WGS 2-Atlas-V(421)-04.04.09- 04:31 ЛМВ-Cape Canaveral SLC-41

[Salo]

http://www.losangeles.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123132115

Second Wideband Global SATCOM Satellite Shipped to Cape Canaveral

by Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing
Space and Missile Systems Center

1/21/2009 - LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.  -- The U.S. Air Force's second Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft was shipped Jan. 20 to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. WGS-2 was transported to the launch site in an environmentally-controlled container aboard an Air Force C-5 aircraft. From there, the satellite was transported to the Astrotech Space Facility in Titusville, Fla. for post-shipment processing.

Over the next several weeks, the spacecraft will undergo various verification testing procedures and encapsulation in which the satellite is placed inside the nose cone at the top of the launch vehicle. WGS-2 is currently scheduled to be launched on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle March 9.

This major milestone has come at the end of extensive testing and verification of the satellite's capability. This test program also verifies the satellite's ability to withstand the rigors of launch and exposure to the harsh space environment over its projected 14-year mission life.

WGS-2 satellite will provide the warfighter with the same capabilities as WGS-1 while extending the global coverage. "The WGS-1 satellite capabilities substantially exceeded the warfighter's expectations. The excellent on-orbit performance of the first WGS satellite is a testament to the high degree of mission assurance, excellence in systems engineering, and the teamwork between Boeing, the Air Force, and The Aerospace Corporation that has been applied to this critical DoD program. Boeing is extremely pleased to ship the WGS-2 satellite and support preparation for the March 9 launch" said Mark Spiwak, The Boeing Company's, Director of Wideband Global SATCOM.

WGS is the nation's next-generation wideband SATCOM system. The WGS system is being procured through a commercial contract between Boeing Satellite Systems, Inc. and the Wideband SATCOM Group, part of MILSATCOM Systems Wing. Boeing is on contract to provide six WGS satellites to the government in two blocks. The first block will be complete after the launch of WGS-3, currently scheduled for 2009. The second block includes satellites 4, 5 and 6 which is scheduled to begin launching in 2011.

[Salo]

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/wgs/wgs_factsheet.html

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/factsheets/702/wgs/docs/WGS_overview.pdf

[Salo]

http://www.patrick.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123137591

Atlas V/Wgs-2 Pre-Launch Media Teleconference set for March 3
 
2/27/2009 - CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla. -- A pre-launch media teleconference is scheduled for Tuesday, Mar. 3, 1:30 p.m. EDT to discuss the scheduled launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Wideband Global SATCOM-2 satellite. The launch is set to take place Mar. 13 from Space Launch Complex 41 here, during a launch window that extends from 9:25 - 10:03 p.m. (EDT).

The call in number for the WGS-2 pre-launch press teleconference is (800) 230-1085. Those interested in participating, please RSVP to 45 SW/PA, 321-494-5933.
WGS is the nation's next-generation wideband satellite communications system. It will augment and eventually replace the aging Defense Satellite Communication System which has been the Department of Defense's backbone for satellite communications over the last two decades.

The Atlas V rocket consists of a first stage powered by kerosene and liquid oxygen, which uses a Russian made RD-180 engine, and a liquid hydrogen-liquid oxygen powered Centaur upper stage.

Pre-launch news conference participants include:

45th Space Wing representatives scheduled are:
Lt. Col. John Wagner, Commander, 45th Launch Support Squadron
Lt. Col. David Hook, Commander, 5th Space Launch Squadron

Space and Missile Systems Center representatives scheduled are:
Col. William Harding, Vice Commander, MILSATCOM
Col. Michael Moran, Commander, Atlas Group

United Launch Alliance representative scheduled is:
Mr. James Bell, ULA Communications

Boeing Spacecraft representative scheduled is:
Mr. Mark Spiwak, WGS Mission Manager, Boeing

[Salo]

Стартовое окно 4:25-5:03 утра по Москве.

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/launch/index.shtml

March 14
Atlas V
WGS SV-2
Launch Time: 9:25 p.m.
Launch Window: Around 9:25 p.m. to 10:03 p.m.
Launch Complex: 41 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Mission: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a communications satellite known as the Wideband Global SATCOM for the U.S. military.

15 марта. Стартовое окно  4:25 - 5:03 ДМВ.

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av016/status.html

TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 2009

Once space shuttle Discovery flies away from the Kennedy Space Center, attention at the Florida spaceport will turn to Saturday night's planned launch of an Atlas 5 rocket carrying a sophisticated communications satellite to serve U.S. military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The 19-story rocket, mounted atop a mobile launching platform, is scheduled for rollout Friday from the assembly building to the pad at Complex 41 to begin final pre-flight preparations.

Saturday's launch window extends from 9:25 to 10:03 p.m. EDT.

