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ЦитироватьApril 16 • Falcon 9 • NROL-76
Launch period: TBD
 Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch a classified spacecraft payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This will be SpaceX's first launch for the NRO. [March 16]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight  (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 24 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/842839805042016257)
 
We *think* this could be the Falcon 9 S1 for the NET April 16 mission to launch the NROL-76 mission. So many boosters, tracking is hard! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125521.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125669.png) Andrew Megler‏ @AndrewMegler  (https://twitter.com/AndrewMegler) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/AndrewMegler/status/842791636623081476)
 
Just passed a NASA or SpaceX Booster Motorcade! You can make out the 8 rockets!
 (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7IyhSzVAAE8afW.jpg) (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7IyhSyU0AAI0n1.jpg)

ЦитироватьSpX-1363 NROL-76 LZ-1 landing


description
Planned landing - 16-Apr-17 - Falcon 9 B4? Flight 33, booster B1032 - CCAFS LZ-1

FCC APPLICATION: https://goo.gl/jlnrGY

ЦитироватьSpaceX confirms this will be an LZ-1 landing.

Webcast will cut off launch coverage as usual for NRO missions (like we see with ULA), but will continue for booster landing coverage.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 31 мар. (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/847782991967514626)

SpaceX: F9 S1 1021 to head home on ASDS. 39A Post Launch Shakedown. F9 Static Fire for NROL-76: NET April 12. NET April 16 (0700) Launch.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157707.jpg)

ЦитироватьDeflang пишет:
Всё равно не ясно, чем они занимаются на стартовом столе в течение 2х недель между пусками

ЦитироватьВсё равно не ясно, чем они занимаются на стартовом столе в течение 2х недель между пусками

ЦитироватьAbby Garrett‏ @abbygarrettX 43 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/abbygarrettX/status/849641648787267588)

Merlin featured on the NROL-76 patch (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125484.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png) @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) @bencredible (https://twitter.com/bencredible) #spacex (https://twitter.com/hashtag/spacex?src=hash) #abbygarrettart (https://twitter.com/hashtag/abbygarrettart?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157709.jpg)

ЦитироватьMax Andriyahov пишет:
https://www.facebook.com/SpellFamilySnoBalls/videos/1395966710470183/

везут

Цитировать

Launch Vehicle: Atlas V

Date: April 18, 2017

Launch Window Opens: 11:01 a.m. ET

Launch Hazard Area (http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Launch%20Hazard%20Area%20Maps/4-18-2017%20LHA%20Atlas%20V,%20OA-7.pdf?ver=2017-04-06-145241-700)

ЦитироватьHearing chatter of a delay regarding launch of NROL-76.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
пока ни слова о запуске NROL-76 на Falcon 9.
...
Не к добру это - опупея с переносами что-ли продолжается?.. :(

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 Launch with NROL-76 now NET April 30, 7 am Eastern Window Open. Static Fire NET April 26.

Цитироватьvogel пишет:
Крис пишет, (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/850343578673049601) что

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 Launch with NROL-76 now NET April 30 , 7 am Eastern Window Open. Static Fire NET April 26.

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 NROL-76 Mission
By Jason (http://spacenews360.com/author/jason/)  - April 11, 2017   

On April 30th SpaceX will launch its Falcon 9 v1.2 rocket with the NROL-76 classified satellite payload from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. This will be SpaceX's fifth mission of 2017 and will launch the highly secretive NROL-76 payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Almost nothing is known about the payload except that it can be horizontally integrated. Launch is set for Sunday April 30th between 7:00-9:00 AM EST. 

(https://i1.wp.com/spacenews360.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NROL-76-mission-patch.png?resize=300%2C300) (https://i1.wp.com/spacenews360.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/NROL-76-mission-patch.png)
NROL-76 unofficial mission logo

SpaceX will attempt to land the Falcon's first stage back to landing zone 1 (LZ1) at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station a few miles away from launch complex 39a.

This will be SpaceX's first launch for the National Reconnaissance Office since 2010 with hopes of more launched for the secretive government agency. When there is a launch for the National Reconnaissance Office very few details about the mission are given out.

We will post more information as we can.

ЦитироватьMax Andriyahov пишет:
С Вандербергом могут три максимум. Починят 40ю площадку - вот тогда о четырёх пусках и поговорим)

ЦитироватьDeflang пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет: увеличение персонала в двое (до 8000+)

В 1.33+ раза) сейчас 6000+

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:
Когда у них на сайте было 4000+, а это информация у них была несколько лет на сайте, то я и говорил про их предел производства/производственного цикла 10 пусков в год. Ни разу не добрались до предела, но это из за аварий.
Сейчас 5000+, значит 12-13 пусков в год потянут, но если без аварий

ЦитироватьИзумляет полное игнорирование ожидаемого влияния многоразовости...

ЦитироватьMax Andriyahov пишет:
и накопленного запаса ступеней, которые лежат на складе с 01.09.16

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

ЦитироватьDeflang пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет: увеличение персонала в двое (до 8000+)

В 1.33+ раза) сейчас 6000+

На официальном сайте вот такая информация http://www.spacex.com/about

SpaceX is a private company founded in 2002 by CEO and Lead Designer Elon Musk (http://www.spacex.com/elon-musk) . The company has more than 5,000 employees at its headquarters in Hawthorne, California;

Ну вот, потихоньку растут, а значит соизмеримо и смогут количество пусков увеличивать.
Когда у них на сайте было 4000+, а это информация у них была несколько лет на сайте, то я и говорил про их предел производства/производственного цикла 10 пусков в год. Ни разу не добрались до предела, но это из за аварий.
Сейчас 5000+, значит 12-13 пусков в год потянут, но если без аварий

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

ЦитироватьDeflang пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет: увеличение персонала в двое (до 8000+)

В 1.33+ раза) сейчас 6000+

На официальном сайте вот такая информация http://www.spacex.com/about

SpaceX is a private company founded in 2002 by CEO and Lead Designer Elon Musk (http://www.spacex.com/elon-musk) . The company has more than 5,000 employees at its headquarters in Hawthorne, California;

Ну вот, потихоньку растут, а значит соизмеримо и смогут количество пусков увеличивать.
Когда у них на сайте было 4000+, а это информация у них была несколько лет на сайте, то я и говорил про их предел производства/производственного цикла 10 пусков в год. Ни разу не добрались до предела, но это из за аварий.
Сейчас 5000+, значит 12-13 пусков в год потянут, но если без аварий

Роман, а напомните, пожалуйста, Ваши соображения по поводу "частота пусков прямо пропорциональна количеству персонала".

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:
Смотрим сколько будет пусков в этом годупри 5000+
и смотрим сколько будет персонала когда они сделают 24 пуска в год и тогда проверим годность моих мыслей.

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
Ну то есть в повышение производительности труда Вы не верите.

ЦитироватьЗЫ А как будем учитывать персонал, к примеру, спутникового подразделения?

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
угу. Думаю, если все пойдет "без драм", то года через 2 они выйдут на такую частоту.
Так что ждать недолго.

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:
На официальном сайте вот такая информация http://www.spacex.com/about

SpaceX is a private company founded in 2002 by CEO and Lead Designer Elon Musk (http://www.spacex.com/elon-musk) . The company has more than 5,000 employees at its headquarters in Hawthorne, California;

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29262.jpg)  Jeff Foust‏ @jeff_foust (https://twitter.com/jeff_foust)
Shotwell also referred to the "6,000 men and women at SpaceX"; first time I've heard a workforce number that high for them. #33SS (https://twitter.com/hashtag/33SS?src=hash)

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
Ну то есть в повышение производительности труда Вы не верите.

Производительность труда в SpaceX итак на пределе.

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
ЗЫ А как будем учитывать персонал, к примеру, спутникового подразделения?

А Вы как считаете?

Я буду учитывать его в той пропорции в которой он будет участвовать и обеспечивать производство и запуски этих спутников на Фальконах

ЦитироватьЧебурашка пишет:
24 просто какое-то сакральное число для американской космонавтики.
На предыдущем витке истории грезили о 24 пусках шаттла в год

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
Ну то есть в повышение производительности труда Вы не верите.

Производительность труда в SpaceX итак на пределе.

Вы путаете интенсивность труда и производительность труда.
Это совершенно разные вещи.

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
Ну то есть в повышение производительности труда Вы не верите.

Производительность труда в SpaceX итак на пределе.

Вы путаете интенсивность труда и производительность труда.
Это совершенно разные вещи.

Не, не путаю. Это вещи хоть и разные, но взаимосвязанные.
За счет чего там еще может быть рост производительности кроме интенсивности труда? За счет автоматизации производства? Она итак уже внедрена. Об этом писали. За счет еще чего?

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
В-пятых, обслуживание б/у может оказаться (а может и не оказаться, да) менее затратным, чем производство

Цитироватьот масковара к полезной нагрузке

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
За Макгрегор не скажу, а время разно бают, в т.ч. 0700-0900 EDT. Сажать будут в LZ-1 CCAFS.

ЦитироватьВиктор Воропаев пишет:
Молчан предполагает (http://satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0117.html) ГСО на базе BSS-702SP.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
LRV_75 , По масе только гипотезы

ЦитироватьВиктор Воропаев пишет:
Молчан предполагает (http://satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0117.html) ГСО на базе BSS-702SP.

Это в районе 2000 кг ±

ЦитироватьGeorgea пишет:

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:
Когда у них на сайте было 4000+, а это информация у них была несколько лет на сайте, то я и говорил про их предел производства/производственного цикла 10 пусков в год. Ни разу не добрались до предела, но это из за аварий.
Сейчас 5000+, значит 12-13 пусков в год потянут, но если без аварий

Изумляет полное игнорирование ожидаемого влияния многоразовости...

ЦитироватьMax Andriyahov пишет:
Одна звезда - первый пуск фалконом?

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 20 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/854397720227975168)

You can kind of see the #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) TEL at 39A here about 45% raised. #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) is 12 days away.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157986.jpg)

Цитировать @CwG_NSF 19 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/854398221237596162)

And the TEL is now completely vertical. Clearly some testing going on ahead of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash).

ЦитироватьOleg пишет:
ну как там подготовка, прожиг был?

ЦитироватьOleg пишет:
ну как там подготовка, прожиг был?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185971.jpg) 45th Space Wing‏ @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) 11 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing/status/855175539354718208)

Eastern Range opens at 7 am! #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/157815.jpg)

ЦитироватьБезумный Шляпник пишет:
Хо-хо! А ведь азимут-то - не на ГСО!

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
А на куда азимут? 57?

ЦитироватьFrom: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l
 Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2017 10:50:20 -0400
 
The launch hazard chart for the region near the launch site reveals that the trajectory will follow the northeast coastof North America; therefore, the target orbit is quasi-60 degree LEO, or Molniya.

http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Launch%20Hazard%20Area%20Maps/4-30-2017%20LHA.pdf?ver=2017-04-20-154754-750

Per my earlier posts in this thread, since the return of the Falcon 9's first stage is targeting the launch site, the payload is either headed for LEO, or is fairly low in mass and headed for Molniya.

If LEO, I suspect it is a replacement or follow-on to the experimental USA 193, which was launched on NROL-21, andfailed upon reaching its 58.5 deg, 360 km orbit.

If Molniya, then I suspect it is a new generation of SDS Molniya, built on Boeing's BSS-702SP bus.

Molniya SDS seems more likely.

Ted Molczan

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Если спутник будет на базе 702SP то он не сможет самостоятельно изменить наклонение и его нужно будет пускать на наклонение близкое к 63 градуса.

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
ГПО второй пары электросатов была 62591x395 км 24.68 град.

Цитироватьvlad7308 пишет:
а почему expendable?

ЦитироватьAlso the Closure map (http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Airspace%20Closure%20Map/4-30-2017%20Airspace%20Closure%20Area.pdf?ver=2017-04-20-154833-407) lists the launch as "Expendable", which is probably an error.

ЦитироватьProbably leftover terminology from the Shuttle days. Anything not Shuttle (or perhaps anything not recovered at sea) is "Expendable".

ЦитироватьChris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) · 1 minute ago (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/856143783267901442)

SpaceX Falcon 9 (NROL-76) Static Fire is NET Tuesday.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185570.jpg) KSC Visitor Complex‏Подлинная учетная запись @ExploreSpaceKSC (https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC) 4 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/856541703519571969)

Rocket Launch Update: No launch viewing opportunities available at #KennedySpaceCenter (https://twitter.com/hashtag/KennedySpaceCenter?src=hash) for #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) NET April 30
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158512.jpg)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Почему-то не удивлён...

ЦитироватьKSC Visitor Complex ‏Подлинная учетная запись @ ExploreSpaceKSC 4 мин назад (https://twitter.com/ExploreSpaceKSC/status/856541703519571969)

Rocket Launch Update: No launch viewing opportunities available at # KennedySpaceCenter for # SpaceX # NROL76 NET April 30
 

ЦитироватьStalky пишет:
не удивлюсь, если они его уронят. :)

ЦитироватьWe have a SF window

ЦитироватьKSC Employees:
SpaceX will be conducting a Static Fire Test of their Falcon 9 rocket at LC-39A tomorrow, Tuesday, April 25th. The 3.5 second run of the Falcon 9 engines is scheduled to occur within a 6-hour test window, currently scheduled for 1200-1800 EDT. KSC Security will establish roadblocks for the operation at 0930 EST; this will restrict access to the LC-39A area only. Only mission-essential personnel or KSC personnel monitoring the test are permitted beyond the roadblocks.
The KSC Emergency Operations Center will be activated to monitor the test, and in the unlikely event of an anomaly, will assist in the response and communicate any necessary actions to the appropriate personnel; even if there were a catastrophic anomaly at LC39-A, it would pose no danger or threat to KSC Spaceport personnel.

Цитироватьvogel пишет:
We are open every day. We don't provide viewing if launch is scheduled way outside of operating hours. This one is planned early AM.

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
Вам что-то известно?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/856816597859749889)

ARTICLE: SpaceX ready for Static Fire tests on spy sat rocket and Falcon Heavy core - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/spacex-static-fire-tests-spy-sat-rocket-falcon-heavy-core/ ... (https://t.co/2UodcEbqG7)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158709.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158712.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158713.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSpaceX ready for Static Fire tests on spy sat rocket and Falcon Heavy core
April 25, 2017 by Chris Bergin

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209151.jpg)

SpaceX is preparing for Static Fire tests in two regions of the United States this week, both of which will advance the company's profile in the launch industry. A Falcon 9 booster is expected to conduct a test firing at KSC's 39A ahead of SpaceX's first NROL mission, while the core booster for the first Falcon Heavy is sat on the test stand in McGregor, Texas.
 
 Falcon 9 NROL-76:

Following on from the successful launch of the SES-10 satellite (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-historic-falcon-9-re-flight-ses-10/) – which was the first time SpaceX had used a "flight proven" booster – the NROL-76 launch will mark the company's entrance into national security missions.

Спойлер

Most NROL missions are launched by SpaceX competitor, United Launch Alliance, with a large amount of success. The most recent mission, with the NROL-79 spacecraft, was launched by an Atlas V from Vandenberg (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/atlas-v-nrol-79-vandenberg/).
 
A successful launch of NROL-76 will effectively open the door for future lucrative national security launch services contracts.

Very little is known about the spacecraft, as is usual per the secretive nature of their mission. SpaceX employees will also be subject to the secrecy, which holds tighter regulations for flow elements such as the processing of the payload during fairing encapsulation.

For the Static Fire test, SpaceX will, as is now the routine since the loss of the AMOS-6 satellite (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=Amos-6), rollout the Falcon 9 without the payload on top of the rocket.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209102.jpg)

The booster, designated 1032.1, conducted a test firing on February 14 under the watchful eyes of the "Rocket Cows of McGregor" – named as such after they were seen rampaging during a Grasshopper test (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/08/spacex-bothering-bovines-revolutionizing-rockets/), before becoming so used to the testing they rarely shake a hoof during firings.

It was then transported by road to the Kennedy Space Center, allowing it to undergo preparations inside the Horizontal Integration Facility (HIF).

Mated to the Transport/Erector/Launcher (TEL), the booster is then erected at the historic 39A pad that has coped admirably in its new role with SpaceX rockets. Very few repairs have been required between launches, which will continue to aid SpaceX's increasing launch cadence.

A long six hour window is allocated for this particular Static Fire test, allowing engineers additional time to troubleshoot any issues during the countdown and complete the requirement of firing up the Merlin 1Ds. The window for the test opens at midday Eastern on Tuesday.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209104.jpg)

The test involves a full propellant loading sequence, launch countdown operations, engine ignition operations and testing of the pad's high-volume water deluge system. In effect, it provides a full dress rehearsal for the actual launch.

Following the test, the rocket will be detanked and translated back to horizontal for its rollback to the HIF, pending no major issues with the quick look data review into the firing.

While the rocket is integrated with the payload inside the HIF, the SpaceX team will conduct a Launch Readiness Review (LRR), which will ultimately confirm all is go to proceed to launch day.

Currently, the mission is set to launch on April 30, within a two hour launch window that opens at 7 am Eastern.

The booster is targeting a return back to Earth, with LZ-1 its destination. SpaceX's coverage of the mission will focus solely on this return during this part of the launch phase, given NROL missions do not allow for live ascent coverage once the payload fairing has separated from around the spacecraft.

...

(Images: SpaceX, L2 McGregor (Gary Blair), and L2 artist Nathan Koga – The full gallery of Nathan's (SpaceX Dragon to MCT, SLS, Commercial Crew and more) L2 images can be *found here (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=38476.0)*))

[свернуть]

Цитировать04/25/2017 16:39 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196458526?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
SpaceX rolled out a Falcon 9 rocket to launch pad 39A early Tuesday for a prelaunch hotfire test before this weekend's liftoff with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office, the U.S. government spy satellite agency.

Спойлер

The rocket will ignite its nine Merlin 1D main engines for several seconds as hold-down restraints keep the booster firmly on the ground at pad 39A.

The static fire test doubles as a technical validation of the Falcon 9 rocket and ground systems and a countdown rehearsal for SpaceX's launch team.

The test window opens at 12 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT) and extends for six hours.

The upcoming launch, the first by SpaceX since a successful mission with a resued first stage booster, will fly with an all-new Falcon 9 rocket. It will be the 33rd launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2010, and the fifth SpaceX flight this year.

Once the static fire is completed, engineers will review data from the test to ensure everything worked as advertised, and ground crews will lower tha Falcon 9 rocket back horizontal and return it to the hangar at the southern edge of pad 39A.

Later this week, teams will attach the NRO's top secret satellite to the Falcon 9 inside the hangar, then roll the rocket back to the pad this weekend for liftoff, which is set for Sunday during a two-hour period opening at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT).

This will be SpaceX's first launch for the NRO, which typically puts its payloads on United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets.

But the NRO awarded SpaceX a sole-source launch contract for this mission, and SpaceX will be eligible to compete with ULA for more NRO missions laster this year.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьMax Andriyahov пишет:
Скажите, а в чем смысл этих Статик файр? Чтобы не было резонанса? Но ведь уже скоро полсотни пусков и никогда первую ступень не возвращали "на доработку" после огневых?

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
А откуда этот скриншот? Можно ссылку на трансляцию?

ЦитироватьЗловредный пишет:
Можно ссылку на трансляцию?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 12 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/856875964197986308)

SpaceX aims to conduct hold-down firing of Falcon 9 rocket at pad 39A today. Test window opens at 12p EDT (1600 GMT) https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/25/nro (https://t.co/p7BoaVQFGf)

Цитировать04/25/2017 17:31 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196458684?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Filling of the two-stage Falcon 9 rocket with super-chilled, densified kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants should begin around 70 minutes before today's static fire test.

RP-1 kerosene, chilled to just above its freezing temperature, should be pumped aboard the rocket first, followed by the start of liquid oxygen loading at around T-minus 45 minutes.

Both stages consume the same propellant mix.

SpaceX fully fuels the two-stage Falcon 9 rocket during static fire tests to simulate launch day conditions.

Цитировать04/25/2017 19:16 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196459008?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The static fire test window has opened, but there are not yet any signs that fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket has begun. Oxygen vapors venting from the rocket should be visible in the final hour before ignition.

SpaceX does not publicize prelaunch activities, but today's test window is believed to extend until 6 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/856929383562588160)

SpaceX Falcon 9 (NROL-76) Static Fire slightly behind schedule. Looking at a NET 3 pm T-0 for the 3.5 second firing.

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/856929796575694848)

It's OK for static fires to be behind schedule. They usually are. That's why there is a 6 hour long window.

Цитировать04/25/2017 21:35 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196459739?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Vapors streaming away from the Falcon 9 rocket a few minutes ago are a sign that fueling of the launcher has begun at pad 39A. The static fire test is believed to be targeted for around 3 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT).

Цитировать04/25/2017 21:45 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196459790?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
In the final minutes of the countdown, the computer-controlled countdown sequencer will chill down the Merlin engines for ignition, pressurize the Falcon 9's propellant tanks and transfer the rocket to internal power.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 26 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/856946604091338755)

SpaceX Falcon 9 (NROL-76) Static Fire! http://original.livestream.com/spaceflightnow  (https://t.co/D6ElCnZDdE) Now for quick look data review. SpaceX will later tweet to confirm good test.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158740.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 12 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/856946833897259008)

Looks to be nominal duration of 3.5 seconds.

