch predictions.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126726.png)
The mission patch for Saturday's launch. Credit: Orbital ATK

Ground controllers contacted the ORS-5 satellite a few minutes after separation from the rocket, verifying the spacecraft was healthy and stable to begin its three-year mission.

Orbital ATK declared the launch a success, giving the Minotaur rocket family a 16-for-16 record in satellite deployment missions since 2000. Counting suborbital Minotaur flights, the program has launched 26 times.

Saturday's launch was the first time a Minotaur rocket took off from Cape Canaveral. All Previous flights were based off launch pads in California, Virginia and Alaska.

"This was our first Minotaur launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, demonstrating the rocket's capability to launch from all four major U.S. spaceports," said Rich Straka, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK's launch vehicles division. "With a perfect track record of 26 successful launches, the Minotaur family has proven to be a valuable and reliable asset for the Department of Defense."

The $87.5 million ORS-5 mission is the latest in a line of relatively low-cost military projects managed by the military's Operationally Responsive Space office at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. Previous ORS missions have tested plug-and-play satellite technology, deployed experimental imaging and data relay satellites, and demonstrated an autonomous rocket destruct mechanism now used on commercial launchers.

"The capabilities ORS-5 brings to the nation are ushering in a new era of faster, cheaper satellite development," said Lt. Gen. John Thompson, commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. "ORS-5 will deliver global, persistent, optical tracking of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, enabling the nation to have increased global situational awareness of space objects."

Air Force Col. Shahnaz Punjani, director of the ORS office, compared the ORS-5 satellite's function to the A-10 attack jet, an aircraft that carries a powerful armor-piercing cannon.

"When people talk about the A-10 aircraft, (they say) it's really a gun with an airplane wrapped around it," Punjani said. "In this case, the ORS-5 satellite is essentially a telescope in low Earth orbit with a spacecraft wrapped around it, looking at the geosynchronous belt."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126723.jpg)
Technicians pose with the ORS-5, or SensorSat, spacecraft. Credit: MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Another way to look at it is to compare the ORS-5 satellite to an airport radar, said Grant Stokes, head of the space systems and technology division of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory, wh ere the spacecraft was developed and manufactured.

"It's sort of analogous to a surveillance radar at an airport, which goes around and around, surveilling the domain," Stokes told reporters in a prelaunch briefing Thursday. "Once per orbit, what ORS-5 will do is scan the GEO (geosynchronous) belt and keep track, essentially, of all the items there.

"The GEO belt is particularly important," Stokes said. "There's a huge collection of satellites there, and a tremendous amount of economic value in that special orbit, so it is one that generally we want to keep fairly good tabs on what's there and wh ere things are."

Satellites in geosynchronous orbit nearly 22,300 miles (35,800 kilometers) above the equator fly around Earth at the same rate the planet rotates. The effect at that altitude keeps satellites over the same geographic position at all times.

Designed for a three-year mission, ORS-5 should feed military officials data on how objects are moving around geosynchronous orbit. After identifying which objects might be threats, the Air Force could task the more capable SBSS Block 10 satellite to take better pictures, or send one of the military's four close-up inspection satellites in geosynchronous orbit to take a closer look, according to Lt. Col. Heather Bogstie, ORS-5 program manager.

The data output from ORS-5 "gives you dots on a screen," Stokes said.

"We very carefully measure how bright they are, but it does not resolve in any way," he said. "It's a dot at a distance of something like 40,000 kilometers (nearly 25,000 miles)."

Punjani said the ORS-5 satellite is a "change detection agent" to collect imagery of broad swaths of space. In keeping with the ORS program's low-cost ethos, the ORS-5 mission was conceived to meet minimum standards required by the military's space surveillance division, without the bells and whistles on more expensive spacecraft.

The SBSS Block 10 satellite launched in September 2010 cost more than $800 million, around 10 times more than ORS-5.

SBSS Block 10 will exceed its seven-year design life later this year, and a full-up replacement satellite is not expected to launch until at least 2021.

"When you look at how ORS builds our satellites, we're going to go small," Punjani said. "We're going to go to threshold requirements, and then we're going to hold to those requirements and not change those requirements throughout the life cycle, in order to ensure we rapidly acquire these programs. This program was done within three years, compared to other satellite programs that have a five-to-ten year life cycle."

The Air Force said the ORS-5 satellite itself cost around $49 million. Another $27.2 million went toward purchasing the Minotaur 4 launch from Orbital ATK, the rocket's commercial operator, and ground systems cost $11.3 million.

The military needed a dedicated rocket for the ORS-5 mission because of its unique orbit 372 miles (600 kilometers) directly over the equator. That type of orbit required the Air Force and Orbital ATK to base the launch from Cape Canaveral instead of from an already-used Minotaur pad at Wallops Island, Virginia.

Officials looked at several launch options, including building a temporary Minotaur launch pad at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, or at the European-run Guiana Space Center in South America.

The cheapest and least risky option ended up being an uprated Minotaur 4 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral.

The Minotaur 4 usually comes with four stages, but the ORS-5 satellite's equator-hugging orbit needed another boost. Instead of flying with a single Orion 38 rocket motor on top of the Peacekeeper missile stack, Saturday's predawn launch carried two Orion 38 stages.

It was a case of necessity breeding invention, officials said.