The United Launch Alliance-built rocket will perform a half-hour flight to supersynchronous transfer orbit for deployment of the Air Force's second Wideband Global SATCOM communications spacecraft, known as WGS 2.

A half-dozen WGS satellites are being constructed by Boeing to provide a major increase in communications capacity for the Defense Department and replace the satellite infrastructure in orbit today.

"The launch of WGS 2 continues what WGS 1 began in October 2007, augmenting and eventually replacing the aging legacy Defense Satellite Communications System, or DSCS, constellation, which has been the Department of Defense's backbone for satellite communications over the past two decades," said Col. William Harding, vice commander of the Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles.

"The WGS system provides a quantum leap in communications bandwidth for Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, and is the DOD's highest capacity communications satellite. A single WGS spacecraft provides more than 10 times the capacity of the entire DSCS constellation, and this allows the warfighter to process and receive data quicker than ever before."

WGS 1 entered service last year to cover the vast Pacific Command that spans the U.S. western coast all the way to Southeast Asia.

Following this weekend's launch, the new WGS 2 satellite will be maneuvered into a circular geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above the planet where it can match the Earth's rotation and appear parked over one area of the globe. It should be ready for use by U.S. Central Command in September.

"We are putting WGS 2 over the CENTCOM area of responsibilities," Harding said. "It will be providing coverage for the warfighters currently in Afghanistan, Iraq and other parts of Southwest Asia."

Getting this new spacecraft into orbit is the responsibility of the Atlas 5 rocket, one the Air Force's next generation space-lift workhorses set to make its 15th flight.

"This mission represents the epitome of teamwork as ULA and the Air Force launch vehicle and payload teams have worked hand-in-hand to bring us to this point where we are only a few days away from launch," said James Bell, ULA's WGS mission manager.

"We anticipate our Atlas 5 vehicle performing exceptionally well, allowing WGS to provide the enhanced communications capabilities our troops in the field need to defend our great nation for decades to come."

The rocket will fly in what's known as the 421 vehicle configuration. It's distinguished by a four-meter payload shroud, two solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.

Roaring away from Cape Canaveral on nearly 1.7 million pounds of thrust, the solid-fuel boosters give an added kick for the first 90 seconds, while the first stage's kerosene-fed main engine will continue firing through the initial four minutes of ascent. The Centaur upper stage with its single cryogenic engine then takes over, completing a pair of burns to reach the desired orbit with the 12,790-pound satellite payload.

Weather forecasters predict an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions for Saturday's launch. Cumulus clouds pose only a small threat of violating the liftoff rules.

"The peninsula remains under high pressure and fair weather with a cold front extending from the Carolinas into Louisiana by mid to late week. The front is expected to slowly drift south by launch day; however, remaining just north of the peninsula. In advance of the front, winds become southerly by the weekend with a gradual increase in moisture and a threat of isolated showers," the launch weather team reported Tuesday.

"For MLP roll, east-southeast winds prevail gusting in the mid-teens with a small threat of an isolated coastal shower. On launch day, the front remains near stationary just north of the peninsula with a gradual increase in moisture and a threat of isolated showers. No thunderstorms are expected. The primary concerns for launch day are cumulus clouds."

The launch time outlook calls for scattered clouds at 3,000 and 25,000 feet, possible isolated showers, visibility of 7 miles, southerly winds from 160 degrees at 14-18 knots and a temperature of 70-71 degrees F.

If the launch is delayed to Sunday night for some reason, there's a 70 percent chance of favorable weather.

"In the event of a 24-hour delay, the front encroaches into the panhandle with a slight increased threat of showers. The primary concerns for a 24-hour delay are cumulus clouds," the forecasters said.

[Salo]

[Чебурашка]

"Атлас" собираются пускать в один день с шаттлом  :?:
Или кто-то кому-то должен уступить  :lol:

[Salo]

WGS-2 ессно ушёл вправо:
http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/launch/index.shtml

March 17
Atlas V
WGS SV-2
Launch Time: 9:24 p.m.
Launch Window: 9:24 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Launch Complex: 41 Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
Mission: A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying a communications satellite known as the Wideband Global SATCOM for the U.S. military.

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/03/live-at-cape-atlas-aims-to-launch.shtml

Monday, March 16, 2009
Live at The Cape: Atlas Aims To Launch Tuesday
 A powerful Atlas V rocket is perched on a seaside launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as engineers prepare to pick up the countdown to a planned launch Tuesday night.

The 192-foot United Launch Alliance rocket is scheduled to blast off from Launch Complex 41 at 9:24 p.m. EDT Tuesday. The launch window will extend until 10:01 p.m.

You can watch the launch live here in The Flame Trench. We'll webcast live United Launch Alliance coverage beginning about 25 minutes prior to launch and we'll have countdown updates in the blog throughout the day.