Цитировать04/25/2017 22:05 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196460010?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The Falcon 9 rocket ignited at 3:02 p.m. EDT (1902 GMT) for a hotfire test in advance of Sunday's launch with a classified payload for the U.S. government. We are standing by for confirmation from SpaceX of a full-duration static fire test.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/856950895388401664)

Static fire test complete. Targeting Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76 on Sunday, April 30.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158790.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/856961753707630594)

F9/NROL76: Here's a view of the hot fire from the roof of the CBS bureau:
http://vid.mobypicture.com/e3e0be2326d8f4f2edf76bf66167d356.mp4 (http://vid.mobypicture.com/e3e0be2326d8f4f2edf76bf66167d356.mp4)

ЦитироватьSpaceX completes static fire test for Sunday launch of secret satellite
 April 25, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Nine Merlin engines at the base of SpaceX's next Falcon 9 rocket fired up Tuesday on a launch pad in Florida, wringing out the booster and ground systems ahead of a planned liftoff Sunday with a top secret payload for the U.S. government's spy satellite agency.

The computer-controlled countdown sequencer oversaw filling of the two-stage rocket — mounted on launch pad 39A without its satellite passenger — with densified, super-chilled kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants Tuesday morning.

Vapors venting fr om the rocket were a sign the hotfire test was imminent. SpaceX officials do not publicize the company's prelaunch activities.

The first stage's nine Merlin 1D engines ignited at 3:02 p.m. EDT (1902 GMT), sending a plume of exhaust out of the flame trench to the north of the launch pad. SpaceX confirmed the completion of the test on Twitter a few minutes later.

Спойлер

The engines ramped up to full throttle — around 1.7 million pounds of thrust — for several seconds. After shutdown, the rocket was to be drained of its propellants, lowered horizontal and returned to SpaceX's hangar at the southern edge of pad 39A, wh ere ground crews will connect the launcher to its satellite passenger.

Meanwhile, SpaceX engineers will analyze data from Tuesday's static fire test to ensure everything worked as advertised, and a launch readiness review is planned later this week to approve plans for this weekend's liftoff.

Launch Sunday is scheduled during a two-hour period opening at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT). The exact launch time has not been released.

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126374.jpg)
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket fired its nine Merlin 1D main engines Tuesday at launch pad 39A. Credit: SpaceX

The upcoming launch, the first by SpaceX since a successful mission with a resued first stage booster, will fly with an all-new Falcon 9 rocket. It will be the 33rd launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2010, and the fifth SpaceX flight this year.

This will be SpaceX's first launch for the NRO, which typically puts its payloads on United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets.

But the NRO awarded SpaceX a sole-source launch contract for this mission, and SpaceX will be eligible to compete with ULA for more NRO missions laster this year.

The identity of the NRO payload riding aboard the Falcon 9 rocket has not been disclosed. Its destination orbit and purpose is also secret.

A hazard map released by the U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing indicates a security zone will be established to the northeast of Cape Canaveral on Sunday, a hint that the Falcon 9 rocket will likely head northeast from Florida's Space Coast.

Such a trajectory would place the rocket's payload into a high-inclination orbit that could cover a swath of the planet from around 60 degrees north to 60 degrees south latitude.

The NRO is believed to have communications satellites in high-inclination egg-shaped Molniya-type orbits — with low and high points ranging from a few hundred miles up to around 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) — to relay detailed images from low-altitude spy spaceraft to intelligence analysts in nearly real-time.

Ted Molczan, a respected tracker of satellite movements, believes the mission is likely a follow-on to the NRO's series of relay satellites in Molniya orbits or an experimental payload bound for low Earth orbit.

SpaceX plans to land the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage at Cape Canaveral less than 10 minutes after Sunday's launch. It will be the third time the company has tried to recover a Falcon 9 booster on land — all successful.

SpaceX's other rocket landing attempts have targeted a mobile platform in the ocean downrange from the launch site, using a subset of the booster's Merlin engines to point to the landing site and slow down just before a vertical touchdown.

The return-to-land descent profile requires more fuel than an ocean landing, suggesting the payload aboard Sunday's launch will either go to a low-altitude orbit or is very lightweight.

SpaceX previously said the company's webcast of the launch will end shortly after liftoff, as is the case with NRO missions on United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets. But SpaceX's live video coverage is expected to continue through the first stage landing at Cape Canaveral.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSpaceX Static Fire

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114986.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/iX4nqWA.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115001.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/mmTmdhA.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114987.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/j8X1PKO.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115017.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/qXA6xyF.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114988.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/jLeNjrY.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114919.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/0k4q6g2.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115062.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/zzQYCuo.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114934.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/8TnDdWS.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115050.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/xTXYu41.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114958.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/e2d1Mu0.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114989.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/Jub3E0C.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114999.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/MLrHlRw.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115008.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/PFRl8mU.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114969.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/GWsC92n.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114933.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/8Hw5wxN.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114980.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/if1x8i6.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114965.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/FNdo2O0.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115014.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/q7q7yPA.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/115016.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/qSMalF6.jpg)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/114956.jpg) (http://i.imgur.com/dXE6Jil.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSpaceX впервые осуществит запуск спутника для американской разведки
ВАШИНГТОН, 26 апр – РИА Новости. Частная компания SpaceX в воскресенье впервые осуществит запуск секретного спутника для разведки США, сообщает портал Space Flight Now (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/25/spacex-completes-static-fire-test-for-sunday-launch-of-secret-satellite/) по итогам прошедшего во вторник огневого испытания ракеты-носителя Falcon 9.
"Огневое испытание завершено. Планируем запуск миссии NROL-76 в воскресенье 30 апреля", — сообщила компания в своем аккаунте в Twitter (https://twitter.com/spacex). Как отмечает в связи с этим Space Flight Now, это будет первый запуск компании "секретного груза для национального разведуправления".
Старт ракеты-носителя с секретным спутником состоится с космодрома на мысе Канаверал (Флорида) в промежутке между 7-9 утра воскресенья по времени Восточного побережья США (14–16 мск).
"Успешный запуск NROL-76 откроет дверь для высокодоходных контрактов по обслуживанию в сфере национальной безопасности", — отмечает в связи с предстоящим стартом онлайн-издание Nasa Space Flight. До настоящего времени запуски для военных США осуществляла частная компания United Launch Alliance.
Каждому старту Falcon 9 предшествует предполетное огневое испытание. После взрыва ракеты в ходе аналогичного испытания в сентябре прошлого года, компания проводит их без полезной нагрузки.
Традиционно для большинства запусков SpaceX, компания планирует осуществить посадку первой ступени ракеты на площадку неподалеку от места старта. Трансляция приземления будет идти на сайте компании, сам старт ракеты будут показывать лишь в течение нескольких минут из-за секретности миссии.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/329541.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/329541.jpg)

Цитировать04/26/2017 19:29 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196464669?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The Falcon 9 rocket was lowered on its side at pad 39A overnight for the trip back to SpaceX's hangar, where technicians will attach the booster to its payload later this week.

Launch remains set for Sunday with a two-hour period opening at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 11 мин назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/857619425373167618)

#NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) Mission Patch depicts Lewis & Clark heading into the great unknown to discover and explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158112.jpg)

ЦитироватьApril 27, 2017

NROL-76 MISSION

SpaceX is targeting launch of NROL-76 from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The two hour launch window opens on Sunday, April 30, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, or 11:00 UTC. A backup launch window opens on Monday, May 1, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, or 11:00 UTC.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage will attempt to land at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

A mission press kit is available here (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/nrol76presskit.pdf).

Цитировать

NROL-76 MISSION

SpaceX is targeting launch of NROL-76 from historic Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The two hour launch window opens on Sunday, April 30, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, or 11:00 UTC. A backup launch window opens on Monday, May 1, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, or 11:00 UTC.

Following stage separation, Falcon 9's first stage will attempt to land at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 (LZ-1) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

A mission press kit is available here (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/nrol76presskit.pdf).

ЦитироватьNROL-76 Launch Webcast
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220682.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/spacexchannel)
 SpaceX (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI0Hodo5o5dUb67FeUjDeA)

Запланировано на 30 апр. 2017 г.

ЦитироватьWeather looks good for Falcon 9 launch Sunday, but payload still a mystery
 April 27, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126376.jpg)
The National Reconnaissance Office has released its mission patch for Sunday's launch. The NROL-76 mission patch "depicts Lewis and Clark heading into the great unknown to discover and explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory," the NRO said. Credit: NRO

[свернуть]

An official weather outlook issued by U.S. Air Force meteorologists Thursday calls for partly cloudy skies on Florida's Space Coast for liftoff of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket just after sunrise Sunday with a clandestine payload for the U.S. government's intelligence agencies.

Forecasters predict the only concerns at launch time Sunday will be liftoff winds and cumulus clouds associated with isolated rain showers around launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. There is an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

The launch period opens at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) and extends for two hours. SpaceX and the National Reconnaissance Office, which owns the top secret payload launching on the Falcon 9 rocket, have not announced when the launch will occur during the two-hour window.

The Air Force's 45th Weather Squadron said Thursday that partly cloudy skies, isolated rain showers and gusty winds are expected Sunday morning. The temperature at launch time should be around 74 degrees Fahrenheit, and winds will be from the southeast at 20 to 25 mph.

Спойлер

Sunday's launch will be the 33rd flight of a Falcon 9 rocket, and SpaceX's fifth launch of the year. It will be SpaceX's first flight since launching a previously-used Falcon 9 booster with an SES commercial communications satellite March 30.

But this weekend's mission, designated NROL-76, will fly on an all-new launcher. U.S. government customers, including the NRO, the Air Force and NASA, are still certifying reused rockets to haul up their expensive spacecraft.

The NRO has not disclosed the identity or purpose of the payload launching Sunday. The spy agency is part of the U.S. government's intelligence community and rarely reveals information about its missions, which typically fly on top of United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets.

The orbital deployment will be SpaceX's first launch dedicated to the NRO. Two NRO-sponsored CubeSats launched piggyback on a Falcon 9 rocket with the first test flight of SpaceX's Dragon cargo craft in December 2010.

The surveillance agency tapped SpaceX for the NROL-76 mission some time in 2012 or 2013 before the company's Falcon 9 rocket was eligible to compete for national security launch contracts. The launch deal was reportedly a sole-source contract awarded to SpaceX without a competition.

Hazard notices released in the last few days indicate the rocket will head northeast from Cape Canaveral bound for a high-inclination orbit that flies over most of the planet's population. The Falcon 9's second stage will conduct a de-orbit burn after deploying its top secret passenger, aiming for a destructive re-entry over the South Indian Ocean southeast of Madagascar, according to warnings issued to pilots.

Despite the hints, the exact orbit targeted on Sunday's mission remains secret.

Analysts suspect the mission may carry a communications relay craft into a high-altitude egg-shaped Molniya orbit that stretches as high as 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) above Earth. Part of the NRO's so-called Satellite Data System fleet flies in Molniya orbits, which can loiter for several hours a day over the North and South Pole, to pass imagery and reconnaissance data from low-altitude spacecraft to ground stations, routing the information to intelligence officials faster than if the network relied solely on ground-based antennas.

The last NRO relay satellite launched into a Molniya orbit took off in 2007.

Ted Molczan, a respected tracker of satellite movements, believes the payload aboard Sunday's launch is either a relay station heading for a Molniya-type orbit or another kind of satellite — perhaps an experimental mission — going into a lower orbit with an altitude of several hundred miles.

One clue about the payload is SpaceX's plan to recover the Falcon 9 first stage at Cape Canaveral, a maneuver that requires significant leftover fuel and is only possible on missions with lightweight satellites or launches into relatively low orbits.

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126374.jpg)
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket fired its nine Merlin 1D main engines Tuesday at launch pad 39A for the customary pre-launch static fire test. Credit: SpaceX

Heavier payloads going into higher orbits restrict SpaceX to attempting rocket landings on a barge positioned in the ocean downrange from the launch site, and the most demanding satellite missions require all of the propellant reserve on the current version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, eliminating any possibility of a landing.

Some satellite-watchers see a parallel with an experimental NRO satellite that launched in December 2006 into a 225-mile-high orbit atop a Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. That demonstration craft failed soon after arriving in its high-inclination orbit, which took it between 58.5 degrees north and south latitude during each trip around Earth.

The U.S. military launched a missile in February 2008 to intercept the stricken satellite before it could re-enter the atmosphere, citing an imperative to destroy the spacecraft before it could fall uncontrolled back to Earth with a full tank of frozen toxic fuel on-board.

Molczan believes the NROL-76 payload could be a follow-on experimental mission similar to the failed satellite launched in 2006, but he thinks the Molniya orbit destination is a more likely explanation from the little information publicly available.

While it is easy to rule out the payload launching Sunday as a geostationary eavesdropping satellite or a polar-orbiting spy camera, there is no way to tell whether the spacecraft is going to a high or low orbit, according to Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics who monitors global spaceflight activity.

There is also a possibility that the rocket will carry a new type of NRO mission, and a global group of skywatchers will attempt to locate the satellite soon after Sunday's liftoff in hopes of narrowing down its identity.

Betty Sapp, director of the NRO, said April 4 that the agency is developing new capabilities to enhance the spy satellite fleet. One aspect of that drive is "adapting and adopting commercially available products and capabilities into our mission set," she said in a speech at the 33rd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs.

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126377.jpg)
Betty Sapp, the director of the NRO, speaks at the 33rd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Credit: Space Foundation

"We are still the nation's eyes and ears in space, and doing that job today is much more difficult that it was even back in the Cold War, despite the march in technology," Sapp said. "We support a much more diverse mission set. We're still keeping an eye on weapons of mass destruction and major weapons developments, but those aren't confined anymore to just one country.

"We're still supporting U.S. policymakers, but we're also supporting — very directly — U.S. warfighters, and we're helping to protect U.S. borders, and of course, we're very much in the fight against ISIS," Sapp said.

Molczan believes the satellite launching Sunday might be linked to a U.S. government order of three Boeing-built satellites with all-electric propulsion in early 2013. None of the satellites from the purchase, disclosed in March 2014, are believed to have launched to date.

Four commercial all-electric satellites based on the Boeing 702SP design have launched in pairs on two SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets, heading to geostationary orbit on telecom missions for Eutelsat and Asia Broadcast Satellite. Another commercial all-electric Boeing 702SP spacecraft for the commercial operator SES is set for a solo launch in May on a Russian Soyuz rocket from French Guiana.

The Boeing 702SP bus relies on more efficient electric thrusters for all maneuvers after launch, instead of carrying a larger tank of conventional chemical rocket propellant. The switch reduces the weight of the satellite at launch, allowing it to fly on a smaller, less expensive booster without sacrificing the spacecraft's capabilities.

"I am warming to the Molniya SDS (Satellite Data System) idea, mainly because Falcon 9 ... appears to have sufficient performance to directly inject a single (Boeing) 702SP spacecraft into nearly the final Molniya orbit, leaving the payload with a nearly complete fuel supply at the outset of its mission, available to compensate for the large perturbations experienced by Molniya orbits," Molczan wrote in an online forum for amateur satellite trackers.

The only way to know for sure is for trackers to find the satellite and plot its orbit following Sunday's launch.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьБезумный Шляпник пишет:
В МКС целятся?  :D

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 57 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/858007929252974592)

#NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) will carry a classified payload designed, built and operated by @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc). @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158277.jpg)

ЦитироватьСтарый (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/13420/) пишет:
Или в Х-37В?  :oops:  

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:

ЦитироватьСтарый (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/13420/) пишет:
Или в Х-37В?  :oops:  

У Х-37В наклонение по последним наблюдениям 38.0 ° ...

ЦитироватьБезумный Шляпник пишет:
Не может ли внутри ГО помимо спутника сидеть еще и дополнительный РБ?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 17 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858292144074883072)

Falcon 9 on it's way to vertical.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158472.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858295609945673729)

Falcon 9 now fully vertical on 39A for tomorrows launch of NROL-76.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Falcon 9 on it's way to vertical.

ЦитироватьGeorgea пишет:
Непонятно. На фото обтекатель уже установлен, а выше было фото, где спутник транспортируют вертикально. Дык можно или нет спутник класть на бок?

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 rocket rolled to launch pad with classified payload
April 29, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126381.png)
The Falcon 9 rocket slated to launch on SpaceX's first national security mission is seen on launch pad 39A on Saturday morning. Credit: Spaceflight Now

[свернуть]

Working overnight on Florida's Space Coast, SpaceX technicians transferred a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket fr om the company's commercial hangar a quarter-mile up the ramp to launch pad 39A early Saturday, positioning the kerosene-fueled booster for liftoff Sunday with a classified payload for the U.S. government's National Reconnaissance Office.

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) all-new Falcon 9 rocket was lifted upright by a hydraulic erector mechanism shortly after 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) Saturday to begin final checkouts before launch.

Спойлер

The NRO has released scant details on what will ride into space on top of the Falcon 9 rocket Sunday, other than disclosing via Twitter on Friday that the payload was designed, built and will be operated by the organization, which is responsible for the U.S. government's spy satellites.

Codenamed NROL-76, the mission will be SpaceX's first dedicated national security flight, a significant step toward the company's goal of winning a larger share of lucrative launch contracts for the U.S. government's pricey, sensitive military and intelligence-gathering spacecraft.

The mission has a two-hour launch window opening at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) Sunday. The weather outlook is favorable, with U.S. Air Force forecasters predicting an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time.

A backup launch opportunity is available Monday.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126382.jpg)
The National Reconnaissance Office released this image Friday showing the Falcon 9 rocket's payload fairing being transferred from a processing facility at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to the SpaceX hangar at pad 39A. Credit: NRO

The identity, purpose and target orbit of the payload mounted on top of the Falcon 9 rocket remain secret.

Hazard notices released to pilots and sailors indicate the launcher will turn northeast after lifting off Sunday, ruling out a geostationary orbit destination favored by the NRO's eavesdropping signals intelligence satellites.

The northeasterly trajectory likely means the mission will put its payload in a low-altitude orbit a few hundred miles above Earth, or inject a satellite into a higher Molniya-type orbit, an elliptical egg-shaped loop around Earth that stretches as high as 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers).

If the mission aims for a low orbit, the payload is likely a new type of NRO spacecraft, introducing fresh capability into the spy agency's satellite fleet or proving out new technologies and sensors that could be used on future missions. If the higher Molniya orbit is wh ere the Falcon 9 rocket is heading, SpaceX could be carrying a new relay satellite to pass high-resolution surveillance imagery from ground-pointing orbiting telescopes to intelligence analysts in nearly real-time.

See our earlier story for more information on the potential missions.

The NRO awarded the NROL-76 launch contract to SpaceX in a sole-source agreement, bypassing a competition with other launch providers like United Launch Alliance. The NRO first referenced a launch contract with SpaceX in 2013 during a congressional hearing — before the Falcon 9 rocket was certified by the Air Force to haul national security satellites — but the secretive agency did not publicly identify the mission codename and schedule for the launch until last year.

Most NRO missions launch on ULA's Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets, and SpaceX will be eligible to win more NRO satellite deployment contracts later this year. The Air Force is managing head-to-head competitions between ULA and SpaceX for the rights to national security launches, and six upcoming flights with NRO payloads are to be competed in the coming months, along with seven Air Force missions.

SpaceX already won contracts to launch two GPS navigation satellites under the Air Force's new competitive launch procurement strategy.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126376.jpg)
The National Reconnaissance Office has released its mission patch for Sunday's launch. The NROL-76 mission patch "depicts Lewis & Clark heading into the great unknown to discover and explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory," the NRO said. Credit: NRO

Saturday's rollout came four days after SpaceX engineers conducted a customary preflight "static fire" test of the Falcon 9 rocket at pad 39A. The hotfire test Tuesday occurred without the NROL-76 payload aboard the launcher, a SpaceX policy change introduced after a Falcon 9 rocket exploded during a similar test in September 2016, destroying an Israeli-owned communications satellite.

After Tuesday's static fire test, the Falcon 9 rocket returned to the hangar at the southern edge of pad 39A, a historic launch complex that was the departure point for all of NASA's Apollo moon landing missions and most space shuttle flights. SpaceX now leases the facility from NASA.

Crews attached the Falcon 9 rocket with its top secret payload over the last few days.

SpaceX's launch team will report to work before dawn Sunday to begin going through the Falcon 9's preflight checklist.

Assuming launch remains on track for the opening of Sunday's launch window, the Falcon 9 launch conductor will poll the launch team for a "go" for fueling of the two-stage rocket at 5:47 a.m. EDT (0947 GMT), followed by the start of tanking with RP-1 kerosene fuel around three minutes later.

Super-chilled liquid oxygen propellant, cooled to near its freezing point, will begin pumping into the Falcon 9 at T-minus 45 minutes.

The computer-controlled countdown will prep the rocket's nine Merlin 1D main engines for ignition, transition the Falcon 9 to internal battery power, and pressurize the booster's propellant tanks in the last 10 minutes of the countdown.

Hold-down clamps will release the Falcon 9 rocket once the vehicle's computer runs the Merlin engines through a health check.

Riding 1.7 million pounds of thrust, the launcher will reach supersonic speed around a minute after liftoff, rocketing into the stratosphere before switching off the nine first stage engines at T+plus 2 minutes, 17 seconds. Three seconds later, pneumatic pushers will separate the first and second stage of the Falcon 9, and the upper stage's single Merlin engine will fire at T+plus 2 minutes, 28 seconds.