The Minotaur 4, which stands about eight stories tall, launched from Complex 46, a pad originally constructed for the U.S. Navy's Trident missile program, then upgraded to support two Athena space launches in 1998 and 1999. Space Florida, an arm of the state government, paid $6.6 million to refurbish the launch pad for the ORS-5 mission and future launch opportunities, according to Jim Kuzma, Space Florida's chief operating officer.

Another launch from pad 46 using Peacekeeper rocket motors is scheduled in late 2019 for an in-flight abort test of NASA's Orion crew capsule.

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Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/430419911483990016/ETpdbQye_bigger.jpeg) Ben Cooper‏ @LaunchPhoto (https://twitter.com/LaunchPhoto) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/LaunchPhoto/status/901600226561200128)

Fire and fury: Moment of ignition for a Minotaur IV rocket, first from Cape, at 2:04am EDT this morning (Orbital ATK).
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/166701.jpg)

ЦитироватьGeo Surveillance - Air Force 08-26-2017

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220769.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA) USLaunchReport (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)

Опубликовано: 26 авг. 2017 г.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 28 мин назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/901862637859999745)

Official photos from Saturday's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) @usairforce (https://twitter.com/usairforce) Credit: Ben Cooper
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ЦитироватьЧебурашка пишет: 
Такая раньше когда-либо использовалась?

ЦитироватьPhotos: First Minotaur Launch fr om Florida
 August 26, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/photos-first-minotaur-launch-from-florida/)

An Orbital ATK Minotaur IV rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 46, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 6:04 UTC on Saturday, August 26, 2017, carrying into orbit the ORS-5 mission for the U.S. Air Force. Conducing its first-ever launch from Florida, Minotaur IV flew in a tailor-made version comprising three surplus Peacekeeper missile stages plus two commercial Orion 38 motors, the first tasked with the injection into a Parking Orbit followed by the release of secondary payloads for the Los Alamos National Lab and DARPA and firing the second Orion 38 for a major plane change to dispatch ORS-5 (SensorSat) into an equatorial orbit from wh ere it can monitor activity in the vitally important Geostationary Orbit.

>> Read our Launch Recap (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/minotaur-iv-cape-canaveral-debut-ors-5-success/)

All Photos below: Orbital ATK / Ben Cooper

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All Photos below: U.S. Air Force / James Murati

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(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153274.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/170826-F-ZZ999-102.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153275.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/170826-F-ZZ999-103.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153276.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/170826-F-ZZ999-104.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153273.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/ors-5/wp-content/uploads/sites/175/2017/08/170826-F-ZZ999-101.jpg)

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ЦитироватьFirst Minotaur IV Launch from Cape Canaveral lifts ORS-5 Space Surveillance Satellite

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220696.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/Spaceflight101) Spaceflight101 (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ-h7DNyV7PUn-as3vy40Bw)

Опубликовано: 26 авг. 2017 г.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 14 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/902271035503992832)

ORS-5 Minotaur 4th stage now cataloged as 42926, but TLEs of it and one of the cubesat seem to be swapping - will be sorted in a day or two

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186190.jpg) Orbital ATK‏Подлинная учетная запись @OrbitalATK (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK) 8 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/OrbitalATK/status/902169665992056832)

Take a look at more official images from this weekend's #MinotaurIV (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MinotaurIV?src=hash) #ORS5 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ORS5?src=hash) launch on our @Flickr (https://twitter.com/Flickr) page here:

Цитировать

Minotaur IV ORS-5 Launch

12 photos

Спойлер

https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/132285.jpg
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/132285.jpg)

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Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/902609610187657216)

Stage 4 of the Minotaur launch was left in a 309 x 605 km x 24.5 deg orbit but is decaying rapidly; latest TLE puts it at 304 x 514 km

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/902609841067347968)

The DHFR cubesat is in a 430 x 597 km orbit while the Prometheus cubesats are in 384 x 603 km.

ЦитироватьMinotaur IV ORS-5 Launch Broadcast

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220773.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLr1shBflPt0esLOrNFqAPA) Orbital ATK (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLr1shBflPt0esLOrNFqAPA)

Опубликовано: 29 авг. 2017 г.

On August 26, 2017 Orbital ATK's Minotaur IV successfully launched the ORS-5 satellite for the United States Air Force from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This video features a full replay of the broadcast and launch. Get more information on the mission here: bit.ly/2x7o20P

ЦитироватьPhotos: Minotaur 4 blasts off from Cape Canaveral
August 30, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

A solid-fueled Minotaur 4 rocket lifted off early Saturday from Cape Canaveral with a U.S. military payload designed to monitor satellite traffic in geosynchronous orbit.

Спойлер

Flying with repurposed rocket motors from the Air Force's retired Peacekeeper missile, the Minotaur 4 launched from pad 46 at 2:04 a.m. EDT (0604 GMT) with the ORS-5 satellite. It was the first time a Minotaur rocket took off from the Florida spaceport after successful flights from launch pads in California, Virginia and Alaska.

Read our full story (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/26/u-s-military-sleuth-launched-to-track-satellite-and-space-debris-movements/) for details on the mission.

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: James Murati

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATKCredit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: James Murati

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Credit: Alex Polimeni/Spaceflight Now

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Credit: Orbital ATK

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Credit: James Murati

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