Forecasters at the Air Force 45th Space Wing Weather Squadron will be keeping close tabs on a cold front that is expected to sweep into northern Florida and then migrate into east central Florida on Tuesday. They say there is a 40 percent chance thick, electrically charged clouds or gusty ground winds could keep the Atlas V on the ground. In that case, the launch window on Wednesday would extend from 9:24 p.m. to 10 p.m.

 You can check out all the details in the weather squadron's Official Launch Forecast.

The Atlas V 421 vehicle comprises a common core stage powered by a sporty Russian RD-180 rocket engine, two Aerojet solid rocket boosters, a Centaur upper stage powered by a single Pratt & Whitney RL10 engine and a four-meter-diameter payload fairing.

Nestled in the nosecone is a Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft that is the second in a series of new-generation military communications satellites that will serve U.S. troops soldiering in theaters around the world.

The WGS satellites are replacing Defense Satellite Communications System spacecraft and are expected to operate for 10 to 15 years in orbit.

The Air Force paid $790 million for three of the Boeing-built spacecraft. The first of those was launched aboard an Atlas V 421 rocket in October of 2007. The third is tentatively scheduled for launch aboard a Delta IV at LC-41 in July or August.

 The cost of launch services for the mission is $120 million, Air Force officials said in a recent media teleconference.

The Atlas V rocket began its slow move out of the 300-foot-tall Vertical Integration Facility at Launch Complex 41 shortly after 10 a.m. and made the one-third-of-a-mile trip out to the launch pad in about a half hour.

The mission is one of six Atlas V launches planned during the year. Five of those will be flown from Cape Canaveral. Next up for Atlas at the Cape: the May 20 launch of NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

На сайте картинки раскрываются в большой размер.

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/03/live-at-cape-atlas-delay-at-least-48.shtml

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Live At The Cape: Atlas Delay At Least 48 Hours

Launch of an Atlas V rocket and a new-generation military communications satellite is being delayed until at least Friday to give engineers time to investigate the failure of an upper stage engine valve.

The 19-story rocket and its payload -- a Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft -- had been slated to blast off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 9:24 p.m.

But a valve in the rocket's single Centaur upper stage engine sprang a leak about 20 minutes into fuel-loading operations. The leak was serious enough to prompt mission managers to immediately call a scrub.

Engineers estimate that it will take most of the night to drain propellant from the Centaur stage and then inert it to make certain no explosive gases remain within it.

The course of action likely will be to remove a box within the engine that holds the valve and try to determine what caused the leak. The timing of the next launch attempt will be dependent on how long it takes to execute a recovery plan.

Engineers also will be sorting out a couple of other problems with gaseous nitrogen and gaseous helium systems. Range safety officers also will need to resolve trouble with one of two instruments required to make certain command destruct signals are properly encoded. The destruct signals would be beamed up to the rocket if it careened out of control and threatened populated areas.

posted by Todd Halvorson at 8:31 PM

[Чебурашка]

Сабж уплыл на NET (не ранее) 26 марта. Завтра увезут со стартовой площадки в МИК для замены протекающего клапана.

Вероятно, данный перенос также может отразиться на дате пуска LRO

[anik]

На http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php появилась новая дата пуска - 1 апреля (стартовое окно: 04:32 - 05:35 ЛМВ).

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/03/atlas-v-launch-delayed-for-valve.shtml

Sunday, March 29, 2009
Atlas V Launch Delayed For Valve Analyses
 The planned launch Tuesday of an Atlas V rocket and a military communications satellite is being delayed at least three days to give engineers more time to analyze valve trouble that forced a launch scrub earlier this month.

The 192-foot-tall Atlas V and its payload -- a Wideband Global SATCOM spacecraft -- now is slated to fly no earlier than Friday night. The launch window that night would extend from 8:31 p.m. to 9:33 p.m.

The satellite-delivery mission had been scheduled to blast off March 17, but a launch attempt was scrubbed when a liquid oxygen valve in the rocket's Centaur upper stage leaked during propellant-loading operations.

Launch services contractor United Launch Alliance swapped out the suspect valve and engineers have been analyzing the situation.

Air Force officials said in a statement that the three-day slip would give engineers and managers time needed to make certain the mission will be successful.

posted by Todd Halvorson at 11:15 AM

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/03/atlas-v-targeting-friday-launch-from.shtml

Monday, March 30, 2009
Atlas V Targeting Friday Launch From Cape
The Air Force and United Launch Alliance plan to hold a flight readiness review Wednesday to set the launch date for a next-generation military communication satellite from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

A Friday liftoff is targeted for an Atlas V rocket carrying the Global Wideband SATCOM-2 spacecraft.

The launch window Friday would run from 8:31 p.m. to 9:33 p.m.

A faulty valve on the rocket's Centaur second stage led to an oxidizer leak during fueling that scrubbed a March 17 launch attempt.