The clamshell-like structure covering the clandestine NROL-76 payload will jettison at T+plus 2 minutes, 48 seconds, and then SpaceX's webcast will cease coverage of the upper stage's progress, with the rest of the ascent under a news blackout at the request of the NRO.

SpaceX is expected to continue its live video coverage of the first stage's return to a landing site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Soaring above the Atlantic Ocean, the 15-story booster will reignite some of its engines to steer back toward Florida, deploy grid fins for stability, and then extend four landing legs just before making a propulsive rocket-assisted vertical touchdown at Landing Zone 1, around 9 miles (15 kilometers) south of launch pad 39A.

If successful, the landing will be the fourth time SpaceX has recovered one of its rockets intact at Cape Canaveral for refurbishment and potential reuse. The company has landed a Falcon 9 first stage booster nine times overall, a tally that includes returns at sea.

Touchdown at Landing Zone 1 is scheduled for T+plus 8 minutes, 46 seconds.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 30 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/858325724549218305)

For the moment, I go for a ~51 degree inclined LEO orbit for NROL-76: https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/04/what-is-nrol-76-and-what-orbit-wil-it.html ... (https://t.co/vEkYYP1zhB) But I could be completely wrong @SSC_NL (https://twitter.com/SSC_NL)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158478.jpg)

ЦитироватьSaturday, 29 April 2017

What is NROL-76 and what orbit wil it be launched into?
 
Tomorrow, 30 April 2017, with (from the area warnings) a three-hour launch window starting at 10:55 UT, SpaceX will launch a classified satellite for the NRO (http://www.spacex.com/press/2017/04/27/nrol-76-mission). The launch is designated NROL-76 and will happen from launchpad 39A at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The press-kit is here (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/nrol76presskit.pdf).

There has been some speculation on what this launch might be (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0117.html) and what orbit it will go into.

Спойлер

Considering the latter, Ted Molczan discussed three options in two separate SeeSat-L posts (here (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0117.html) and here (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0121.html)): a launch into HEO (Molniya) orbit of a new SDS satellite; a launch into GEO of a new NEMESIS; or a launch into LEO, perhaps a new version of the ill-fated USA 193 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA-193) launch from 2006.

Спойлер

The launch azimuth deduced from the Area Warnings that appeared after Ted posted his initial speculation on the payload, narrowed the options down to two (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0155.html): HEO or LEO. To me, the Area Warnings strongly suggest the second option: a launch into LEO, perhaps a USA 193 follow-up.
 
The Maritime Area Warnings published for the launch show two hazard zones: one near Cape Canaveral, and one, with a window opening four-and-a-half hours later than the launch window, in the Indian Ocean stretching from south of Madagascar to north of Kerguelen:

ЦитироватьNAVAREA IV 342/17 (1 of 1) ( (WWNWSFOLDER) )

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FLORIDA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 301055Z TO 301354Z APR,
ALTERNATE 011055Z TO 011354Z MAY
IN AREA BOUND BY
28-39N 080-39W, 30-34N 078-45W,
31-32N 077-34W, 31-26N 077-13W,
31-06N 077-11W, 30-47N 077-32W,
30-08N 078-26W, 28-29N 080-21W,
28-26N 080-27W, 28-25N 080-35W,
28-25N 080-38W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 011454Z MAY 17.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE 211830Z APR 17.

Date: 271553Z APR 17
Cancel: 01145400 May 17


HYDROPAC 1447/17 (1 of 1) ( (WWNWSFOLDER) )

SOUTHWESTERN INDIAN OCEAN.
DNC 02, DNC 03.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 301438Z TO 301715Z APR,
ALTERNATE 011438Z TO 011715Z MAY
IN AREA BOUND BY
30-31S 038-04E, 30-40S 040-19E,
40-11S 060-06E, 47-31S 080-01E,
48-56S 079-46E, 49-00S 075-21E,
47-12S 063-50E, 41-51S 049-33E,
35-39S 040-15E, 32-07S 037-37E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 011815Z MAY 17.//

Authority: EASTERN RANGE 211827Z APR 17.

Date: 250231Z APR 17
Cancel: 01181500 May 17

I have put them in maps for your convenience:

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124768.jpg) (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SBACAy3AN0Q/WQSKrZKQgtI/AAAAAAAAEXY/WVPjri6Haus5PF4GRTD-HwzMfVFdFfUiQCLcB/s1600/map_NROL76_launcharea.jpg)

click map to enlarge [/I][/SIZE]

The first area points to a launch azimuth of 43-45 degrees, indicating (if no dog-leg is involved) launch into an orbital inclination of 50-51 degrees as can be seen in the first map I prepared, above. This would at first sight exclude launch into HEO/Molniya orbit at inclination 63.4 degrees, unless of course a dog-leg manoeuvre is involved, which is possible.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124531.jpg) (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NO4h0DHRscY/WQSKujBmKcI/AAAAAAAAEXc/yupzwnrn-NwFQq0R3-ikWSARhpzHs-c9wCLcB/s1600/map_NROL76_deorbitarea.jpg)

click map to enlarge [/I][/SIZE]

The second area, in the Indian Ocean, points to the de-orbit of the upper stage about 4.5 hours after launch and actually matches a launch into an ~51 degree inclined LEO orbit as well.
 
In the map below, I have printed an estimated Low Earth orbit for the upper stage of the launch, based on the 2006 USA 193 orbit in terms of apogee and perigee, but with the orbital inclination changed to 51 degrees. About 2.4 orbits after launch, near 14:38 UT when the hazard warning window opens, the stage would be over Africa on its way to the hazard area, which has a position and curvature matching the trajectory (given the uncertainties in my orbit estimate) close enough, in my opinion, to accept this potential scenario of launch into an approximately 51 degree inclined, about 355 x 375 km orbit, or something similar to that:

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124512.jpg) (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-clga8T_7qIU/WQSMwZ8QBhI/AAAAAAAAEXo/uxA6Sekn2tE7Be9VX_nBWhwkKssBZKgjACLcB/s1600/map_NROL76_rocket.jpg)

click map to enlarge [/I][/SIZE]

One has to wonder though why the de-orbit is 2.5 revolutions after launch, and not simply during the second part of the first revolution. Perhaps some experiments will be done with the stage? Or does it deliver additional (small) payloads perhaps? Your guess is as good as mine.

In terms of the payload itself, Ted Molczan has posted some interesting info to SeeSat-L (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0117.html) suggesting the payload is based on Boeing's commercial, completely electrical thrust BSS-702SP bus (http://www.boeing.com/assets/pdf/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/bkgd_702sp.pdf).

The purpose of the payload(s?) is completely unclear at the moment. Radar satellites such as Lacrosse/ONYX were previously launched into 57-58 degree inclined orbits or their retrograde 123 degree equivalent (FIA/TOPAZ). Optical reconnaissance satellites such as KH-11 are launched in 97 degree inclined sun-synchronous orbits. NOSS (INTRUDER) SIGINT duo's are launched into 63.4 degree inclined stable perigee orbits. If this payload ends up in a 51 degree orbit, this is new.

There is a possibility that, while initially launched and ins erted in to a 51 degree orbit (a launch trajectory with which SpaceX is familiar from their CRS launches to the ISS), the payload next manoeuvres into a 58 degree or even 63.4 degree orbit on its own, using its electrical thrusters.
 
It will be interesting to see what orbit the object or objects eventually will be found in. It is likely it will be designated "USA 276".
 
If the 51-degree orbital inclination scenario is correct, observers in the Northern hemisphere will, unfortunately for me, not have visual sighting opportunities after launch: optical detection will rest on the shoulders of Southern hemisphere observers.

[свернуть]

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьStephen C. Smith‏ @SpaceKSCBlog (https://twitter.com/SpaceKSCBlog) · 24 minutes ago (https://twitter.com/SpaceKSCBlog/status/858341492615729152)

I spy with my @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) eye ...

Цитировать04/29/2017 19:10 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196486537?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
We have posted a time lapse (http://24liveblog.com/url?go=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/29/time-lapse-of-falcon-9-rocket-hoisted-vertical-at-pad-39a/) video of the Falcon 9 rocket being raised vertical this morning.

ЦитироватьBoris Mekler пишет:
У Falcon 9 нет возможности вертикальной интеграции, так что этот спутник на бок класть можно. Те которые нельзя - Falcon 9 запускать (пока) не может.

ЦитироватьGeorgea пишет:

ЦитироватьBoris Mekler пишет:
У Falcon 9 нет возможности вертикальной интеграции, так что этот спутник на бок класть можно. Те которые нельзя - Falcon 9 запускать (пока) не может.

Тогда зачем спутник везли стоймя?

ЦитироватьBoris Mekler пишет:

ЦитироватьGeorgea пишет:

ЦитироватьBoris Mekler пишет:
У Falcon 9 нет возможности вертикальной интеграции, так что этот спутник на бок класть можно. Те которые нельзя - Falcon 9 запускать (пока) не может.

Тогда зачем спутник везли стоймя?

Скорее всего так им было удобнее, вот и всё. Может адаптер ПН + ПН + ГО собирают вертикально, привозят в в МИК, там кладут на бок и привинчивают к ракете.

ЦитироватьSaturday, April 29, 2017

Identifying the classified NROL-76 Satellite

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

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152686.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152686.jpg)
NROL-76 Mission Patch – Credit: NRO

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

Some cases are easier to solve while other NRO missions can only be narrowed down to a number of candidates. NROL-76 is a harder nut to crack for a number of reasons outlined below.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152684.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/nrol76-ascent-path.jpg)
Launch Hazard Area – Image: Google Earth / Spaceflight101

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152687.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/nrol76-s2-impact.jpg)
Stage 2 Impact Zone – Image: Google Earth / Spaceflight101

The NROL-76 launch contract with SpaceX was first revealed by the NRO in 2016, but was awarded as early as mid-2012 or 13 according to comments made by NRO officials. At that point, SpaceX was in the midst of its transition from the Falcon 9 v1.0 to the much-improved v1.1 version. NROL-76 was most likely sized for the v1.1 version of Falcon 9, providing an upper lim it of 4,850kg if headed to GTO and 10,890kg if headed to LEO based on the rocket's performance numbers.

The most valuable clue for this mission is found in the launch hazard areas that reveal the orbital inclination this mission is headed to. Two safety areas have been identified through the typical NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen and Mariners), the first corresponding to the direct launch corridor out of Kennedy Space Center and another south east of South Africa, likely corresponding to the deorbit of the second stage.

To deliver NROL-76, Falcon 9 will depart Florida to the north-east – ruling out a Geostationary Mission. Still in play are a LEO Mission and a highly-elliptical Molniya Orbit that is used for reconnaissance and communications assets that need to cover the high-latitude regions in the north.

It has been disclosed that the NROL-76 mission would feature a first stage RTLS (Return to Launch Site) for recovery, indicating Falcon 9 has plenty of performance margin, either carrying a very light payload or targeting a low-energy orbit (or a combination of the two). Performance wise, Falcon 9 FT (http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/falcon-9-ft/) could deliver 2,300 Kilograms into a Molniya Transfer Orbit and still manage an RTLS landing while LEO capability with RTLS is on the order of 10.5 metric tons. This still leaves a number of options on the table.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152681.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152681.png)
Molniya Orbit Depiction – Image: NASA

Molniya Orbit is a characteristic orbit named after the Soviet/Russian Molniya communications satellites that used this type of orbit since the 1960s to optimize coverage for Russia's high-latitude regions. Molniya Orbits are characterized by a period of half a sidereal day (11 hrs & 56 min) and an inclination of 63.4 or 116.6 degrees which allows a satellite to have a constant argument of perigee and avoid perturbations by the gravitational field of Earth. Relative to Earth, the satellite's speed is slowest at higher altitudes, meaning that the spacecraft spends the majority of its time around apogee, i.e. the northern hemisphere.

Typically, Molniya orbits are used for communications in the high-latitude regions, meteorology satellites and missile-warning satellites tasked with covering the northern sector that can not be easily viewed from Geostationary Orbit. If indeed heading for Molniya Orbit, NROL-76, in all likelihood, is a member of the fourth generation of the Satellite Data System (SDS).

SDS, also known under the code name Quasar, operates relay satellites in Geostationary and Molniya Orbits to provide real-time downlink of imagery from low-orbiting reconnaissance satellites, notably the Keyhole electro-optical reconnaissance satellites and Lacrosse/Topaz radar assets. The SDS constellation typically consisted of at least two satellites in Geostationary Orbit and three in Molniya Orbits at the proper spacing to allow each to be over the northern hemisphere for eight hours to create 24/7 coverage.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152682.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152682.png)
SDS Constellation in 2009 – Image: Marco Langbroek

The first generation of SDS began deployment in 1976 and saw seven launches through 1987, employing 630-Kilogram satellites that offered twelve channels for UHF communications. The SDS-2 satellites, four of which were launched between 1989 and 1996, were more massive with a launch mass of 2.3 metric tons and the addition of K-Band downlink capability. SDS-3 debuted in 1998 and used Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles to lift eight satellites through the year 2014.

The first SDS-4 satellite is rumored to be the NROL-61 payload (USA-269) launched in July 2016 and taking up residence in Geostationary Orbit. The last SDS satellite launched into Molniya Orbit was NROL-24 in 2007, causing speculation that SDS may be transitioning to a purely GEO-based system.

If the Molniya Segment of the constellation is to be continued, a replacement for one of the aging satellites would have to go up soon as previous SDS satellites have shown a nominal replacement rate of around a decade.

The SDS satellites were reportedly manufactured by Hughes Space & Communications, now part of Boeing's Satellite Development Center. The latest Geostationary SDS satellite used the Atlas V 421 launch vehicle, indicating a mass of slightly over five metric tons consistent with Boeing's BSS-702HP high-power satellite bus suitable for powerful communications satellites.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152680.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/1548500_orig.jpg)
702SP Satellites in Processing – Photo: Boeing

NROL-76, if indeed headed to Molniya orbit, could not use the 702HP version and would instead have to use the 702SP all-electric satellite that comes with a launch mass between 1,900 and 2,300 Kilograms (right in the performance range for Falcon 9 with RTLS).

Boeing received three orders from the U.S. Government in 2013 for 702SP satellites with no information on the programs these satellites would belong to. The procurement of SpaceX's Falcon 9 for the NROL-76 mission coincides with the timing of the Boeing order, adding merit to this being an SDS satellite. In a contrary statement, the NRO said NROL-76 was 'designed, built and operated' by the NRO itself – however, this phrase has been used in the past when generally describing the NRO's tasks.

The palette of LEO missions for NROL-76 is much larger than for the highly specialized Molniya Orbit. However, some options such as planar missions and existing NRO constellations can be ruled out because the launch time for NROL-76 was not affected by the two-week delay from a mid- to a late April 2017 launch. Planar windows shift by several minutes per day as would constellation missions, indicating NROL-76 – if headed to LEO – is likely a one-off or experimental mission targeting a non-synchronous orbit.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152688.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152688.jpg)
USA-193 Intercept 240km in altitude – Photo: U.S. Navy

One option, raised by satellite tracking expert Ted Molczan (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Apr-2017/0117.html), is NROL-76 as a replacement for USA-193 that launched as NROL-21 atop a Delta II rocket in December 2006. The radar reconnaissance satellite entered an orbit of 350 by 365 Kilometers, 58.5° but failed shortly after launch. By February 2008, the satellite had decayed to 242 by 257 Kilometers and plans were set in motion to purposefully destroy the spacecraft to dissipate over 450kg of hazardous propellant and prevent pieces that could survive re-entry from reaching the ground.

USA-193 was intercepted by an SM-3 missile on February 21, 2008 which successfully destroyed the 2,300-Kilogram craft into 174 trackable debris most of which re-entered within a few days of the event while others lingered in orbit for another year and a half.

It is questionable whether the framework under which USA-193 was created is still in existence. The mission was developed under the NRO's Future Imagery Architecture that began in 1997 with the goal of consolidating electro-optical and radar reconnaissance programs to reduce cost through the use of common satellite systems.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152683.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/IMG_4208.jpg)
Photo: NRO

Boeing was awarded the contract for FIA in 1999, but by 2005, the program had suffered a cost overrun of around $5 billion, leading to the cancellation of the FIA program with electro-optical satellite production going back to Lockheed Martin and Boeing progressing with the radar satellites proposed under FIA. It is also doubtful that a satellite re-flight mission would need eight to ten years for development if there is serious interest in the mission.

The NROL-76 payload patch may include hints to the satellite's task, showing two explorers (possibly Lewis & Clark), one peering into the distance with a telescope while the other holds a rifle. The words 'Explore – Discover – Know' are depicted on the patch as well as six smaller and a single larger & brighter star.

From the patch, one could conclude that NROL-76 will serve as a reconnaissance or technology demonstration satellite, possibly exploring the use of a new type of sensor or wavelength band. Because the satellite is not targeting a synchronous orbit, the instrument is likely suitable for day-and-night data collection.

Satellite trackers around the globe will be at the ready to spot NROL-76 in its classified orbit in the days and weeks after its launch. Once knowing the orbit of the satellite, trackers will monitor for potential maneuvering and changes in the satellite's brightness which could reveal deployment events of large appendages such as antennas.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858453792676864000)

Falcon 9 and NROL-76 vertical on Pad 39-A. Launch window opens tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. EDT, 11:00 UTC.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158602.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185840.jpg) DEIMOS IMAGING‏ @deimosimaging (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/deimosimaging/status/858430335146749952)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) caught vertical on #LC39A (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LC39A?src=hash) at @NASAKennedy (https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy) today by #DEIMOS2 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/DEIMOS2?src=hash)! Good luck @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) & @elonmusk (https://twitter.com/elonmusk) for tomorrow's launch with #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)!
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158550.jpg)

Цитировать(https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-1/c13.0.50.50/p50x50/8005_10203238000889449_1783280917_n.jpg?oh=5ed7f4aa8d29cd214bbd31a7fb5d7a2f&oe=598F8373)Bob Root
2 ч (https://www.facebook.com/groups/spacexgroup/permalink/10155357786336318/) · Соединённые Штаты Америки, Florida, South Titusville

Saw Elon's G650 landing at the exec field about a half hour ago.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186095.jpg) Robin Seemangal‏Подлинная учетная запись @nova_road (https://twitter.com/nova_road) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/nova_road/status/858448732387454976)

Visiting the @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) Falcon 9 before tomorrow's @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) mission. 2-hr Launch window opens at 7AM ET. Booster landing will occur at LZ-1
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158586.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158587.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158589.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158588.jpg)

ЦитироватьSpaceX Falcon 9 set for first NRO mission with NROL-76
April 29, 2017 by William Graham

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209152.jpg)

SpaceX will conduct its first dedicated launch for the US National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Sunday, with a Falcon 9 carrying out the NROL-76 mission. Liftoff fr om the Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39A is scheduled for a two-hour window opening at 07:00 Eastern time (11:00 UTC).

SpaceX launch:

Спойлер

Sunday's launch comes a month after SpaceX successfully demonstrated the Falcon 9's reusability (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/tag/spacex/) with the successful launch of SES-10 aboard a rocket which featured a "flight-proven" first stage (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-new-spaceflight-successful-core-reuse/).

Although a newly-built vehicle will be used to deploy the National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-76 payload, SpaceX will again attempt to recover the first stage for possible future reuse.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209107.jpg)

The name NROL-76, shortened fr om NRO Launch 76, is part of an arbitrary numbering system used to identify the NRO's satellites – without disclosing their identities – prior to launch.

Once in orbit payloads are usually assigned another numerical designation, prefixed by the letters USA. In recent years, these USA designations have been assigned sequentially, with USA-276 the next available designation in the sequence.

Like most NRO missions, the identity of the satellite – or satellites – that will be deployed during the NROL-76 mission remains classified, as does the mission's target orbit and the nature of the mission the spacecraft will perform. As is also normal for NRO launches, this has not stopped speculation.

As Sunday's launch is the first time a large NRO spacecraft has flown aboard a Falcon 9, it has been difficult to compare NROL-76 to previous launches. SpaceX and the NRO have confirmed that after stage separation the first stage will fly back to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station to attempt a landing at SpaceX's Landing Zone 1.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209121.jpg)

Ahead of the launch, notices to airmen (NOTAMs) and mariners have been released, establishing hazard areas that show the course NROL-76 will take after leaving the Kennedy Space Center.

The rocket will head in a north-easterly direction, flying out over the Atlantic Ocean.

This indicates that the payload will be placed into an inclined orbit, and is definitely not bound for geosynchronous orbit. The hazard area off the coast of Florida suggests an orbit inclined at around 50 degrees, although the rocket could perform a dogleg maneuver during second stage flight to increase the inclination.

A second hazard area off the coast of South Africa is likely to be for the deorbit of the second stage – with the NOTAM valid fr om 14:38 to 17:15 UTC. This suggests either a deorbit burn during the second or third revolution of a low Earth orbit mission, or the first revolution of an intermediate orbit for a spacecraft which would later maneuver into an elliptical Molniya orbit.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209117.jpg)

The NROL-76 launch will not be targeting a sun-synchronous orbit, typically used by the NRO's optical imaging satellites. While it is possible to reach such orbits from the Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral, the rocket would have to perform a series of dogleg maneuvers that would severely lim it its payload capacity.

Sun-synchronous launches are instead made from West Coast launch sites such as Vandenberg Air Force Base, wh ere the rocket can fly out over the Pacific without needing to make these maneuvers. Likewise, the mission will not be targeting the retrograde orbit used by the NRO's Topaz radar imaging satellites, although the prograde orbits used by the agency's previous-generation Lacrosse and Onyx satellites would be accessible from the East coast.

The NRO operates several fleets of satellites in orbits inclined at around 63 degrees, which can be reached from Cape Canaveral, the Kennedy Space Center or Vandenberg.

These include the Trumpet signals intelligence (SIGINT) satellites and Quasar communications satellites in highly-elliptical Molniya orbits and Intruder naval SIGINT spacecraft in low Earth orbit.

Another use the NRO has had of similarly-inclined orbits was for a pair of stealthy imaging satellites launched under the Misty program.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209118.jpg)

The first of these, USA-53, was deployed from Space Shuttle Atlantis during the STS-36 mission in February 1990 (Declassified Misty schematic via L2 STS-36 (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=14468.0)). A second, USA-144, was launched by a Titan IV in May 1999, while a third satellite under construction was canceled.

These satellites were highly expensive and far larger than the Falcon 9 would be able to carry to orbit – even in a fully-expendable configuration – and with the apparent cancellation of the Misty program in the mid-2000s it is very unlikely that NROL-76 would be a smaller follow-up satellite.

NROL-76 is unlikely to be an Intruder mission; the NROL-79 launch at the beginning of March deployed two Intruder satellites and, barring the failure of a spacecraft in orbit, the constellation is unlikely to need further replenishment until at least 2020.

In addition, Sunday's launch window is not consistent with Intruder; NROL-76 was previously scheduled for mid-April with the same daily launch window, while Intruder launches target specific orbital planes and have launch windows that vary day-to-day. The NROL-76 payload is also probably not part of the Trumpet constellation as these tend to be larger, heavier satellites that would lim it Falcon's ability to return to the launch site, especially if flying a dogleg ascent.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209122.jpg)

The Quasar constellation was developed to support the NRO's transition from film-return to electro-optical reconnaissance satellites by providing spacecraft with the ability to transmit images and data back to ground stations without waiting for them to pass overhead.

The first-generation constellation, which launched aboard Titan III(34)B rockets, operated exclusively in Molniya orbits. A geostationary satellite was added along with a second generation of Molniya satellites launched between 1989 and 1996 – the first three aboard the Space Shuttle and the last using a Titan IV(405)A.

Third-generation Quasar launches between 1998 and 2007 replaced the Molniya and geostationary spacecraft, also adding a second geostationary satellite. Further launches between 2011 and 2014 all went to geostationary orbit, replacing satellites launched in 2000 and 2001 and adding a third.

Last year's NROL-61 mission has been tentatively identified as a fourth-generation Quasar (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/07/atlas-v-launch-nrol-61-reconnaissance-satellite/), along with the NROL-52 mission due to launch later this year, indicating further expansion of the geostationary aspect of Quasar.

The Molniya aspect of the constellation has not been replenished since 2007. For a Molniya-orbit constellation to provide continuous coverage it requires three satellites, and both the second and third generation Quasar constellations included three Molniya-orbit satellites.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209123.jpg)

With the third-youngest Molniya-orbit Quasar the nineteen-year-old USA-137 (NROL-5), this part of the constellation looks to have been discontinued. If the NRO only required two Molniya satellites, however, the USA-179 (NROL-1) spacecraft is not much older than the first two third-generation geostationary satellites were when they were replaced.

A Quasar launch would not necessarily deploy the payload directly into Molniya orbit – Quasars have typically been deployed in a lower initial orbit and maneuvered to their final destinations under their own power.

The last Molniya Quasar launch, NROL-24, used a transfer orbit with a perigee at around 250 kilometers (155 miles, 135 nautical miles) and an apogee at around 16,500 km (10,300 mi, 8,910 nmi) with 60 degrees inclination. Such an orbit would be roughly consistent with the NOTAMs published for second stage reentry, assuming a deorbit burn during the first revolution.

The NRO have announced that the launch "will carry a classified payload designed, built and operated" by the National Reconnaissance Office. This could be an indication that the spacecraft is not part of one of the agency's existing payload classes, which are believed to be mostly constructed by defense contractors.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209119.jpg)

This suggests that the payload could either be the first of a new series of satellite or – more likely – a technology demonstration mission. The NRO has occasionally launched spacecraft dedicated to research and development, most recently the Rapid Pathfinder Program (RPP) satellite launched as NROL-66 in February 2011.

The USA-193 satellite, launched as NROL-21 in December 2006, is also believed to have been a technology demonstrator, however, the satellite failed immediately after separating from its Delta II carrier rocket. NROL-76 could be targeting a similar 58.5-degree orbit to NROL-21, however, given the time that has passed it is unlikely that the missions would be related.

NROL-76 is the first NRO mission to launch from the Kennedy Space Center since December 1992, when Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-53 mission carried a Quasar communications satellite into orbit.

...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209101.jpg)

LC-39A is one of two SpaceX launch pads on Florida's Space Coast, alongside Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. SLC-40 is currently out of action for repairs following the explosion of a Falcon 9 rocket during fuelling ahead of a static fire ground test last September (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/04/falcon-heavy-build-up-slc-40-pad-rebuild-progressing/). SpaceX has also leased Cape Canaveral's former Launch Complex 13, which has been converted into Landing Zone 1, a landing pad for returning Falcon 9 first stages.

...

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/209120.jpg)

Sunday's launch will use a new first stage, core 1032, which will provide the initial thrust to propel NROL-76 away from the launch pad and begin the mission. Powered by nine Merlin-1D engines, arranged in an octagonal – or OctaWeb – pattern, the first stage burns RP-1 propellant oxidized by liquid oxygen. The stage will light its engines three seconds before the countdown reaches zero, with liftoff occurring at zero.

...

Sunday's launch is the fifth of the year for SpaceX and the Falcon 9, which has made more orbital launches than any other rocket so far in 2017. Worldwide it is the twenty-third launch of the year.

SpaceX's next Falcon 9 launch is currently scheduled for no earlier than 15 May, with the Inmarsat-5 F4 spacecraft for British mobile satellite communications operator Inmarsat. The NRO's next launch is scheduled for 14 August with an Atlas V slated to lift off from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the NROL-42 mission.

(Images via SpaceX, Lockheed Martin, NRO and L2 Historical. To join L2, click here (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/l2/))

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67521.jpg) Stephen Clark‏ @StephenClark1 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) 4 ч назад (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/858446601416822784)

That's a Falcon 9 rocket backlit by the sun. Launch from Florida's Space Coast set for 7am EDT (1100 GMT) tomorrow.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158577.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186048.jpg) Spacenews360‏ @SpaceNews360 (https://twitter.com/SpaceNews360) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceNews360/status/858441725123153921)

Thirteen hours from launch. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) glowing in the evening Florida sun at #LC39A (https://twitter.com/hashtag/LC39A?src=hash). Booster will launch and return to Landing Zone 1
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158565.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186048.jpg) Spacenews360‏ @SpaceNews360 (https://twitter.com/SpaceNews360) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceNews360/status/858457158274482178)

Twelve hours to launch. #
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158544.jpg)

ЦитироватьPhotos: Falcon 9 rocket poised for first national security flight
April 29, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is being readied for launch with a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office early Sunday, the commercial launcher's 33rd overall flight, and first dedicated to a U.S. government national security mission.

Спойлер

The two-stage rocket stood vertical on launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center on Saturday evening as photographers set up remote cameras to document the liftoff.

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) Falcon 9's second stage will place the top secret payload into orbit, while the first stage booster will attempt to return to Landing Zone 1 at neighboring Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for refurbishment and potential reuse.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126383.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126384.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126385.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126386.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126387.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126388.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126389.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126390.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 flight timeline for NROL-76 mission
 April 29, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)
 
SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster is set for liftoff from Cape Canaveral on Sunday morning, but most of the launcher's ascent into orbit will be under a news blackout at the request of the National Reconnaissance Office, the secretive U.S. government intelligence agency whose mission is riding on the rocket.

Спойлер

The 229-foot-tall (70-meter) rocket is poised for launch from pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) Sunday at the opening of a two-hour launch window.

The timeline of upper stage events after the release of the rocket's payload fairing, scheduled for T+plus 2 minutes, 48 seconds, has not been released. SpaceX's live coverage of the second stage's progress will conclude then at the NRO's request.

Meanwhile, the rocket's first stage booster will flip around with the aid of cold gas thrusters, then reignite a subset of its engines for re-entry and landing burns, aiming for a vertical touchdown at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, around 9 miles (15 kilometers) south of pad 39A.

Data source: SpaceX

 T-0:00:00: Liftoff

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126391.jpg)
After the rocket's nine Merlin engines pass an automated health check, hold-down clamps will release the Falcon 9 booster for liftoff from pad 39A.

T+0:01:00: Mach 1

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126392.jpg)
The Falcon 9 rocket reaches Mach 1, the speed of sound, as the nine Merlin 1D engines provide more than 1.7 million pounds of thrust.

T+0:01:08: Max Q

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126393.jpg)
The Falcon 9 rocket reaches Max Q, the point of maximum aerodynamic pressure.

T+0:02:17: MECO

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126102.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126102.jpg)
The Falcon 9's nine Merlin 1D engines shut down.

T+0:02:20: Stage 1 Separation

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126101.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126101.jpg)
The Falcon 9's first stage separates from the second stage moments after MECO.

T+0:02:28: Ignition of Second Stage

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126100.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126100.jpg)
The second stage Merlin 1D vacuum engine ignites to place the NROL-76 payload into orbit.

T+0:02:48: Fairing Jettison

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126098.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126098.jpg)
The 5.2-meter (17.1-foot) diameter payload fairing jettisons once the Falcon 9 rocket ascends through the dense lower atmosphere. The 43-foot-tall fairing is made of two clamshell-like halves composed of carbon fiber with an aluminum honeycomb core. The rest of the rocket's ascent into orbit will not be broadcast by SpaceX at the NRO's request, and further details about the mission timeline have not been released.

T+0:07:09: Stage 1 Entry Burn

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126207.png)
A subset of the first stage's Merlin 1D engines ignite for an entry burn to slow down for landing. A final landing burn will occur just before touchdown.

T+0:08:46: Stage 1 Landing

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126394.jpg)
The Falcon 9 rocket's first stage booster touches down at Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

[свернуть]

Цитировать04/30/2017 07:55 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196490866?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Liftoff fr om pad 39A is set for 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT), and the forecast calls for an 80 percent chance of favorable conditions during the two-hour launch window.

The 229-foot-tall rocket was lifted vertical Saturday morning atop the historic launch complex, wh ere the Apollo moon landing missions took off.

Final launch preps this evening will include the evacuation of the launch pad prior to fueling, activation of the Falcon 9's computer and navigation system, and a prelaunch poll by the SpaceX launch conductor at 5:47 a.m. EDT (0947 GMT) to verify all consoles are "go" for the terminal countdown.

Super-chilled RP-1 kerosene fuel will be loaded first into the two-stage booster, beginning around 5:50 a.m. EDT (0950 GMT). Liquid oxygen, chilled and densified near its freezing point, will follow starting at around 6:15 a.m. EDT (1015 GMT).

The computer-controlled countdown will prep the rocket's nine Merlin 1D main engines for ignition, transition the Falcon 9 to internal battery power, and pressurize the booster's propellant tanks in the last 10 minutes of the countdown.

ЦитироватьLRV_75 пишет:
Коллеги, я правильно понимаю, что пуск в 14:00 по мск, начало заправки в 13:15 по мск?

ЦитироватьLRV_75 (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/16087/) пишет:
Коллеги, я правильно понимаю, что пуск в 14:00 по мск, начало заправки в 13:15 по мск?

ЦитироватьApollo13 пишет:
https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/04/what-is-nrol-76-and-what-orbit-wil-it.html

ЦитироватьБезумный Шляпник пишет:
Версия про "наследника USA-193" какая-то не слишком убедительная...

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858595616397688832)

Currently less than 3 hours until launch. The area around the pad should be beginning evacuation at this time.

ЦитироватьБезумный Шляпник (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/40897/) пишет:
Может быть летит что-то для экспериментов и отработки технологий, а не штатный разведывательный аппарат? NRO периодически балуется запусками таких опытных спутников, как STEX или RPP.

ЦитироватьThis suggests that the payload could either be the first of a new series of satellite or – more likely – a technology demonstration mission. The NRO has occasionally launched spacecraft dedicated to research and development, most recently the Rapid Pathfinder Program (RPP) satellite launched as NROL-66 in February 2011.

ЦитироватьNROL-76 payload speculation

 From: C. Bassa via Seesat-l < seesat-l_at_satobs.org (mailto:seesat-l_at_satobs.org?Subject=Re%3A%20NROL-76%20payload%20speculation) >
 Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2017 10:44:05 +0200
The intended orbit for the NROL-76 mission, slated for launch on a
Falcon 9 between 11:00 and 13:00UT, today remains a mystery.
 
These are the facts that we can consider known:
* the launch hazard area is consistent with a 50 deg inclination
* the de-orbit hazard ara is also consistent with a 50 deg inclination
* the launch window is not planar (the April 16 launch date also had
  11:00 to 13:00UT)
* the de-orbit hazard area is valid from 03h38m to 6h15m after launch

Спойлер

All these facts can be considered peculiar. To my knowledge, no NRO
launches have targeted orbits inclined at 50 deg, and all launches,
except perhaps missions to GSO, had planar windows.
 
Furthermore, the long time between launch and de-orbit is not
compatible with previous Falcon 9 launches. On recent CRS missions (8,
9 and 10), the de-orbit area was valid from about 00h26m to 01h19m
after launch, indicating the second stage was de-orbited before it
completed a full orbit, with the impact point South West of
Australia. The Orbcomm OG-2 mission, targeting a 47deg orbit, had a
similar location and time range for the de-orbit area.
 
During the Jason 3 and Iridium NEXT missions, the second stage
performed a circularization burn at 00h55m (Jason 3;
1296kmx1321km_at_66deg) and 00h52m (Iridium NEXT; 618kmx627km_at_87deg)
after launch. Here, the de-orbit areas were valid between
01h06m-02h07m and 01h52m-02h48m after launch, respectively.
 
If NROL-76 targets LEO, why de-orbit the second stage only after about
2.5 orbits?
 
I wonder if instead NROL-76 targets some sort of MEO/HEO orbit. If so,
it may be expected that perigee is located in the South to allow the
second stage to be de-orbited off the coast of Africa.
 
Regardless of the target orbit, it'll be an interesting challenge to
locate the NROL-76 payload.

[свернуть]

Regards,
   Cees

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858606854167031808)

Two hours to the opening of today's #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) launch window. Launch Hazard Area going into effect -> http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Launch%20Hazard%20Area%20Maps/4-25-2017%20LHA%20SpaceX%20NROL-76.pdf?ver=2017-04-25-160135-443 ... (https://t.co/pmuNAKAEbE)

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/858608907849269248)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) T-0 appears to have moved to the right by 15 minutes.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185971.jpg) 45th Space Wing‏ @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing/status/858611257271824384)

@SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) will launch @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) in just under two hours. Shooting for a T-0 of 7:15 a.m.!

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
Ходики в правом верхнем углу на 12:13 ДМВ

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/858614328571953152)

Final RF link checks and Flight Termination System testing should be wrapping up at this point to clear the way for fueling. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать04/30/2017 12:32  New launch time (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491229?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing reports the Falcon 9 countdown is targeting a launch time of 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT).

The launch conductor's prelaunch poll is expected around 6:02 a.m. EDT (1002 GMT) to give approval to start fueling the two-stage launcher.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 35 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/858618348921344000)

F9/NROL76: Liftoff from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center is targeted for 7:15am EDT; low clouds in the area, but no updated forecast yet

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/858618512738328576)

L-90 Minutes: Propellant Loading preps should be complete. Next is a weather briefing ahead of the tanking poll. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать04/30/2017 12:53
It's a mostly clear morning here at Cape Canaveral, with a few low clouds passing over pad 39A occasionally catching light from powerful xenon spotlights positioned around the launch complex.
There are no known weather concerns at the moment.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 15 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858620696880087040)

L-80 Minutes: The Launch Team should be receiving a weather briefing shortly to decide whether to press for the opening of the window.

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF[/url] 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858622000159485952)

So far all is looking OK for #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) and #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash). Fueling should pick up at 6:05a EDT for a 7:15a launch of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF[/url] 26 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858622883253428224)

If we're headed for a 7:15a EDT launch, the GO/NO GO fueling poll should be complete at this time. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать04/30/2017 13:05 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491385?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 70 minutes and counting. The first liquid oxygen vapors are visible venting from the Falcon 9 rocket at pad 39A, a bit earlier than expected. Liquid oxygen is supposed to begin loading into the launcher at T-minus 45 minutes.

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/858623343754432514)

T-70 Minutes & Counting. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) now controlled by the automatic sequencer, entering tanking operations.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 51 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858623635728236544)

Prop load picks up with RP-1 tanking, loading the #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) with ~155 metric tons of fuel. LOX side is into chilldown ops.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/858624647314776064)
 
There are indications that fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket has begun at Kennedy Space Center. Countdown coverage: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/29/nrol-76-mission-status-center/ ... (https://t.co/VxHRtV2Qxm)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158697.jpg)

Цитировать04/30/2017 13:15 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491444?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The launch autosequence should have started by now, but SpaceX is yet not providing any real-time insight into this morning's countdown. The autosequence kicks off the first steps to begin pumping propellants into the 229-foot-tall Falcon 9 at launch pad 39A.

RP-1 kerosene was to be pumped into the two-stage Falcon 9 rocket first, followed by liquid oxygen chilled to near minus 340 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 206 degrees Celsius).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858625856003911681)
 
1 hour until Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76. Updated launch window opens at 7:15 a.m. EDT, 11:15 UTC.

Цитировать @CwG_NSF[/url] 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858629502653616129)

Fueling of RP-1 continues. Loading of super-chilled Liquid Oxygen now underway! #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858629641871003648)

LOX load starts on the first stage, Stage 2 begins receiving oxidizer just inside T-30 minutes. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF)

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/858633090813636609)

T-31 Minutes: Large vent from the Strongback structure as final preps for Stage 2 LOX load are underway. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:

ЦитироватьSpaceflight101 LIVE ‏ @ S101_Live 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858629641871003648)

LOX load starts on the first stage, Stage 2 begins receiving oxidizer just inside T-30 minutes. # Falcon9

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 59 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858634269723426816)

SpaceX Webcast is now live with SpaceXFM.

Цитировать@CwG_NSF[/url] 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858634292557205504)

The launch team is work NO issues that would prevent an on time launch at 7:15a EDT. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/858634658967433216)

F9/NROL76: 25 minutes to launch; heavy clouds in some areas with patches of blue

Цитировать04/30/2017 13:54 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491661?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 20 minutes and counting. Here are some statistics on today's flight:

[/li]
• 33rd launch of a Falcon 9 rocket since 2010
• 38th launch of Falcon rocket family since 2006
• 1st launch of Falcon 9 Vehicle No. 32
• 30th Falcon 9 launch from Cape Canaveral
• 98th flight from launch pad 39A
• 4th Falcon 9 launch from pad 39A
• 13th launch of the upgraded Falcon 9
• 1st SpaceX launch for NRO
• 19th Falcon 9 day launch
• 5th Falcon 9 launch of 2017
• 7th launch from Cape Canaveral in 2017
  

Цитировать @CwG_NSF[/url] 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858635906596691968)

T-20mins and COUNTING. Teams continue to work NO issues at this time. Liftoff set for 7:15a EDT. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

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/858637182650765318)

Ascent Profile: http://bit.ly/2oJnnTB  (https://t.co/tLyw7FV09k) - Shortest 1st stage burn time for #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash), Staging at T+2:20, Booster Landing at T+8:46(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158674.jpg)

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:02 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491696?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 13 minutes and counting. The Falcon 9 rocket stands 229 feet tall and measures 12 feet in diameter. At liftoff, its nine Merlin 1D first stage engines will generate about 1.7 million pounds of thrust.

Fully fueled for launch, the Falcon 9 contains more than a million pounds of kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants.

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:05 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491717?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The spacecraft on top of the Falcon 9 rocket is being verified on internal power at this time.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 43 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/858639028631089152)

LZ-1 is the destination for the returning first stage.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158688.jpg)

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:07 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491743?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 7 minutes. Prevalves leading to the Falcon 9's Merlin 1D first stage engines are opening, permitting super-cold liquid oxygen to flow into the engines to condition the turbopumps for ignition.

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:08 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491747?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Hydraulic systems on the first and second stage Merlin 1D engines are prepping for flight.

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/858639142779006979)

CHILLDOWN - Engine pre-valves are open, Merlins now chilling down their turbomachinery for ignition. http://bit.ly/2pgFjUk  (https://t.co/oFZpChGwM4)

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:12 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491789?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 2 minutes. The Falcon 9 rocket is on internal power.

04/30/2017 14:11
T-minus 3 minutes and counting. The rocket's destruct system is on internal power and being armed, and liquid oxygen topping is being terminated soon. A steering check on the upper stage engine should also be complete.

04/30/2017 14:11
Cradle arms on the strongback tower next to the Falcon 9 rocket are opening in preparation to retract the structure to launch position about 1.5 degrees from the vehicle.

04/30/2017 14:10
T-minus 5 minutes and counting. The Falcon 9 rocket is confirmed on internal power. First and second stage heaters secured.
A steering check of the Merlin upper stage engine is complete. The Falcon 9 rocket is now in self-alignment.

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:13 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491801?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
HOLD.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/858640196455321600)

Looked away for a second, and glanced back at this replay and nearly fell off my chair thinking "what, launch??" (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125550.png)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158704.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/858640788833660929)

HOLD!! SpaceX Falcon 9 NROL-76 Abort at 52 seconds.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158706.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858640659112239104)

Hold Hold Hold

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858640698454704128)

24 Hour Scrub

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858641185258319872)

Backup Launch Opportunity tomorrow at the same time. 7:15 EDT, 11:15 UTC.

 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858641378053693440)

First Stage Sensor Issue caused 24 hour scrub. #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:14 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491810?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
SpaceX has called off today's launch due to an issue on the Falcon 9's first stage.

Цитировать @CwG_NSF[/url] 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858642635405221893)

Scrub was called at T-52secs. Teams will evaluate sensor reading from 1st stage and try again tomorrow. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67521.jpg) Stephen Clark‏ @StephenClark1 (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1) 22 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/StephenClark1/status/858638052331278336)

Picturesque backdrop behind launch pad 39A, where a Falcon 9 rocket is 11 minutes from launch.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158695.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858642945884303360)

Standing down today due to a sensor issue; backup launch opportunity tomorrow morning.

Цитировать04/30/2017 14:24 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491920?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The SpaceX launch director called a hold at T-minus 52 seconds.
"HOLD HOLD HOLD," he said. "This is the launch director calling a hold on the countdown net. We have an issue with a ... sensor on the first stage. Launch conductor, please put us into a 24-hour recycle."

"Copy, launch abort is running," the launch conductor replied.

"The team was looking into a sensor issue on the first stage that was a bit out of family with what we were expecting, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to scrub today's launch," said John Federspiel, SpaceX commentator and a lead mechanical design engineer.

04/30/2017 14:24 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491924?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Tomorrow's launch window opens at 7 a.m. EDT and extends for two hours.

04/30/2017 14:28 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196491975?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
A weather forecast from the Air Force's 45th Space Wing issued yesterday indicated a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather Monday. The primary concerns were expected to be with liftoff winds and thick clouds.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67530.jpg) Spaceflight Now‏ @SpaceflightNow (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow) 10 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/858645675466252290)

SpaceX says the Falcon 9 launch could be rescheduled for Monday if first stage sensor issue is resolved. https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/29/nrol-76-mission-status-center/ ... (https://t.co/VxHRtV2Qxm)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158710.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 58 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/858648695474200577)

F9/NROL76: Given how fast this hold was ordered, at the opening of a 2-hour window, it's possible the problem was seen earlier...

 (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/858648880640122880)

F9/NROL76: ...and mission managers opted to press ahead with the count while monitoring or trying to resolve the issue...

 (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/858649039922966528)

F9/NROL76: ...and then were forced to order a scrub at the 52-second mark; but no details have been provided

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/858660673685004288)

The naughty "out of family" sensor that scrubbed the SpaceX Falcon 9 NROL-76 launch was a TOTO (Temperature Ox Tank Outlet) sensor.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158726.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 29 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/858673807082520577)

Today's #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) launch delayed until tomorrow. Window opens at 7:00 a.m. EDT.

ЦитироватьChris Bergin (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?action=profile;u=3)

Per L2 naughty "out of family" sensor that scrubbed the SpaceX Falcon 9 NROL-76 launch was a TOTO (Temperature Ox Tank Outlet) sensor. They had redundancy, but didn't want to risk losing another one, so the "abundance of caution" was as presented. Important to note, as some people see SpaceX as a bit "gung ho", they are as cautious as required, as proven.

24 hours is the current plan, but the access (depending which TOTO sensor on the first stage) for R&R will determine turnaround.

Цитировать@CwG_NSF 37 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858675120558276608)

For those wondering, predicted 22kt winds tomorrow are within acceptable limits. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) wind limit for launch is 30kts. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

ЦитироватьSpaceX launch scrubbed in final minute of countdown
 April 30, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/04/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126395.png)
A view of the Falcon 9 rocket at launch pad 39A just before Sunday's launch attempt was scrubbed. Credit: SpaceX

[свернуть]

SpaceX scrubbed an attempt to launch a commercial Falcon 9 rocket Sunday less than a minute before liftoff, blaming a sensor issue on the vehicle's first stage and pushing back the company's first national security mission for the U.S. government at least 24 hours.

Спойлер

The Falcon 9 launch director called a hold at T-minus 52 seconds as the countdown ticked toward a planned blastoff fr om NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT) Sunday, immediately ordering the launch team to ready for another try Monday.

"Hold hold hold! This is the launch director calling a hold on the countdown net. We have an issue with the TOTO sensor on the first stage. Launch conductor, please put us into a 24-hour recycle," the launch director said.

"Copy, launch abort is running," the launch conductor replied on SpaceX's countdown loop.

No details on the nature of the instrumentation problem were provided by SpaceX.

"The team was looking into a sensor issue on the first stage that was a bit out of family with what we were expecting, and out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to scrub today's launch," said John Federspiel, a mechanical design engineer who provided commentary on Sunday's countdown during SpaceX's live webcast.

SpaceX's backup launch opportunity, already reserved on the U.S. Air Force's Eastern Range, opens at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) Monday. The launch window extends for two hours.

Спойлер

Weather conditions should be favorable for a launch Monday, with Air Force meteorologists calling for a 70 percent chance the weather will meet the Falcon 9's flight rules.

"The southeasterly low-level winds will become stronger through the day today as a frontal boundary moves into the Gulf Coast states," the Air Force weather team wrote in an updated forecast issued Sunday morning. "By Monday morning, the front will make its way into the Florida Panhandle, adding the potential for upper-level cloudiness over the spaceport.

"The main weather concerns for a Monday morning attempt will be liftoff winds and thick layer clouds associated with instability ahead of the frontal boundary. Maximum upper-level winds will be from the northwest at 50 knots near 45,000 feet," forecasters wrote.

The launch will mark the 33rd flight of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and the company's first mission dedicated to the National Reconnaissance Office, a U.S. government agency responsible for developing and operating clandestine intelligence-gathering satellites.

Most NRO missions over the last decade have flown into space aboard Atlas 5 and Delta 4 rockets provided by United Launch Alliance, SpaceX's chief competitor in the domestic launch market.

But more NRO and Air Force satellites could soon launch on SpaceX rockets. The Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, responsible for military launch procurement, plans to hold competitions between ULA and SpaceX for the rights to send future sensitive national security payloads into orbit.

The competitions have already started, with SpaceX winning two contracts to deploy GPS navigation spacecraft for the Air Force. At least six top secret NRO satellite missions are up for grabs by SpaceX and ULA over the next couple of years.

The launch contract for this mission, codenamed NROL-76, was arranged differently.

An NRO spokesperson said Sunday that a commercial company, Ball Aerospace, booked the launch with SpaceX as part of a "delivery in orbit" contract with the NRO. Delivery in orbit typically describes an arrangement wh ere a spacecraft manufacturer — in this case, Boulder, Colorado-based Ball Aerospace — is in charge of all satellite preparations, the launch and in-orbit testing, before handing over control of the payload to the end user once it is operational in space.

The satellite's purpose have not been disclosed.

Hazard notices released to pilots and sailors in the days leading up to the NROL-76 launch indicated the Falcon 9 rocket will head northeast from Cape Canaveral, a hint that the payload will go into a high-inclination orbit that passes over most of the world's population.

The altitude of the spaceraft's target orbit is also unknown.

[свернуть]

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 30 апр. (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/858485410795630593)

#NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) Falcon 9 2nd stage telemetry down-link frequencies 2232.5 and 2272.5MHz per FCC data. F9 user manual appears out of date.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 22 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/858519162980753410)

#NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) suggested QRGs for search. 2nd stage 2232.5 & 2272.5, payload(s) 2242.5 and 2249.5MHz. Report curves, timings etc here for analysis

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185757.png) stromgade‏ @stromgade (https://twitter.com/stromgade) 11 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/stromgade/status/858688178236084225)
 
Apparently NROL-76 is a @BallAerospace (https://twitter.com/BallAerospace) satellite after all. So it could be an optical EO satellite, one of Ball's specialties

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/33381.jpg) Irene Klotz‏ @Free_Space (https://twitter.com/Free_Space) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Free_Space/status/858836807068372992)

SpaceX launching NROL-76 to LEO, FAA launch license shows

ЦитироватьSecret US Spy Satellite Heading to Low-Earth Orbit, SpaceX Launch License Shows

By Irene Klotz, Space.com Contributor | April 30, 2017 07:24pm ET
 
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) isn't saying much about its new spy satellite (http://www.space.com/36650-spacex-first-military-launch-sunday.html), now scheduled to blast off on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Monday (May 1), but it will be heading into low-Earth orbit, SpaceX's launch license shows.

The license was issued on Friday by the U.S Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which has oversight of the mission, including responsibility for public safety.

The NRO mission, called NROL-76, will launch sometime between 7 and 9 a.m. EDT (1100 and 1300 GMT) after a 24-hour delay due to a rocket sensor issue (http://www.space.com/36667-rocket-glitch-delays-spacex-first-military-launch.html). Its Falcon 9 booster will be flying fr om Pad 39-A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center here, wh ere one of SpaceX's two Florida launch pads is located. ...

Aside from flying from a civilian government range, which triggered FAA's oversight of the mission, the NRO purchased the rocket ride from SpaceX through a contractor, Ball Aerospace, a satellite and instrument builder based in Boulder, Colo.

Terms of the NRO's Launch Services Integrator contract, were not disclosed, said NRO agency spokeswoman Karen Furgerson.

Ball Aerospace could not be reached for comment.

Спойлер

...

Under terms of its launch license, SpaceX was required to buy $160 million worth of insurance to cover potential claims resulting from the flight of the Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center and $12 million to cover potential damages during preflight activities.

The FAA also required SpaceX to buy another $100 million of insurance to cover damage to government property from a launch accident and $63 million to cover government property damage claims during prelaunch activities, the launch license shows.

Editor's note: SpaceX's live webcast of the NROL-76 launch will begin Monday, May 1, at about 6:40 a.m. EDT (1040 GMT) for the 7 a.m. launch window opening. You can watch it directly from SpaceX here (http://www.spacex.com/webcast), or here at Space.com (http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-television-webcasts-live-space-tv.html), courtesy of SpaceX.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьNROL-76 Launch Webcast
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220682.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/spacexchannel)
 SpaceX (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtI0Hodo5o5dUb67FeUjDeA)

Запланировано на 1 мая 2017 г.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzQpkQ1etdA

Цитировать05/01/2017 06:09 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502177?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
SpaceX is gearing up for another launch attempt after a first stage sensor problem prevented liftoff Sunday.

The two-hour launch window opens at 7 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT), and there is a 70 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions. The primary concerns will be with ground winds and thick clouds.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 30 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858954541760471040)

Countdown ops are underway for #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)'s second launch attempt with the classified #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) satellite. http://bit.ly/2pNJcll (https://t.co/hD9rCpMRY6)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 31 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858954609091637250)

#Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) is counting down to a 11:00 UTC window opening. Weather is 70% GO.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 21 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858957393916563456)

The launch of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) was not contracted directly through the NRO but by Ball Aerospace in what likely is a 'delivery in orbit' contract.

19 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858957722607398912)

This would make Ball the manufacturer of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash),narrowing its potential application given the company's previous missions in remote sensing

17 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858958264205275136)

New license docs show #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) is targeting a Low Earth Orbit, ruling out the option of a Molniya Orbit (also in agreement w/ flight profile)

16 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858958501376270337)

This suggests #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) will complete a demonstration of a new type of radar or optical sensor for future reconnaissance missions.

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/858968269688057856)

Weather is expected to be best at the opening of the window. Clouds associated with a low pressure system are closing in from the north-west
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158943.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858968538333270016)

Ground winds are also expected to pick up as the sun rises. Currently with gusts to 22KT, #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) launch winds can be no higher than 30KT.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 37 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858969905403764736)

The Launch Hazard Area is now in effect to keep the safety zone around LC-39A clear throughout the window. http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Launch%20Hazard%20Area%20Maps/LHA%20May%201.pdf?ver=2017-04-30-094308-030 ... (https://t.co/NcHytHjeiB) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

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/858974762948853760)

Because the timeline of the last countdown hour is extremely busy, #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) completes all testing operations well in advance.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 54 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858976945702404097)

L-90 Minutes: Coming up on a pre-fueling weather briefing and the tanking polls. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 12:30 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502440?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 90 minutes. Good morning from the Kennedy Space Center. At this point in the countdown, security forces around pad 39A are ensuring the area is evacuated before the start of fueling.

The SpaceX launch conductor's pre-tanking poll is scheduled for 5:47 a.m. EDT (0947 GMT), followed by the start of RP-1 fueling about three minutes later. Super-chilled, densified liquid oxygen is expected to be loaded into the rocket beginning at T-minus 45 minutes.

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858978523863822337)

Winds are currently at 12kts. Maximum allowable is 30kts. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29831.jpg) William Harwood‏ @cbs_spacenews (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews) 24 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/858978994263384064)

F9/NROL76: Launch is again targeted for 7:15am

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/858978999137161216)

T-0 for today's #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) launch with #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) now showing 11:15 UTC, shifting 15 minutes into the window (similar to Sunday's count).

Цитировать05/01/2017 12:42 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502463?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The launch countdown is now targeting liftoff at 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT), 15 minutes later than originally advertised. Fueling of the Falcon 9 rocket should begin shortly.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 45 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/858982325522137089)

LOX ground systems chilldown has started. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858983806883295232)

Fueling poll should be underway right now. Fueling ops should begin at 6:05a EDT. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

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/858984847251001344)

L-73 Minutes: Polling of the #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) Launch Team should be in progress now to clear #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) for propellant loading.

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:04 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502498?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 70 minutes and counting. Vapors are visible streaming away from the Falcon 9 rocket at pad 39A, indicating that tanking has begun for liftoff with a classified National Reconnaissance Office satellite at 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 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/858985639454363649)

T-70 Minutes & Counting: Automated Countdown Sequence. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) is now entering fuel loading & final LOX chilldown.

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/858986175973003266)

Prop load picks up with RP-1, filling the two-stage #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) with around 155 metric tons of -7°C Kerosene.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858988280511045638)

All systems go for launch of NROL-76. Currently tracking upper level winds. Targeting liftoff at 7:15 a.m. EDT, 11:15 UTC.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158903.jpg)

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:21 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502525?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 55 minutes and counting. While the National Reconnaissance Office keeps most of its missions shrouded in total secrecy, the agency has revealed bits of information on the payload to be launched today.

Спойлер

An NRO spokesperson confirmed to Spaceflight Now on Sunday that today's launch, codenamed NROL-76, was booked with SpaceX through a third party contractor. The NRO official said Ball Aerospace, a spacecraft manufacturer based in Boulder, Colorado, arranged the launch with SpaceX under the auspices of a "delivery in orbit" contract with the U.S. government spy agency.

In the satellite business, a delivery in orbit contract typically describes an arrangement where a spacecraft builder hands over control of a payload the the end user -- in this case, the NRO -- once the mission is declared ready for operations in orbit.

According to a report published by Space.com, the Federal Aviation Administration's commercial launch license for this flight indicates the mission is heading for low Earth orbit, a regime several hundred miles above Earth. The exact parameters of the orbit have not been disclosed, but hazard notices released to pilots and sailors ahead of the flight indicated the rocket will travel northeast from Cape Canaveral, seemingly heading for a high-inclination orbit that will allow the spacecraft to pass over the bulk of the world's population as it flies around Earth.

[свернуть]

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858989496024662016)

Ground winds are well within tolerance for launch. Upper level winds are "being watched." #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:24 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502531?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
SpaceX reports the launch team is set for for liftoff at 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT), but they are tracking upper level winds.

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/858991883384705024)

T-45 Minutes: LOX flow should now be initiated to begin loading #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) with ~360 metric tons of -207°C Liquid Oxygen.

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:31 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502545?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 45 minutes. Liquid oxygen is now being loaded into the Falcon 9 rocket. Both stages burn the same RP-1 kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture.

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/858992477965086720)

Upper Level Winds are not part of the range weather assessment. Analyzed as part of flight dynamics for each vehicle individually. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858995359787470852)

Big vent underway for LOX load.

1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858995520433467392)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158969.jpg)

Цитировать @CwG_NSF 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858995926416936960)

LOX load on Stage 2 has started. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185971.jpg) 45th Space Wing‏ @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing/status/858995737375506432)

T-30 min until launch! Launch poll says we are GO for launch! #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:45
T-minus 30 minutes and counting. Liquid oxygen loading of the Falcon 9's second stage is reported to have begun.

05/01/2017 13:49 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502575?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
It's a gorgeous morning here at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Here's a view taken a couple of minutes ago from the Spaceflight Now office.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/133889.jpg) (http://24liveblog.com/show?img=//cdn6.24live.co/images/2017/05/01/1493635780798906.jpg)

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858996377510170624)

T-27mins. All is still proceeding well from a technical standpoint. Upper level winds being monitored. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:54 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502586?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
SpaceX's live coverage of today's launch will be different than normal. The company's webcast coverage of the ascent portion of the flight will end around 3 minutes after liftoff, once the Falcon 9's payload fairing is jettisoned, at the request of the National Reconnaissance Office.

Live video of the first stage's descent and landing will continue, with touchdown set for T+plus 8 minutes, 46 seconds, at Landing Zone 1 at nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

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/858997943420026880)

The classified #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) satellite should be entering its final preparations now, switching to battery power & enabling its launch sequence.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 58 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/858998793597014017)

Webcast Is Live With SpaceXFM! #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 13:58 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502589?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 16 minutes and counting. There are no issues being discussed at this time by the SpaceX launch team.

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 9 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/858999737873301509)

T-15mins. All is still on track from a technical standpoint. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/858999749512282113)

~15 minutes until Falcon 9 launch of NROL-76. Watch live → http://spacex.com/webcast (https://t.co/gtC39uBC7z)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:02 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502600?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 12 minutes and counting. The Falcon 9 rocket stands 229 feet tall and measures 12 feet in diameter. At liftoff, its nine Merlin 1D first stage engines will generate about 1.7 million pounds of thrust.

Fully fueled for launch, the Falcon 9 contains more than a million pounds of kerosene and liquid oxygen propellants.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/859000657914802178)

T-10:05. Grid Fin Pneumatics Secured and Boostback Hazards Disabled. #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859000675270893570)

RP-1 enters topping at this time in preparation for fuel close-out at T-6 minutes. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 46 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859001258493042689)

T-8 Minutes: Pressurization of hydraulics is now starting via ground supply to set up for a test of valves and actuators. #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать‏ @CwG_NSF 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CwG_NSF/status/859000962379329536)

Upper Level winds are apparently within tolerance. We are go for launch at 7:15am EDT. #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/859001614820155392)

LZ-1 ready to catch the returning booster.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158985.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/859001504514093057)

Engines Chilling Down #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:11 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502634?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The cradle arms on the strongback are opening for strongback retraction.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 22 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859002519107907588)

The Autonomous Flight Safety System is now going to internal power and being armed for liftoff. http://bit.ly/2pgFjUk  (https://t.co/oFZpChGwM4) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:12 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502642?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 2 minutes. The Falcon 9 rocket is on internal power.

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:13 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502646?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T-minus 90 seconds and counting. Everything on track for liftoff of the Falcon 9 rocket at 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT).

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:15
T+plus 1 minute. The Falcon 9 rocket is approaching the speed of sound and the phase of maximum aerodynamic pressure.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 31 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859003568141029376)

MaxQ - #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) is now encountering Maximum Dynamic Pressure on its way through the atmosphere, brief throttle-back.

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:16 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502664?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T+plus 2 minutes. Now soaring at an altitude of more than 20 miles, the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage will shut down and jettison in about 20 seconds.
And chilldown of the second stage's vacuum-rated Merlin 1D engine is starting in preparation for its ignition.

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:17 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502672?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
T+plus 2 minutes, 30 seconds. The Falcon 9 first stage engines have cut off, the stages have separated, and the rocket's second stage Merlin vacuum engine has ignited to continue the push into orbit.
The first stage is beginning its flip maneuver to fly with engines forward to begin descending back toward Cape Canaveral's Landing Zone 1.

05/01/2017 14:17
T+plus 2 minutes. Now soaring at an altitude of more than 20 miles, the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage will shut down and jettison in about 20 seconds.
And chilldown of the second stage's vacuum-rated Merlin 1D engine is starting in preparation for its ignition.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 38 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/859003939890528257)

Stage 1, Boostback Startup! #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

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/859003883187785728)

SEPARATION - Pneumatic Pushers separated the stages. 1st stage entering post-sep maneuvers, 2nd stage going to start-up.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 51 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859004231847743489)

The four actuated grid fins have deployed, ready to provide three-axis control during atmospheric descent. http://bit.ly/2pgFjUk (https://t.co/oFZpChGwM4)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:19 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502690?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Three engines will ignite again shortly for an entry burn starting at T+plus 7 minutes, 9 seconds.

05/01/2017 14:19
The first stage has completed its flip maneuver, and the boost-back burn has been completed to begin descent back to Cape Canaveral.

05/01/2017 14:19
With the release of the Falcon 9's payload fairing, coverage of the flight now turns to the first stage's return to Earth. The rest of the ascent portion of the mission is being kept secret by SpaceX and the National Reconnaissance Office.

05/01/2017 14:18
T+plus 3 minutes. The Falcon 9's payload fairing has been jettisoned.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 17 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/859004842454503424)

Ground tally ho of the returning booster. Nitrogen thrusters working to keep things on track.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158999.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 4 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859005068728774656)[/LIST]


ENTRY BURN - The booster started 3 of its Merlin 1D engines, hitting the brakes to create a benign entry environment http://bit.ly/2pgFjUk (https://t.co/oFZpChGwM4)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:22 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502704?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The entry burn has been completed, with three Merlin 1D engines on the first stage.

05/01/2017 14:21
The entry burn on the first stage is coming up momentarily.

05/01/2017 14:21
The rocket has passed an apogee of 130 kilometers.

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:23 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502714?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/133890.png) (http://24liveblog.com/show?img=//cdn6.24live.co/images/2017/05/01/1493637823174771.png)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 22 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/859005521633968129)

Stage 1 Has Landed! #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) WOW AMAZING VIEWS.

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:24 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502721?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Falcon 9 has landed!

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 38 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859005893295439874)

To recap - that's secondary mission success, confirmation of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) launch success later in the day from either #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash) or NRO.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/159003.jpg)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:26 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502729?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Today's landing marks the fourth time SpaceX has recovered a rocket stage at Landing Zone 1, and the 10th time the company has landed a booster overall.

ЦитироватьLanista пишет:
Трансляция просто сказка.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg) Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 59 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/859006616573796352)

The #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) second stage will be tasked with a deorbit burn 3+ hours after launch for re-entry over the Indian Ocean.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/859006289288015872)

#NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) launched today at 7:15 a.m. EDT. Congratulations to the team! @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX), @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing), @NASAKennedy (https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/159002.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186016.jpg) SpaceXUpdates‏ @SpaceXUpdates (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceXUpdates/status/859007884490936320)

Waiting on some confirmation on S/C sep to confirm mission success. #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)

ЦитироватьElon Musk‏ @elonmusk (https://twitter.com/elonmusk) · 50 seconds ago (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859008563519160320)

Launch and landing of the NRO spy satellite was good. Tough call, as high altitude wind shear was at 98.6% of the theoretical load limit.

Цитироватьche wi пишет:
Крупный план первой ступени в свободном падении интересно смотрелся.

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:35 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502756?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
We'll await an update from SpaceX or the NRO on the outcome of today's satellite deployment in low Earth orbit. Live coverage of the second stage's burn to enter orbit ended as expected about three minutes after liftoff.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185946.jpg) Elon Musk‏Подлинная учетная запись @elonmusk (https://twitter.com/elonmusk) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859008563519160320)

Launch and landing of the NRO spy satellite was good. Tough call, as high altitude wind shear was at 98.6% of the theoretical load limit.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/159005.jpg)

Цитировать05/01/2017 14:39 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196502770?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
Elon Musk, head of SpaceX, reports today's launch and landing were successful.

ЦитироватьSpaceX - NROL-76 MISSION | Launch and Landin

ЦитироватьТрансляция пуска Falcon 9 (Миссия NROL-76)
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220660.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/threedaysfaq)
 Alpha Centauri (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-yTIuKauNecL0Tl6ChD0yw)

Цитироватьfr rus пишет:
видео первой ступени ,летящей на 100 км

ЦитироватьRocket Launch Attempt 2 for Falcon 9 with NROL-76
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220764.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/user/SpaceVidsNet)
 Space Videos (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF5d0UwSJJunRcRVzP1uDg)

ЦитироватьSpaceX successfully lands its Falcon 9 rocket after launching military satellite

The company's fourth ground landing

by Loren Grush (https://www.theverge.com/users/lorengrush)@lorengrush (http://www.twitter.com/lorengrush) May 1, 2017, 7:26am EDT

This morning, SpaceX successfully landed its Falcon 9 rocket on solid ground again, after launching the vehicle from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The vehicle's first stage — the 14-story core of the rocket that contains the main engines — touched down at the company's landing pad called Landing Zone 1, located just off the coast of the Cape. It's the fourth time SpaceX has landed one of its rockets on land, and the 11th time the company has successfully recovered a rocket post-launch.

Спойлер

Today's rocket took off at 7:15AM ET, lofting a secret spy satellite dubbed NROL-76 for the National Reconnaissance Office. It's the first mission that SpaceX has done for the US military, after receiving certification to launch satellites for the Air Force in 2015. Since this was a national security launch, not much is known about the purpose of today's mission, or the satellite's intended orbit.
 
Additionally, the live broadcast of today's launch was a bit different than SpaceX's commercial missions. The livestream only showed viewers shots of the rocket's initial descent, and didn't reveal many views of the rocket as it ventured deeper into space. Instead, the audience was treated to multiple views of the Falcon 9 first stage as it made its descent back to Earth. In fact, there was a nearly continuous shot of the falling rocket taken from the ground — an angle of the landing we've never quite seen captured in the online broadcast before.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/133513.gif)
SpaceX

SpaceX used a brand new Falcon 9 for today's launch, but just last month the company finally demonstrated that it was capable of re-flying rockets that have flown to space before. The company launched a satellite for Luxembourg-based operator SES, using a Falcon 9 first stage that had launched and landed in April 2016 (https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15117096/spacex-launch-reusable-rocket-success-falcon-9-landing). That first stage also landed after take off, though it touched down on one of SpaceX's floating drone ships in the Atlantic.

It's not clear when SpaceX will fly its next used Falcon 9, but it's possible we could see previously flown first stages being used for both commercial launches and military mission. An Air Force official indicated that flying on used Falcon 9s is certainly an option for the military. "I would be comfortable with flying with a reused booster," Gen. John "Jay" Raymond, commander of Air Force Space Command, said at the 33rd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs this month, according to Florida Today (http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2017/04/07/air-force-open-flying-used-spacex-rockets/100169208/). "They've proven they can do it. It's going to get us to lower cost; it's going to get us to being able to get satellites in orbit. That's why they bring the boosters back. I think we'd be hard-pressed to say we're not going to do it. We would embrace that."

Eventually, SpaceX hopes to use its landed Falcon 9 rockets more frequently and drastically decrease turnaround time from the vehicle's landing to another mission. Last month, CEO Elon Musk said he's challenged the SpaceX team with getting a landed first stage ready for flight again in as little as 24 hours.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьПрол пишет:

Цитироватьche wi пишет:
Крупный план первой ступени в свободном падении интересно смотрелся.

Маск опять молодец: организовать в реальном времени съемку первой ступени на всей траектории - очень нетривиальная задача.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg) Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/859014059655655428)

GIF by "cebri" (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=40328.msg1673122#msg1673122 ... (https://t.co/VGhMvMYD98) ) SpaceX Falcon 9 1-2 Staging, Flip, boostback via long range camera.
https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/C-vUoZIXUAAqx34.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/C-vUoZIXUAAqx34.mp4)

Цитироватьcavia пишет:
Остаётся радоваться за достижения команды спайсикс и вспоминать Королева  :(  

Цитировать заместитель начальника штаба ВВС США по операциям генерал-лейтенант Джон (Джей) Реймонд сообщил журналистам о готовности Пентагона платить SpaceX за доставку на орбиту спутников военного назначения при помощи носителей Falcon 9 с повторно использованными ступенями.

Цитироватьcavia пишет:
Остаётся радоваться за достижения команды спайсикс и вспоминать Королева  :(

Цитировать45th SW supports successful Falcon 9 NROL-76 launch
 
By 45th Space Wing Public Affairs / Published May 01, 2017
 
(http://0s.nvswi2lb.mrswmzloonss4z3poy.nblz.ru/2017/May/01/2001740085/670/394/0/170501-F-ZZ999-0002.JPG)

PHOTO DETAILS (http://o53xo.obqxi4tjmnvq.mftc43ljnq.nblz.ru/smm/igphoto/2001740085/) / DOWNLOAD HI-RES (http://0s.nvswi2lb.mrswmzloonss4z3poy.nblz.ru/2017/May/01/2001740085/-1/-1/0/170501-F-ZZ999-0002.JPG) 1 of 1
 
The 45th Space Wing supported SpaceX's successful launch of the NROL-76 spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center May 1 at 7:15 a.m. ET. This launch was SpaceX's first for the National Reconnaissance Office. (Photo by Michael Seeley)
 
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. --
The U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing supported SpaceX's successful launch of the NROL-76 spacecraft aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center May 1 at 7:15 a.m. ET.

Спойлер

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket is carrying a classified national security payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. This will be SpaceX's first launch for the NRO.

This launch marked the third launch to use the Autonomous Flight Safety System and the fourth successful landing of the Falcon 9 first stage booster on SpaceX's Landing Zone 1 at CCAFS. AFSS takes ground-based mission flight control personnel and equipment out of the control center and replaces it with on-board Positioning, Navigation and Timing sources and decision logic.  The benefits of AFSS include increased public safety, reduced reliance on range infrastructure, reduced range spacelift cost, increased schedule predictability and availability, operational flexibility, and launch site flexibility.

The Falcon 9 NROL-76 launch was the seventh major launch operation for the Eastern Range this year. Before any launch can blast off from the range, a dedicated team of military, government civilians and contractors from across the wing provide the mission assurance to ensure a safe and successful lift-off for range customers.

"Assured access to space is a team sport here on the Eastern Range."

"We continue to play a vital role in assuring access to space and this launch demonstrates our capability to keep up the pace as we move closer to our goal of 48 launches a year," said Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith, 45th Space Wing commander.  "It takes less than a minute to get a rocket safely out of our atmosphere, but this launch was the culmination of many long hours and preparation though a series of rigorous rehearsals, readiness reviews and pre-operational checkouts.  This mission once again clearly demonstrates the successful collaboration we have with our mission partners at NRO and SpaceX as we continue to shape the future of America's space operations and showcase why the 45th Space Wing is the 'World's Premiere Gateway to Space.'"

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/430419911483990016/ETpdbQye_bigger.jpeg) Ben Cooper‏ @LaunchPhoto (https://twitter.com/LaunchPhoto) 9 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/LaunchPhoto/status/859025644260397056)

Beautiful sunrise liftoff of Falcon 9.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158977.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158976.jpg)

ЦитироватьFalcon 9 NROL 76 Stage1 Landing w/Sonic Boom

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185946.jpg) Elon Musk‏Подлинная учетная запись @elonmusk (https://twitter.com/elonmusk) 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859040909299556352)

Landing https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjUcEYBqSQ/ (https://t.co/m8DH1DkvFO)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185946.jpg) Elon Musk‏Подлинная учетная запись @elonmusk (https://twitter.com/elonmusk) 24 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859043148923678720)

Close-up of rocket stage separation, fast flip, boostback burn in a ring of fire and then... https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjVdLVB1bO/ (https://t.co/RM8kDgazVX)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:

ЦитироватьElon Musk ‏Подлинная учетная запись @ elonmusk 8 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859040909299556352)

Landing https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjUcEYBqSQ/ (https://t.co/m8DH1DkvFO)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186077.jpg) Miriam Kramer‏Подлинная учетная запись @mirikramer (https://twitter.com/mirikramer) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/mirikramer/status/859004186989645824)

Whoa, I don't think we've ever seen that view of the boostback burn #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) #SpaceX (https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpaceX?src=hash)
https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/C-vLu03V0AEojtR.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/C-vLu03V0AEojtR.mp4)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 12 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/858872901545611265)

REVISED #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) Falcon 9 2nd stage d/l could be 2213.5/2251.5 or 2232.5/2272.5MHz. Payload guess 2249.5 or 2242.5MHz

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/35114.png) Cees Bassa‏ @cgbassa (https://twitter.com/cgbassa) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/cgbassa/status/859019844020293632)

First pass of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) over EU; possible detection of weak broadband radio signals from @spacex (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) #Falcon9 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Falcon9?src=hash) 2nd stage. Consistent with LEO orbit

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/859011222037032960)

Reminder re #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash): be aware for possible upper stage re-entry sightings from Madagascar near ~15h GMT

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/859014372873695232)

(very) approximate position (12:00 GMT) of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) right now, 45 m after launch, if my orbit guesstimate is correct... @SSC_NL (https://twitter.com/SSC_NL)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/159018.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 49 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/859038019046838272)

The upper stage from the #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) launch is now about 1 orbital revolution away from de-orbit

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185592.png) NRO‏Подлинная учетная запись @NatReconOfc (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NatReconOfc/status/859058164041486336)

Congratulations to the #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) team, including @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) and @45thSpaceWing (https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing) on a successful launch!
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/158965.jpg)

Цитировать05/01/2017 18:38 (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/196244.png)  (http://24liveblog.com/share/196504297?url=https://v.24liveblog.com/live/?id=1385880)
The National Reconnaissance Office has confirmed today's Falcon 9 mission to put a top secret spy satellite into orbit was successful.

"Thanks to the SpaceX team for the great ride, and for the terrific teamwork and commitment they demonstrated throughout. They were an integral part of our government/industry team for this mission, and proved themselves to be a great partner," said Betty Sapp, Director of the National Reconnaissance Office.

ЦитироватьSpaceX - Best Landing - NROL76 05-01-2017
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220769.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)
 USLaunchReport (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/69029.jpg) SpaceX‏Подлинная учетная запись @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) 14 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/859112381330468864)

More photos from today's Falcon 9 launch and first stage landing → http://flickr.com/spacex  (https://t.co/095WHWMtKp)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/159088.jpg)

ЦитироватьРакета Falcon 9 с американским спутником-разведчиком стартовала с мыса Канаверал
НЬЮ-ЙОРК, 1 мая. /Корр. ТАСС Алексей Качалин/. Ракета-носитель Falcon 9 со спутником NROL-76  Национального управления военно-космической разведки (НУВКР) была запущена сегодня с космодрома на мысе Канаверал. Об этом объявила американская компания SpaceX  во главе с Илоном Маском.
SpaceX планирует снова вернуть нижнюю ступень носителя на Землю для ее повторного использования при запуске очередного орбитального аппарата.
Запуск отложен из-за проблемы с датчиками
Первоначально запуск был запланирован на воскресенье, но был отложен буквально в последнюю минуту из-за проблемы с датчиками одной из двух ступеней. Компания решила не рисковать напрасно и перенести запуск из предосторожности.
Информация о грузе и оборудовании спутника не разглашается, как и сроки его эксплуатации, цели и задачи. Согласно НУВКР, NROL-76 предназначен для своевременного обнаружения потенциальных угроз национальным интересам США. В том числе, речь может идти о поиске террористов, мониторинге разработок ядерных вооружений в других странах и об оперативном предупреждении о подготовке ракетного удара.
Первооткрыватели, рекордсмены, космонавты, астронавты и туристы — мы собрали информацию обо всех, кто когда-либо совершал космические полеты
До настоящего момента в частном секторе выводом на орбиту американских спутников военного и разведывательного назначения занималась главным образом компания United Launch Alliance (ULA). Она является совместным предприятием авиационных гигантов Boeing  и Lockheed Martin.
29 июля 2016 года ULA запустила с космодрома на мысе Канаверал (штат Флорида) ракету-носитель Atlas V  с аппаратом NROL-61. 1 марта 2017 года ULA осуществили запуск с базы ВВС Ванденберг (штат Калифорния) ракеты-носителя Atlas V со спутником NROL-79.
Пентагон заинтересовался экономными пусками SpaceX
30 марта SpaceX впервые повторно использовала ступень ракеты Falcon 9 при запуске. С помощью носителя был выведен на орбиту телекоммуникационный спутник SES-10  одноименной люксембургской компании. Первая ступень Falcon 9 уже побывала в космосе в апреле прошлого года во время вывода на орбиту космического корабля Dragon  с грузом для экипажа Международной космической станции (МКС).
Таким образом SpaceX первой в мире повторно использовала ступень ракеты для доставки аппарата на орбиту Земли. Вскоре после старта Falcon 9 сотрудникам компании также удалось осуществить управляемый спуск данного элемента носителя на морскую платформу в Атлантическом океане.
На 33-м космическом симпозиуме в Колорадо-Спрингс (штат Колорадо) заместитель начальника штаба ВВС США по операциям генерал-лейтенант Джон (Джей) Реймонд сообщил журналистам о готовности Пентагона платить SpaceX за доставку на орбиту спутников военного назначения при помощи носителей Falcon 9 с повторно использованными ступенями. В сферу компетенции Реймонда входят в том числе операции американских ВВС в космосе.
Как информировала президент SpaceX Гуинн Шотуэлл в Колорадо-Спрингс, подготовка уже побывавшей в космосе ступени носителя и ее повторного запуска "существенно менее половины суммы", в которую обходится строительство новой ракеты. Стоимость Falcon 9 составляет 62 млн долларов, согласно данным частной компании Илона Маска.

ЦитироватьПервая ступень ракеты Falcon 9 успешно приземлилась после запуска спутника
ВАШИНГТОН, 1 мая — РИА Новости. Первая ступень ракеты-носителя Falcon 9 успешно вернулась на землю после запуска разведывательного спутника, совершив вертикальную посадку, трансляцию ведет компания-владелец SpaceX.
Falcon 9 стартовала с космодрома на мысе Канаверал в 14.15 мск с секретным спутником для разведки США. Через девять минут после старта первая ступень вернулась и вертикально приземлилась неподалеку от места старта.
SpaceX, для которой это первый запуск военного спутника, отрабатывает технологию многоразового использования ракеты-носителя, осуществляя посадки первой ступени Falcon 9 на космодром и на платформу в Атлантике. Компания уверена, что повторное использование первой ступени позволит удешевить космические полеты. Первый повторный полет сохраненной первой ступени Falcon 9 состоялся в конце марта и был успешным.

Цитироватьdfln пишет:

Цитировать2. С помощью чего снимали первую ступень на таком расстоянии?

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Возврат ступени к месту пуска - значит спутник маааааленький.

Цитироватьche wi пишет:

ЦитироватьElon Musk ‏ @elonmusk · 50 seconds ago (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859008563519160320)

Launch and landing of the NRO spy satellite was good. Tough call, as high altitude wind shear was at 98.6% of the theoretical load limit.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
И ещё

ЦитироватьElon Musk ‏Подлинная учетная запись @ elonmusk 24 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/859043148923678720)

Close-up of rocket stage separation, fast flip, boostback burn in a ring of fire and then... https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjVdLVB1bO/ (https://t.co/RM8kDgazVX)

Цитироватьdfln пишет:
2. С помощью чего снимали первую ступень на таком расстоянии?

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Возврат ступени к месту пуска - значит спутник маааааленький.

ЦитироватьLanista пишет:

Цитироватьdfln пишет:
2. С помощью чего снимали первую ступень на таком расстоянии?

Это не та оптика которую поставили смотреть обстрел шаттлов льдинами?

Цитироватьвлад краев пишет:
MARS Kineto Tracking Mounts увидишь чем снимают. (ну или по крайней мере очень схожее)

ЦитироватьПрол пишет:
Схожее российское:
 http://www.npk-spp.ru/deyatelnost/dlya-poligonov/136-sagen-ta.html
 http://www.npk-spp.ru/deyatelnost/adaptivnaya-optika.html

ЦитироватьPhotos: SpaceX kicks off the week with Falcon 9 launch and landing
 May 4, 2017 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)
 
SpaceX started the week with the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida just after sunrise Monday, delivering a classified U.S. government spy satellite to orbit as the booster's first stage returned to Cape Canaveral for a vertical landing.

The nine-minute flight from launch to landing produced stunning imagery, showing the Falcon 9 soaring into the sky from pad 39A at 7:15 a.m. EDT (1115 GMT) Monday on top of 1.7 million pounds of thrust from its nine Merlin 1D engines.

Спойлер

Three of the Merlin main engines reignited after the Falcon 9's first stage let go from the second stage around two-and-a-half minutes after liftoff, beginning maneuvers to boost back toward the Florida coastline. Three engines fired again for an entry burn to slow down the descent, then the center engine on the first stage ignited for a final burn as the rocket's four landing legs extended for touchdown at Landing Zone 1.

Read our full story (https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/05/01/spacex-successfully-boosts-top-secret-u-s-government-into-space/) for details on Monday's mission.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126424.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126425.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126426.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126427.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126428.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126397.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126429.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126430.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126396.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126431.jpg)
Credit: Stephen Clark/Spaceflight Now

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126432.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126433.jpg)
Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com (http://www.kenkremer.com/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126434.jpg)
Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com (http://www.kenkremer.com/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126435.jpg)
Credit: Ken Kremer/kenkremer.com (http://www.kenkremer.com/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126436.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/126437.jpg)
Credit: SpaceX

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьAfter SES-10 (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/03/spacex-historic-falcon-9-re-flight-ses-10/), a two week delayed due to the NRO's secretive payload precluded SpaceX from repeating its rapid turnaround efforts with the NROL-76 mission, though it is understood and documented in L2 that Pad-A and the TEL (Transporter/Erector/Launcher) were ready to support the NRO launch in its original mid-April slot (https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/?s=LC-39A).

ЦитироватьLanista (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/15118/) пишет:
А господин Молчан КА не нашел случаем?

Цитироватьtrrr (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/16502/) пишет:
Круговая орбита, наклонение 50, высота ок. 400.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 7 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/867225945727434752)

Congrats to Leo Barhorst for locating the secret NRO sat launched by SpaceX on May 1 in a 400 km, 50 deg orbit (http://satobs.org  (https://t.co/3sHuadaBQc))

ЦитироватьFrom: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l
 Date: Tue, 23 May 2017 23:15:34 -0400

 The following elements are derived from Leo Barhorst's observations of early 2017 May 24 UTC:

USA 276 | 398 X 401 km
1 42689U 17022A 17144.06548369 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 02
2 42689 49.9572 164.5366 0001907 186.7642 173.3300 15.56136012 06

Arc 20170524.02-0524.08 WRMS resid 0.044 totl 0.009 xtrk

The arc is short, so this solution is approximate, but it should be adequate to reacquire the object tonight andtomorrow.

Ted Molczan

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/867301938446049280)

Follow-up visual observations here confirm Leo Barhorst observations of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash). http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/index.html ... (https://t.co/RcaaLABmFy)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/162609.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/162610.png)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/867319032751415297)

Another pass of #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash)'s payload.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/162617.png)

ЦитироватьUSA276
 
  (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220282.jpg)  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOijiBGwlowh1M6T-zIFBA)
 Kevin Fetter (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAOijiBGwlowh1M6T-zIFBA)

ЦитироватьSatellite Trackers spot Classified NROL-76 (USA-276) Satellite in Low Earth Orbit

 May 24, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/satellite-trackers-spot-classified-nrol-76-usa-276-satellite-in-low-earth-orbit/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152685.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/nrol-76patch.jpg)
NROL-76 Mission Patch – Credit: NRO

Three weeks have passed since the secretive NROL-76 satellite launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket. Now satellite trackers have gotten hold of the clandestine spacecraft operated by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office in a Low Earth Orbit 400 Kilometers in altitude.

Спойлер

lifted off fr om the Kennedy Space Center (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/spacex-falcon-9-launches-classified-nrol-76-satellite/) atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket back on May 1st, becoming the first mission of the California-based launch services provider with a secret NRO satellite as main payload. Standard for NRO missions, no information on the payload's identity nor its target orbit were released for this mission.

However, safety zones identified for this launch showed Falcon 9 was most likely headed into a Low Earth Orbit and the propulsive return of the rocket's first stage to Cape Canaveral placed an upper bar on the satellite's mass.

The consensus among satellite watchers prior to launch was that NROL-76 is most likely a medium-weight technology demonstration satellite targeting a Low Earth Orbit, possibly to test out sensor technology for a future NRO project. In a departure fr om the complete secrecy surrounding its missions, the NRO said that the NROL-76 launch contract was procured by Ball Aerospace, strongly suggesting the company also manufactured the satellite which adds merit to the theory of NROL-76 carrying experimental optical or radar sensor equipment based on Ball's previous experience.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152689.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/05/34005998140_7031945104_k.jpg)
NROL-76 Liftoff – Photo: SpaceX

With high certainty that NROL-76 was headed into Low Earth Orbit, satellite trackers drew up possible orbital parameters (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0001.html) that matched the north-easterly departure path identified by navigational warnings issued prior to launch as well as the impact location of the rocket's second stage that conducted a multi-hour coast & re-start test after dispatching the NROL-76 payload.

Various orbital scenarios fit with these constraints, indicating NROL-76 would most likely end up somewh ere between 300 and 400 Kilometers in altitude and an orbital inclination around 50 degrees – assuming no excessive out-of-plane maneuvers during launch.

Falcon 9 lifted off with its clandestine satellite payload at 11:15 UTC on May 1st and NROL-76 received a smooth ride up to the point of payload fairing separation shortly into the second stage burn when the mission headed into the typical news blackout of NRO launches. As evident from the flight timeline and live broadcast, Falcon 9 flew a lofted trajectory resembling that of Dragon missions headed to the International Space Station – indicating a single-burn ascent into a near-circular Low Earth Orbit.

The Joint Space Operations Center cataloged NROL-76 as USA-276 in the numbering system of U.S. military satellites, confirming the craft had arrived in orbit. Spotting the satellite in its classified orbit proved out to be difficult, not only due to uncertainty in orbital parameters but also a lack of visibility for much of the global satellite tracking community in the weeks after liftoff.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152683.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/IMG_4208.jpg)
Photo: NRO

Initial attempts to identify NROL-76 through its radio downlink came up empty handed when no candidates showed up in the typical S-Band frequencies used for telemetry downlink. It became clear that several weeks would pass before the satellite would become visible for observers in Europe at which point it could have drifted far off any reasonably close pre-launch predictions.

Observer Leo Barhorst (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0108.html) reported to the SeeSat Mailing List on Wednesday that he managed to catch NROL-76, showing up around nine minutes ahead of the pre-launch estimate. His measurements were used to upd ate tracking elements (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0112.html) for the hush-hush satellite, circling the planet in an orbit of approximately 398 by 401 Kilometers at an inclination of 49.96 degrees.

Taking these parameters as a basis, trackers from Canada reported more observations, broadening the observation arc in order to lock down precise orbit parameters for NROL-76.

Satellite watchers will continue monitoring NROL-76 and potential activity such as orbital maneuvers or changes in brightness that could point to reconfigurations of the satellite such as the deployment of any large appendages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KxNq9vaG20 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KxNq9vaG20)
USA-276's orbit is consistent with pre-launch speculation of a one-off NRO mission, most likely dedicated to testing out a new type of intelligence-gathering sensor package to retire risk for a future NRO program.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152688.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152688.jpg)
USA-193 Intercept 240km in altitude – Photo: U.S. Navy

A previous NRO Low Earth Orbit tech demonstration mission, USA-193, se t out to demonstrate a new radar payload to retire risk for the agency's Topaz radar constellation prior to its first launch. However, within hours of the craft's December 2006 launch, the satellite failed and could not be recovered, leaving the 2,300-Kilogram vehicle in an uncontrollable state and headed for re-entry within two years of launch. In February 2008, USA-193 was purposefully destroyed by an SM-3 missile when it had decayed to a point wh ere most debris created by the strike would re-enter within a period of days.

Although the architecture under which USA-193 was developed has largely been dismantled with the cancellation of the Future Imagery Architecture, a follow-on mission of similar nature but with different sensor equipment seems within reason given the NRO has shown desire in the past to test out systems for critical future missions beforehand – as illustrated by USA-193 and, more recently, USA-225 that launched in 2011 as a low-cost, small spacecraft mission to test out new technologies.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152691.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/05/bcp5000.jpg)
WorldView-3 (BCP-5000) – Photo: Ball Aerospace

Ball Aerospace's product palette only has two candidates that would fit this mission – the BCP-5000 and BCP-4000 satellite platforms which are the company's largest satellite buses and the only that would justify the use of the powerful Falcon 9 launcher.

BCP-5000 is optimized for large optical payloads and has flown three times to date for DigitalGlobe's WorldView program. These satellites weigh in at up to three metric tons and offer accommodations for high-resolution optical payloads in a variety of wavelength ranges. Of particular interest for optical collection is BCP's high agility through the use of Control Moment Gyros that allow the satellite to move from one target to the next within five seconds. WorldView-3, the most recent BCP-5000, achieves a ground resolution of 31 centimeters whereas the NRO's powerful Keyhole satellites are rumored to have a resolution around 10-15 centimeters.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152692.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/05/Radarsat.jpg)
BCP Radar Configuration – Photo: Ball/CSA

BCP-4000 is optimized for Synthetic Aperture Radar Payloads, having flown only once before on the RadarSat-1 mission of the Canadian Space Agency that carried a Canadian-built radar system primarily used for remote sensing.

The NROL-76 patch features a pair of explorers – Lewis & Clark – one peering into the distance with a telescope while the other intently looks toward the same direction with a rifle at the ready. The words 'Explore – Discover – Know' are inscribed on the patch which could indicate NROL-76 will be used as a technology demonstration, exploring a future sensor for intelligence-gathering craft, potentially making use of new technology or a novel wavelength band not previously used in reconnaissance.

The scope and rifle on the patch could also imply the satellite will take on a tactical role within the NRO's spying fleet.

[свернуть]

Цитировать  (https://twitter.com/coastal8049)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/32932.jpg) Scott Tilley‏ @coastal8049 (https://twitter.com/coastal8049) 20 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/coastal8049/status/867458755641851904)

#NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) USA 276 analysis by Ted Molzcan after first observation reports confirming orbit. http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0127.html ... (https://t.co/quwoy8qVDQ)

ЦитироватьFrom: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l
 Date: Wed, 24 May 2017 12:01:49 -0400
 
The following elements are derived from observations by Leo Barhorst, Kevin Fetter, Sergey Guryanov and Scott Tilley:

USA 276 | 390 X 409 km
1 42689U 17022A 17144.45083662 .00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 05
2 42689 49.9984 162.7662 0014150 91.2112 269.0477 15.56119177 09
Arc 20170523.76-0524.47 WRMS resid 0.059 totl 0.021 xtrk

Sergey described it as "brighter than 3 mag," which based on the circumstances of his observation, suggests a standardvisual magnitude of about 4 (1000 km range, 90 deg phase angle).

The ground track nearly repeats after 3 days and 46 revs. U.S. imagery intelligence satellites tend to employ orbitswith ground tracks that repeat, or nearly so, after 2, 3 or 4 days.

The orbital solution is still fairly preliminary, but it is interesting to note that the argument of perigee is near 90deg. If this is confirmed by subsequent observations, and if it remains more or less constant long-term, then the orbitis of the frozen type.

Спойлер

Frozen orbits are intended to maintain as nearly a constant altitude above geoid as possible around the entire orbit.The argument of perigee may be frozen near 90 deg or 270 deg.

Below is a partial of list of satellites that have employed frozen orbits that I compiled in Jan 2007:

GEOS-3 radar altimeter
Seasat 1 SAR, radar altimeter
GEOSAT radar altimeter
Spot Earth resources imaging
Lacrosse SAR
UARS various Earth sensors
JERS 1 SAR
Topex/Poeidon radar altimeter
ERS SAR, radar altimeter
RadarSat SAR
GEOSAT FO radar altimeter
Landsat 7 Earth resources imaging
Terra spectroradiometers, radiometer
EO-1 Earth resources imaging
Jason 1 radar altimeter
Envisat SAR, radar altimeter, radiometers
Aqua radiometers, microwave sounder
Icesat altimeter, radiometer
ALOS SAR, radiometer
USA 193 classified

The known sensors of the above payloads predominantly employed radio waves, but some were optical. A frozen orbit isstrong evidence of an imaging payload, but not all imagers employ frozen orbits.

To the above list, we can add the three Worldview optical imaging satellites built on the Ball Aerospace BCP-5000 bus.Ball Aerospace is believed to have built USA 276, the payload of NROL-76, which adds to our interest in the possibilitythat its orbit may be frozen.

[свернуть]

Ted Molczan

ЦитироватьПрол пишет:
Первый репортаж не о пуске, а о посадке  :)  .

Цитироватьche wi пишет:
Крупный план первой ступени в свободном падении интересно смотрелся.

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Возврат ступени к месту пуска - значит спутник маааааленький.

Цитироватьsilentpom пишет:
а есть подтверждение, что видео ступени с земли - это от вояк?

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
  :o  

ЦитироватьSpaceX - Best Landing - NROL76 05-01-2017
 
 
 USLaunchReport (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5hWqb0u1eKgYmVryCEyJYA)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmgeBsTVgq0

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Спутник-разведчик на наклонении 50 градусов? 

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
А что, при наклонении 50 градусов перигей не прецессирует?  :o

ЦитироватьSGS_67 пишет:
потому, что полёт 2-й ступени - топ сикрет.

ЦитироватьSGS_67 пишет: 

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
А что, при наклонении 50 градусов перигей не прецессирует?  :o  

Он прецессирует при любом наклонении.
Дятел.

ЦитироватьFrozen orbits are intended to maintain as nearly a constant altitude above geoid as possible around the entire orbit.The argument of perigee may be frozen near 90 deg or 270 deg.

Below is a partial of list of satellites that have employed frozen orbits that I compiled in Jan 2007:

GEOS-3 radar altimeter
Seasat 1 SAR, radar altimeter
GEOSAT radar altimeter
Spot Earth resources imaging
Lacrosse SAR
UARS various Earth sensors
JERS 1 SAR
Topex/Poeidon radar altimeter
ERS SAR, radar altimeter
RadarSat SAR
GEOSAT FO radar altimeter
Landsat 7 Earth resources imaging
Terra spectroradiometers, radiometer
EO-1 Earth resources imaging
Jason 1 radar altimeter
Envisat SAR, radar altimeter, radiometers
Aqua radiometers, microwave sounder
Icesat altimeter, radiometer
ALOS SAR, radiometer
USA 193 classified

The known sensors of the above payloads predominantly employed radio waves, but some were optical. A frozen orbit isstrong evidence of an imaging payload, but not all imagers employ frozen orbits.

ЦитироватьIn orbital mechanics (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_mechanics&usg=ALkJrhgcRRKo1UVsAPvi0q56qsi3ggj0tQ) , a frozen orbit is an orbit for an artificial satellite (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite&usg=ALkJrhjdhzOv9DYYuKVqw5PT9By7DieHpw) in which natural drifting due to the central body (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_body&usg=ALkJrhgZLX5UnnoriOPabL63YuOnhtjf6w) 's shape has been minimized by careful selection of theorbital parameters (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_parameters&usg=ALkJrhgdiWEQYGBddWsgwhGEuinmbD41zw) . Typically this is an orbit where, over a long period of time, the altitude remains constant at the same point in each orbit [1] (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_orbit&usg=ALkJrhjFHWo62pN_FW5SCPe-xJf4DPpfDQ#cite_note-cdeagle-1) — changes in the inclination (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_inclination&usg=ALkJrhhA4R4kNsRFvQUSeAu_t3NAdp8jEA) , position of the lowest point of the orbit (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_of_perigee&usg=ALkJrhgg6VEUVdDE61aAo3PXxKS5UcD7ig) , and eccentricity (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbital_eccentricity&usg=ALkJrhjp6dns3MzNirgl1kQPE35aklQCnw) have been minimized by choosing initial values (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Initial_value&usg=ALkJrhhhlpaPFX7zfYIjRktJGc-Yq1XM6w) so that their perturbations (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perturbation_(astronomy)&usg=ALkJrhitRFOS1qwB8m9nJ8l9Ig3-cW9wOA) cancel out. [2] (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frozen_orbit&usg=ALkJrhjFHWo62pN_FW5SCPe-xJf4DPpfDQ#cite_note-chobotov-2) This results in a long-term stable orbit that minimizes the use of stationkeeping (https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?anno=2&depth=1&hl=ru&rurl=translate.google.ru&sl=en&sp=nmt4&tl=ru&u=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stationkeeping&usg=ALkJrhiKy7FrSjnDe5FkSg3U1fStVaz0Iw) propellant.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 19 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/867530487396536320)

Video of a pass of recently launched spy sat USA 276 (NROL-76) over Leiden, NL

https://vimeo.com/218875925  (https://t.co/zOl7hH6XXc)

19 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/867530692669968384)

Going to try to image the second pass (01:06 UT, an hour from now) as well

16 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/867563713263525888)

Observed 2nd USA 276 (NROL-76) pass as well. It was brighter, mag +3. Imagery tomorrow: sleep now.

8 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/867684688034484224)

Spy satellite USA 276 launched as #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) by @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) on May 1, over my house in #Leiden (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leiden?src=hash), NL, last night, plus 3 gratuit old r/b. @SSC_NL (https://twitter.com/SSC_NL)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/162679.jpg)

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/867765693802041345)

New blog post: Observing USA 276, the odd NROL-76 payload fr om the May 1 @SpaceX (https://twitter.com/SpaceX) launch: https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/05/observing-usa-276-odd-nrol-76-payload.html ... (https://t.co/N0yuiHrD24) @SSC_NL (https://twitter.com/SSC_NL)

ЦитироватьThursday, 25 May 2017

Observing USA 276, the odd NROL-76 payload
 
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124509.jpg) (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bLg3z9Kq5WM/WSbsOnLvksI/AAAAAAAAEYw/F3nW4CUkqHkM3vkDQbeMj7ZujDmv2twzgCLcB/s1600/USA276_NROL76_plusstrays_s25052017_0056.jpg)
click image to enlarge

The image above shows USA 276 passing over the roof of my house last night. USA 276 is the mystery payload of the May 1 SpaceX NROL-76 launch from Cape Canaveral.
 
Also visible in the image are three rocket boosters: the r/b of the classified Milstar 3 launch, and two Russian objects. Skies surely are crowded these days...

Спойлер

The photograph above was shot near 3:07 local time (1:07 UT) during the second of two consecutive passes. During the first pass, near 1:30 local time (23:30 UT), I obtained this video record:

https://vimeo.com/218875925

USA 276 was quite faint during the first pass (I could not see it by naked eye from Leiden town center). During the second pass it was brighter, attaining mag. +3 near culmination, visible to the naked eye without problem. Due to its low orbital altitude it was very fast: the object is in a 389 x 409 km, 50.0 degree inclined orbit.

After its May 1 launch, there was a lot of discussion among our observers. The launch azimuth seemed to suggest a 50 degree orbital inclination. That would be odd (see below), so not everybody was willing to believe this. Some suggested a dog-leg manoeuvre towards a 63.4 HEO orbit. Because of the lack of precedent, orbital altitudes could only be guessed, making a quick recovery by observers more troublesome.

It took a while (23 days) before the payload was finally observed and the orbit could be confirmed. On May 23-24, the night before I obtained the imagery above, Leo Barhorst in the Netherlands finally found the payload (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0108.html). And it was in a 50 degree inclination, 389 x 409 km Low Earth Orbit.

The purpose of this payload in this odd orbit is a bit of a mystery. The orbital inclination of 50.0 degrees does not match common orbital inclinations attached to specific functions: US military radar satellites (ONYX, TOPAZ) tend to be in 57 degree LEO orbits or their 123 degree retrograde equivalents; SIGINT sats in 63.4 degree orbits (either LEO or HEO); optical reconnaissance satellites in 98 degree sun-synchronous LEO orbits; the X-37B space plane was in a 39-degree inclined very Low Earth Orbit. An orbital inclination of 50.0 degrees, as shown by USA 276, is odd and unusual.
 
The common opinion is that USA 276 is some technology demonstrator, somewhat similar to the ill-fated USA 193 from 2006, blown from the sky with a SM-3 in 2008. But what technology does it demonstrate?

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124306.jpg) (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wPNeuOdNCAY/WSbxoZ6i6PI/AAAAAAAAEZA/tsg4vgge388M9NVVh8c3nNpayvCXOI05ACLcB/s1600/USA276_ISS_2D.jpg)
click map to enlarge

Orbital inclination and orbital altitude are in fact very (some would say oddly) similar to the ISS (see diagrams above and below, showing how close the orbits currently are): the two objects in theory (and based on the current USA 276 orbit) can potentially even make quite close approaches, to within a few km (!), as Ted Molczan showed in a private communication.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124742.jpg) (https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-28xYXGTny9Q/WSbyf-DgfaI/AAAAAAAAEZI/KYUqKUUwxAMOqpGFhhtzPwh1siV3SEnvgCLcB/s1600/USA276_ISS_3D.jpg)
click image to enlarge

I have found that on June 4, USA 276 will in fact be very close by when (if all goes according to plan)  the SpaceX DRAGON CRS-11 should arive at the ISS at this date. That is, if USA 276 doesn't change its current orbit before then.

Observers in Europe might see the three objects close together in their evening twilight of June 3, with USA 276 some 15 degrees distant from the ISS.

The diagram below shows the position of USA 276 relative to the ISS on the European evening of June 3, if USA 276 has not manoeuvered by then:
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124428.jpg) (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9wt_I_IurHU/WSbzx4_r21I/AAAAAAAAEZU/094Yj6VD9DgJRd1o03bDQKlkXT_wBVApQCLcB/s1600/USA276_ISS_3_4_June2017_3D.jpg)
click image to enlarge

Due to slightly different rates of precession of their orbital nodes, the orbits will slowly diverge from their current close coincidence over time, unless USA 176 makes a corrective manoeuvre.

I have pondered the question whether this all is coincidental or not. I can in fact think of a potential goal wh ere this all would be on purpose, but that would be a very wild thing to do, so perhaps is not so likely. For the moment, let's better chalk it up to coincidence until new developments seem to point otherwise.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:

ЦитироватьSGS_67 пишет:

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
А что, при наклонении 50 градусов перигей не прецессирует?  :o  

Он прецессирует при любом наклонении.
Дятел.

Перигей не прецессирует при наклонении 63.4 градуса. Неужели это можно не знать?  :o  
 Дебил, б#"@ (с) Лавров

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Однако ясно что при высоте 400 км основное возмущение будет от сопротивления атмосферы...

ЦитироватьFrom: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l
 Date: Thu, 25 May 2017 06:47:43 -0400

The following elements are derived from observations by Leo Barhorst, Kevin Fetter, Sergey Guryanov, Marco Langbroek, Scott Tilley, Brad Young, and Mike Waterman:

USA 276 | 389 X 410 km
1 42689U 17022A 17145.09297211 .00007006 00000-0 97415-4 0 06
2 42689 50.0009 159.4241 0015293 79.4326 280.8364 15.56135339 04
Arc 20170523.76-0525.1 WRMS resid 0.047 totl 0.012 xtrk

The decay term is of doubtful accuracy, due to the shortness of the arc.

In my previous post to this thread, I speculated on the possibility that the orbit may be frozen, and the implications. Propagating the above elements with GMAT 2015a, using a gravity model of degree and order 41, reveals that the orbit is not frozen.

Ted Molczan

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/May-2017/0134.html

ЦитироватьIn my previous post to this thread, I speculated on the possibility that the orbit may be frozen, and the implications. Propagating the above elements with GMAT 2015a, using a gravity model of degree and order 41, reveals that the orbit is not frozen .

Ted Molczan

ЦитироватьFriday, 26 May 2017

Brightness variation of USA 276 (NROL-76)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124453.jpg) (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-riquvXCs0gc/WSg98FYgxXI/AAAAAAAAEZk/oDjY4mjqzDIzaMPLk9l57_jI7p1klAtWgCLcB/s1600/USA276_NROL76_s26052017_0012.jpg)
click image to enlarge

Last night was very clear again. I observed two passes of the new USA 276 (2017-022A) satellite, also known under its NRO launch number NROL-76. It was launched early this month by SpaceX, and I wrote in detail about this mystery payload in my post fr om yesterday (https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/05/observing-usa-276-odd-nrol-76-payload.html).

The image above, taken with a Canon EOS 60D and EF 2.0/35 mm lens, shows the satellite passing over the roof of my house during the first pass (00:36 local time, 22:36 UT). It was bright and an easy naked eye object at mag +2.5 near culmination.

Спойлер

During the second pass, 02:06 local time (00:06 UT) it was somewhat fainter, mag +3 to +3.5, but still visible naked eye. Below are two images from this pass:

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124450.jpg) (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pb7RBfip4hk/WSg98uj_atI/AAAAAAAAEZo/cDaieUYFlX43gn60vgeYMYue4Tv34HC3ACLcB/s1600/USA276_NROL76_s26052017_0031.jpg)
click image to enlarge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124504.jpg) (https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2nOlPSXOwzI/WSg98y_lNjI/AAAAAAAAEZs/NVock-1qygEu6H-lQRoxx01kswJW6Rv5gCLcB/s1600/USA276_NROL76_s26052017_0032.jpg)
click image to enlarge

During this second pass, I visually seemed to note some brightness variation, notably after culmination.

Analysis of the pixel brightness of the trails in my imagery seems to confirm this. They show an irregular brightness variation, notably in the third image (the last of the images above), that looks like it is a combination of several periods.

The diagrams below show the curve obtained from 4 images, and a detail curve of the third image wh ere brightness variation seems most pronounced. Pixel values of the trails were measured with IRIS.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124263.png) (https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kc36unnjuUM/WShAw4fLK8I/AAAAAAAAEZ4/JCxDyxW3kkspihAh0qlMSswj4pIuCkhUQCLcB/s1600/USA276_profile_26May2017.png)
click diagram to enlarge

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/124444.png) (https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-muCazkaHg9w/WShBGEkhN8I/AAAAAAAAEZ8/BarvwsbCNt0U-FqTAkKi-H1jd2FOfUS4QCLcB/s1600/USA276_profile_26May2017_det.png)
click diagram to enlarge

This variation could hint at some form of spin stabilization, or alternatively the presence of some rotating element perhaps.

I did not note this variation during earlier passes, so  it could perhaps strongly depend on the viewing angle.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьFrom: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l
 Date: Fri, 26 May 2017 10:18:16 -0400

The following elements have been derived from observations by Leo Barhorst, Kevin Fetter, Sergey Guryanov, David Hopkins, Marco Langbroek, Alberto Rango, Scott Tilley, Brad Young, and Mike Waterman:

USA 276 | 390 X 410 km
1 42689U 17022A 17146.05615742 .00004806 00000-0 66833-4 0 01
2 42689 49.9996 154.4553 0014810 91.7985 268.4680 15.56142385 01
Arc 20170523.76-0526.08 WRMS resid 0.054 totl 0.015 xtrk

As Marco Langbroek alerted yesterday, USA 276 will pass within tens of kilometres of ISS on Jun 3, unless either one changes its orbit. Below is some data for the closest approaches with range <= ~100 km.

(https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/file/71207)

The time and range of closest approach is fairly sensitive to the decay rate of USA 276, which may not yet have settled down to its actual value, due to the still short observational arc.

After each conjunction, the objects move apart, typically reaching a range of around 400 km, before closing in for the next encounter.

I have not made a close evaluation of visibility. A cursory review of the above does not reveal favourable observing circumstances for any of the regular contributors to the list.

For USA 276, I used the above TLE. For ISS, I used NASA's current estimated TLE for June 3:

https://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/orbit/ISS/SVPOST.html

1 25544U 98067A 17154.59567142 .00016717 00000-0 10270-3 0 9127
2 25544 51.6394 106.0762 0004802 233.4052 126.6659 15.53976959 19638

Ted Molczan

ЦитироватьFrom: Ted Molczan via Seesat-l
 Date: Sun, 28 May 2017 11:37:47 -0400

The following elements have been derived from observations by Leo Barhorst, Kevin Fetter, Sergey Guryanov, David Hopkins, Marco Langbroek, Alberto Rango, Scott Tilley, Brad Young, and Mike Waterman:

USA 276 | 389 X 410 km
1 42689U 17022A 17147.98252060 .00003853 00000-0 53546-4 0 02
2 42689 50.0003 144.4680 0014878 97.4263 262.8397 15.56155710 08
Arc 20170524.02-05271 WRMS resid 0.096 totl 0.018 xtrk

Ted Molczan

ЦитироватьLiss пишет:
Не пора ли ЦУП-М запросить ЦУП-Х, что за фигня и не представляет ли это опасности для экипажа?

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
А вот посмотреть на фигню в бинокль...

Цитироватьhttp://tass.ru/kosmos/4306409
МОСКВА, 2 июня. /ТАСС/. Американский военный спутник-разведчик NROL-76 не представляет опасности для Международной космической станции (МКС), а также для отстыковки и посадки космического пилотируемого корабля "Союз МС-03", который доставит в пятницу на Землю космонавтов. Об этом сообщили ТАСС в Центре управления полетами.

"По результатам проведенного мониторинга околоземного космического пространства, наличие космических аппаратов и космического мусора, которые могли бы представлять потенциальную опасность для МКС и операции по спуску космического корабля "Союз МС-03", не установлено. Существующие объекты никакой опасности для орбитальной станции и корабля не представляют", - сказали в ЦУПе.

Так там прокомментировали информацию зарубежных астрономов-любителей, по данным которых NROL-76 3 июня шесть раз пройдет на расстоянии менее 100 км от МКС. Минимальное сближение военного аппарата со станцией, по данным зарубежных наблюдателей, ожидается в 17:02 мск, когда он пройдет мимо МКС на расстоянии всего 19 км.

Космический аппарат NROL-76 (USA-276), по данным открытых источников, - засекреченный разведывательный спутник Национального управления военно-космической разведки США. Американская сторона не приводит ни название, ни технические характеристики, ни параметры орбиты спутника. Спутник был запущен 1 мая 2017 года ракетой-носителем Falcon 9 компании SpaceX с космодрома на мысе Канаверал.

Зарубежные астрономы-любители отмечают, что космический аппарат изготовлен компанией Ball Aerospace, являющейся производителем установленной в феврале на МКС аппаратуры RAVEN. Она предназначена для демонстрации технологий в области сближения и стыковки и будет мониторить прилетающие и улетающие космические корабли, а также их стыковки со станцией. RAVEN включает в себя видео- и инфракрасные камеры, навигационный датчик.
...

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
А тем временем фигня выползла на свет. Это плохо. Если при околотерминаторной орбите он был постоянно освещён солнцем то теперь на нисходящей ветви витка скрывается в тени. Как мне кажется.

ЦитироватьОАЯ пишет:
Получается, что при дальности 19 км и линейной скорости 500 м/с достаточно вращать МКС со скоростью 238 секунд за оборот (3,97 мин/об), то можно зафиксировать фотоаппарат с телеобъективом и получить длительную выдержку?

ЦитироватьОАЯ пишет:

подсветить направленным прожектором с магниевой вспышкой?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185421.jpg) Spaceflight101‏ @Spaceflight101 (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Spaceflight101/status/871020528991166464)

Secret #NROL76 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NROL76?src=hash) Satellite crosses Paths with International Space Station – Coincidence or Deliberate? http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/secret-nrol-76-iss-flyby/ ... (https://t.co/ZtSh3egqoL)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRUB8uNByVI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRUB8uNByVI)

ЦитироватьSecret NROL-76 Satellite crosses Paths with ISS – Coincidence or Deliberate?

 June 3, 2017 (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/secret-nrol-76-iss-flyby/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152696.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/06/space_station_over_earth.jpg)
Photo: NASA

The clandestine NROL-76 satellite launched one month ago by a Falcon 9 rocket is making a series of close passes by the International Space Station on Saturday, potentially coming as close as 12 Kilometers.

Спойлер

It is not yet clear whether the close encounters are a coincidence or were deliberately set up but the event nevertheless caught the attention of observers who will keep close watch over the mysterious spacecraft's behavior.

Operated under the auspices of the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, NROL-76 – also known as USA-276 – is operating almost in complete secrecy. The NRO acknowledges the craft's existence, but shares no details on its purpose and orbital trajectory as is standard for NRO missions that cover various aspects of intelligence-gathering, technology demonstrations and secure government communications.

NROL-76 was the first major NRO satellite to be launched by SpaceX, blasting off on May 1st atop a Falcon 9 rocket, taking the craft into its secretive orbit. Safety zones identified for the launch suggested the hush-hush payload was headed into a Low Earth orbit at an inclination around 50 degrees and a global network of satellite trackers went into action to try and spot the newly launched craft to get a fix on its orbital parameters.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152693.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/06/IMG_41203.jpg)
NROL-76 easily visible to the naked eye – Photo: Patrick Blau/Spaceflight101

NROL-76 was spotted for the first time on May 23 and satellite trackers quickly coordinated to capture more observations in order to obtain precise orbital parameters that were refined over the last two weeks, showing the satellite in an orbit of 388 by 411 Kilometers (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jun-2017/0021.html), right at the expected inclination of 50.0 degrees. Brightness of the craft indicates it is a sizeable satellite which is no surprise given the choice of launch vehicle.

This particular orbit came as somewhat of a surprise as it was particularly close to that of the International Space Station, intersecting the Station's orbital plane inclined 51.6 degrees and also matching the ISS altitude (402 by 408 Kilometers). The initial orbit of NROL-76 had a planar shift of around 0.2 degrees per day relative to the Space Station and propagating of the orbital geometry showed NROL-76 would have a series of close conjunctions with the ISS around June 3.

Per the latest tracking data from both objects, NROL-76 makes its closest approach to ISS at 14:01 UTC on Saturday over the southern Atlantic at a distance of approximately 12 Kilometers. A total of six approaches between 11 and 16 UTC will see the two objects come within 100 Kilometers of one another.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRUB8uNByVI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRUB8uNByVI)
This animation shows the relative geometry between the NROL-76 satellite and the International Space Station on June 3, 2017 between 11 and 16 UTC.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152685.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/04/nrol-76patch.jpg)
NROL-76 Mission Patch – Credit: NRO

The big question that arose after these conjunctions became known and still remains unanswered is whether the close passes were set up deliberately (for instance to test a rendezvous system or Space Situational Awareness sensor) or if they happened by chance and NROL-76 headed into an orbit optimized for its own mission which just coincides with the Station's current orbit.

An answer to this question should be available in the not-too-distant future based on NROL-76's activity. Should the satellite's mission require frequent or prolonged proximity to ISS, NROL-76 would have to make elaborate maneuvers to either enter a Stationkeeping pattern by making a plane-change or set up another rendezvous through alteration of its RAAN precession.

With the present precession of ISS and NROL-76, a second rendezvous similar in geometry to Saturday's close passes would not come for another five years (some sporadic proximity passes would occur occasionally). Therefore, should NROL-76 be interested in more encounters with ISS, it would have to alter its precession by either lowering or raising its orbit and then move back into an ISS-like orbit.

The possibility of a secretive satellite making close passes of ISS led to much discussion and speculation on its purpose.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152690.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/05/av_worldview3.jpg)
WorldView-3 Satellite (BCP-5000) – Photo: Ball Aerospace

Not much is known about NROL-76 as is the case for any NRO mission, but some details came to light prior to launch. NRO officials disclosed that NROL-76's ride to space was procured through Ball Aerospace – most likely in a 'delivery in orbit' contract scheme under which Ball is responsible for satellite development, production, testing, launch and in-orbit testing before handing the product to the customer.

Ball has built a reputation for small- and medium-class LEO satellites and high-resolution optical instruments flying on Earth-orbit and interplanetary missions. Therefore, a reasonable assumption was NROL-76 being either an optical or radar satellite (based on Ball's BCP-4000 or 5000 platform), most likely carrying out a technology demonstration mission of a sensor package to retire risk for a future NRO program. However, Ball also developed space-based systems for autonomous navigation in recent years which could add merit to the theory of NROL-76 carrying some sort of Space Situational Awareness or navigation payload using ISS as a target.

One speculative theory  (https://sattrackcam.blogspot.de/2017/06/the-plot-thickens-ball-aerospace-usa.html)raised by satellite tracker and analyst Dr. Marco Langbroek ties a connection between NROL-76 and the Space Station's Raven rendezvous navigation pathfinder which was also built by Ball Aerospace.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152695.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/06/Raven.jpg)
Raven Test Package – Photo: NASA

Raven, part of the Space Test Program – Houston 5 (http://spaceflight101.com/dragon-spx10/stp-h5/) payload pallet, combines a laser-based flash LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), a fixed-pointing camera and a SpaceIR Infrared camera to track the 2D and 3D signature of ISS visiting vehicles for testing of the sensors in an operational environment to reduce risk for future autonomous rendezvous systems.

Raven's SpaceIR camera is designed to acquire targets as far out as 40 Kilometers. NROL-76 will come to within 20 Kilometers, so it is theoretically possible for Raven to track the satellite for several minutes around the close approaches.

Whether that is the purpose of the close passage is relatively doubtful as Raven will get much better data from the comings and goings of ISS cargo and crew vehicles, many of which will occur over the course of the payload's projected two-year operation. Though the possibility remains that NROL-76 aims to test Raven's capabilities by flying a unique trajectory not used by any of the ISS visitors.

Additional discussion (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jun-2017/0017.html) by analyst Ted Molczan covering the orbital mechanics & non-planar launch window of the NROL-76 mission.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152697.png) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/06/USA276_ISS_distance_vs_time_det_v3.png)
NROL-76 distance to ISS (covering June 3 into early June 4) – Credit: Marco Langbroek, https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/

Space Situational Awareness is an area that received much attention due to ongoing space militarization efforts undertaken by several nations. (http://spaceflight101.com/cz-5-maiden-flight/shijian-17-rendezvous-with-chinasat-5a/hinasat-5a/) Russia, China and the U.S. operate satellites that regularly park in close proximity to communications satellites in Geostationary Orbit to vacuum up the vast communications passing through them for intelligence-gathering purposes. Lower in altitude, satellites from Russia and China were involved in a series of experiments ranging from rendezvous with other space objects to actually manipulating another object in orbit.

Consequently, with threats of 'killer satellites' and in-space eavesdropping, there is great interest in monitoring adversarial satellite activity through ground and space-based situational awareness sensors. NROL-76 – if indeed using ISS as a target – may be the latest clandestine demonstration of in-space intelligence gathering.

The use of ISS as a target vehicle would certainly be a novelty, coming with potential political ramifications as the Space Station is not a U.S.-owned spacecraft. This fact alone would be a likely factor for the NRO to disguise NROL-76's close flybys as coincidental.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/152694.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/wp-content/uploads/sites/153/2017/06/ISS-1120mm.jpg)
Astronaut Jeff Williams with one of the larger pieces of camera equipment available on ISS – Photo: NASA

On the flip-side, having a classified satellite pass close to another camera-equipped spacecraft could expose potentially secret technology to prying eyes. Available aboard ISS are 1150mm camera lenses which could be used to capture photos of NROL-76 at the moment of closest approach.

Such still imagery would depict a BCP-5000-sized satellite body around 75 pixels in size – not enough to make out specific details but sufficient to show the craft's general shape and any large components like the sunshade of an optical imager, a deployed Synthetic Aperture Radar Antenna or large dishes used for signals intelligence.

How the mission of NROL-76 plays out should become clear in the coming weeks and months through its orbital maneuvers. If the satellite continues to maintain its present orbit with regular maintenance maneuvers to counter drag, the most probable conclusion would be that Saturday's flybys were coincidental.

A maneuver toward a re-rendezvous with ISS (such as a plane change) would make it clear to any outside observer what NROL-76 was up to.

[свернуть]

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/871519846181343232)

On Jun 3 at 1401:48 UTC, the secret USA 276 satellite launched on May 1 passed less than 4.5 km from the International Space Station
 
 
4 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/871520253116854273)

This is based on calculations by Ted Molczan and hobbyist orbit observations. Relative velocity only about 500 m/s.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 37 мин назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/872482934598619140)

I just updated my blog post on spysat USA 276 and the #ISS (https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISS?src=hash) with these two diagrams, showing how USA 276 circled ISS https://sattrackcam.blogspot.nl/2017/06/close-encounters-of-classified-kinda.html ... (https://t.co/AtvdsQAXlV)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/163167.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/163168.jpg)

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Пролёт то хоть был на свету или в тени?

ЦитироватьLiss пишет:

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Пролёт то хоть был на свету или в тени?

На свету.

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:

ЦитироватьLiss пишет:

ЦитироватьСтарый пишет:
Пролёт то хоть был на свету или в тени?

На свету.

Это интересно. А в бинокль не пытались смотреть? Или в телеобъектив?

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 18 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/885247848895459329)

Voor wie het in de vroege ochtend wil proberen: passage ISS en USA 276 rond 4:12 MEZT, zo'n 25-30 graden van elkaar vandaan.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/164550.jpg)

ЦитироватьFor those who want to try in the early morning: Pass ISS and USA 276 at 4:12 AM, about 25-30 degrees apart.

ЦитироватьДля тех, кто хочет попробовать ранним утром: пролёт МКС и USA-276 в 4:12 утра, примерно на 25-30 градусов друг от друга.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg) Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589) 38 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/885507844291866624)

According to @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) the secret USA 276 satellite passed about 25 km from the ISS this morning at 1124 UTC

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185302.jpg) Dr Marco Langbroek‏ @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) 9 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/885178884265824257)

What goes around comes around: spysat USA 276 will make another series of close approaches to the #ISS tomorrow:
http://satobs.org/seesat/Jul-2017/0053.html ...

36 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/885508395746381824)

There doesn't seem to be any evidence the sat is maneuvering; it was just put in an orbit which makes it go very close to ISS now and again

ЦитироватьUSA-276 & ISS Spend Some Quality Time (Again)

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

Опубликовано: 13 июл. 2017 г.

The classified USA-276 (NROL-76) satellite operated by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office is again spending some quality time in proximity of the International Space Station on July 13, following up on an earlier encounter on June 3 that saw the satellite zip past the orbiting laboratory as close as six Kilometers. Thursday's encounters may come as close as 24 Kilometers, plus or minus a few km given some uncertainty in the orbital data for USA-276 created from satellite tracker observations.

For more on the subject, check out Dr. Marco Langbroek's excellent article in The Space Review (http://www.thespacereview.com/article... (http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3277/1)) or visit the Spaceflight101 pages for NROL-76 (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nr... (http://spaceflight101.com/falcon-9-nrol-76/)). The animation above covers the entire day of July 13 with closest approach expected around 11:24 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bvVnyIDH8E#) UTC (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jul-2017... (http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jul-2017/0053.html)).

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/67516.jpg)  Jonathan McDowell‏Подлинная учетная запись @planet4589 (https://twitter.com/planet4589)  13 июл. (https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/885507844291866624)
Jonathan McDowell Ретвитнул(а) Dr Marco Langbroek
According to @Marco_Langbroek (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek) the secret USA 276 satellite passed about 25 km from the ISS this morning at 1124 UTC
Jonathan McDowell добавил(а),

Цитировать  (https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/885178884265824257)
 Dr Marco Langbroek @Marco_Langbroek
What goes around comes around: spysat USA 276 will make another series of close approaches to the #ISS tomorrow: http://satobs.org/seesat/Jul-2017/0053.html ...

Цитата: Старый от 01.06.2022 18:58:51С другой стороны будучи выведенным на 400-км орбиту потерять за 6 лет всего 50 км - он чего, чугунное ядро, чтоли?

Цитата: Старый от 01.06.2022 18:54:1915 мая зверушка была на круговой орбите 350 км. Долго она на такой орбите не протянет. Кто-нибудь следил: она вообще корректировалась?