The valve was replaced late last week with a slightly different one, and officials say it has performed well during initial leak tests. The next test will be during the loading of cryogenic propellants on launch day.

ULA is expected to complete in a week or two an investigation into the root cause behind the valve leak, which has not been determined.

The valve in question had exhibited some leakage during a wet dress rehearsal, but within acceptable parameters, said Mark Wilkins, ULA's vice president overseeing the Atlas V program.

"We do want to close this investigation, and depending on the findings there's a potential that it could affect our future missions," Wilkins said. "Certainly we'll be looking much more at any valves that have any out-of-family leakage prior to installing them."

However, Wilkins said ULA has plenty of back-up valves in stock for the Centaur's RL-10 engine.

The Atlas V must launch Friday for NASA to maintain a targeted May 21 liftoff of its unmanned Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on another Atlas V, a date that would have no contingency for delays, a NASA spokesman said.

May 22 and May 23 are also possible dates, or NASA could consider slipping the launch to early June. A decision will be made after the WGS launch.

An Air Force weather forecast released today shows a 40-percent chance of favorable launch conditions on Friday, and a 70-percent chance on Saturday. You can read the forecast here.

And here's a ULA mission booklet with more background about the launch.

posted by James Dean at 1:41 PM

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/04/live-at-cape-atlas-v-counting-down.shtml

Friday, April 03, 2009
Live at the Cape: Atlas V Counting Down
 A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is counting down to an 8:31 p.m. liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Despite the overcast skies currently covering the Cape, Air Force forecasters expect a 70-percent chance of weather good enough for launch.

The launch window extends until 9:33 p.m.

The 15h flight of an Atlas V will send an advanced military communications satellite into orbit 22,300 miles above Earth in about 15 minutes.

The Wideband Global SATCOM, or WGS, spacecraft would be the second to blast off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. It is intended to support troops serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Southeast Asia.

The satellite is scheduled to separate from the Centaur upper stage about 31 minutes into the flight.

Early powering of the rocket, flight control system tests and preparation for fueling have proceeded normally.

Fueling of the booster and Centaur upper stage is scheduled to start around 6:30 p.m.

It was during that fueling process on March 17 that a leaking Centaur oxidizer valve was discovered, forcing a scrub of the mission's first launch attempt.

The valve was replaced and passed initial leak checks. The loading of super-cold liquid oxygen tonight is the valve's next test.

Check back here for updates throughout the countdown, and sign up for text message alerts in the box on the right side of the page.

A launch webcast will begin about 25 minutes before liftoff.

Mariners are advised to stay out of the designated launch hazard area off the coast between 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., or face fines of up to $50,000.

Take a look at this ULA mission booklet for more background on the launch.

[Salo]

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/04/live-at-cape-atlas-v-blasts-off.shtml

Friday, April 03, 2009
Live at the Cape: Atlas V Blasts Off!
 A United Launch Alliance Atlas V blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Launch Complex 41 on schedule at 8:31 p.m.

The 19-story rocket lit up the sky just south of the Kennedy Space Center launch pad where shuttle Atlantis is resting, as it hauled the second Wideband Global SATCOM military communications satellite toward an orbit about 22,000 miles above Earth.

Two solid rocket boosters jettisoned on schedule a little over two minutes into flight, and the first stage booster separated about four-and-a-half minutes into flight.

The payload fairing separated a short time later.

The Centaur upper stage and other systems are reportedly performing well.

http://www.floridatoday.com/content/blogs/space/2009/04/live-at-cape-atlas-v-launch-success.shtml

Friday, April 03, 2009
Live at the Cape: Atlas V Launch a Success
 A military communications satellite has successfully separated from an Atlas V rocket's Centaur upper stage in its intended orbit, about 31 minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Mission managers could be heard applauding after separation.

"Everything is looking good," a United Launch Alliance commentator said.

The second Wideband Global SATCOM satellite is intended to serve American troops in war theaters including Iraq and Afghanistan when it becomes operational in September.

It's the second of three next-generation satellites built through a $790 million Air Force program that will replace an existing constellation. At least five, possibly six, are planned.

"We're helping to give the most versatile and sophisticated technology to our warfighters," Brig. Gen. Edward Bolton Jr., 45th Space Wing commander, said in a sttatement after spacecraft separation. "Congratulations to the entire team for their hard work and dedication to the mission."

"ULA congratulates the Air Force and our mission partners on the successful launch of WGS-2," added James Bell, ULA WGS mission manager, in another statement. "WGS is a force multiplier for our troops in the field who defend America's freedom everyday."

Tonight's launch was the 15th by an Atlas V since 2002. The rockets were developed, along with ULA's Delta IV, under the Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program.

It was ULA's fourth unmanned launch this year from Cape Canaveral.

posted by James Dean at 9:10 PM

[Salo]

И здесь успех! Поздравляю!  :wink: