lancements US en février

3 lancements prévus en février à Vandenberg et Canaveral AF et notemment KEPLER:

Mission: NOAA-N Prime Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Feb. 4, 2009
Launch Window: 2:22:01 - 2:32:01 a.m. PST

In the early morning hours of Jan. 15, the NOAA-N Prime spacecraft was
transported from the Building 1610 payload processing facility to
Space Launch Complex 2. It was hoisted from the pad surface and mated
to the Delta II rocket. Spacecraft 'state of health' checks are under
way.

The liquid oxygen tanking test and countdown demonstration and
simulated flight test have been successfully completed. The Flight
Program Verification, an integrated test of the Delta II and NOAA-N
Prime, is scheduled for Jan. 22. This is the last major test before
launch. The fairing is scheduled to be installed around the
spacecraft on Jan. 27.



Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg AFB
Launch Date: Feb. 23, 2009
Launch Time: 1:51 a.m. PST (7 min., 30 sec. launch window)

In the Astrotech payload processing facility, fueling of the OCO
spacecraft was completed this week as planned. The spacecraft will be
placed into the payload fairing on Feb. 7.

On the Taurus launch vehicle in Building 1555 on north Vandenberg, a
flight simulation test is scheduled for Jan. 19. Stage 1 is then
planned to be mated to Stage 2 on Jan. 22.

Stage 0, the stage providing the initial liftoff thrust, will be
hoisted into position at the launch pad on Jan. 28. The payload/upper
launch vehicle integrated stack is planned to be hoisted on top of
Stage 0 on Feb. 16.



Mission: Kepler
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: March 5, 2009
Launch Time: 10:48 p.m. EDT

Testing of the Kepler spacecraft is under way. Post-arrival
state-of-health checks were finished with no issues. Completed this
week were a solar array light sensor test, a solar array illumination
test, and a reaction control subsystem leak test. A Kepler mission
scenario test is scheduled for Jan. 24-25.

Launch preparations for the Delta II rocket continue on schedule at
Pad 17-B. On Jan. 19, the first stage will be loaded with liquid
oxygen as a leak check, and to serve as a countdown demonstration and
certification for the launch team. A flight simulation that will
exercise the electrical and mechanical systems of the rocket as they
will operate after liftoff during flight will be conducted on Jan.
20

mise au point à ce jour 31.01:


EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: NOAA-N Prime
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7320
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 2, Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.
Launch Date: Feb. 4, 2009
Launch Window: 2:22:01 - 2:32:01 a.m. PST

The Flight Readiness Review for the Delta II and NOAA-N Prime was
successfully completed Jan. 29. There are no issues or concerns
toward completing final launch preparations including loading the
Delta II second stage with hypergolic propellants on Saturday. There
is one final review to be held on Monday, the Launch Readiness
Review, to assure all is ready to pick up with the start of the
launch countdown operations on Tuesday afternoon. A countdown dress
rehearsal is under way today. The NOAA-N Prime polar-orbiting weather
satellite is enclosed in the Delta II payload fairing and is ready
for launch.

The preliminary weather outlook for Feb. 4 has conditions forecast to
be generally favorable for launch, but becoming less favorable the
following day due to an approaching low pressure system.



Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif.
Launch Date: Feb. 23, 2009
Launch Time: 1:51 a.m. PST (7 min., 30 sec. launch window)

OCO spacecraft battery conditioning begins next week in preparation
for launch. Work is also under way to prepare the spacecraft to be
mated to the payload attach fitting. The spacecraft will be
encapsulated into the payload fairing beginning on Feb. 7.

In launch preparations for the Taurus launch vehicle, Stage 0, the
stage providing the initial liftoff thrust, was hoisted into position
at the launch pad Thursday.

Meanwhile, Stage 1 and Stage 2 have been integrated. The first phase
of Flight Simulation No. 2 has been completed. The second phase will
be completed on Feb. 5. Flight Simulation No. 3 is currently planned
for Feb. 11.

The encapsulated OCO spacecraft is planned to be integrated with the
Taurus third stage on Feb. 13. Finally, the payload/upper launch
vehicle integrated stack is planned to be hoisted atop Stage 0 on
Feb. 16.



Mission: Kepler
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: March 5, 2009
Launch Time: 10:48:43 p.m. EDT

Compatibility tests with the Deep Space Network have been successfully
completed. The Kepler mission scenario test has also been finished.
Also this week, sun sensor testing and an attitude determination and
control subsystem test were done.

Kepler will be moved to a hazardous processing facility on Feb. 2 for
fueling of the spacecraft which will last for most of the week.

At Pad 17-B, routine work to prepare the Delta II rocket for the
upcoming launch continues. Work is under way to prepare the second
stage of the launch vehicle to receive the Kepler spacecraft, which
is scheduled for Feb. 18

encore un report ... mais de 24 heures seulement:

NOAA-N PRIME SATELLITE LAUNCH DELAYED AT LEAST 24 HOURS

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The launch of the NOAA-N Prime
polar-orbiting weather satellite was scrubbed at 2 a.m. PST Wednesday
when a launch pad gaseous nitrogen pressurization system failed. This
system maintains pressurization and purges to various systems of the
Delta II rocket prior to launch. Immediate repair to this system is
under way.

The next launch attempt will be no earlier than Thursday, Feb. 5, at
2:22 a.m. PST, weather permitting.

The launch team will gather midday today to review the facility
readiness and the weather forecast for launch.

lancement réussi:

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la suite:

EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE STATUS REPORT

Mission: Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) Launch Vehicle: Taurus XL (Orbital Sciences)
Launch Pad: Space Launch Complex 576-E, Vandenberg Air Force Base,
Calif.
Launch Date: Feb. 24, 2009
Launch Time: 1:51:30 a.m. PST

At the launch pad on Feb. 18, the Taurus XL launch vehicle upper
stack, consisting of stages 1, 2 and 3 with the encapsulated OCO
spacecraft, was hoisted atop Stage 0. Also, a launch countdown dress
rehearsal was conducted.

A Combined Systems Test, an integrated electrical test of the entire
launch vehicle working together with the OCO spacecraft, is scheduled
for Friday. The Launch Readiness Review is scheduled for Feb. 22. The
call to stations for the launch team is 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 23. At
this time, there are no issues that would prevent launch.



Mission: Kepler
Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925
Launch Pad: 17-B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: March 5, 2009
Launch Time: 10:48:43 p.m. EST

The Kepler spacecraft was attached to its upper-stage booster on Feb.
16. The integrated stack was installed into the transportation
canister and placed on the payload transporter on Feb. 18. Kepler was
moved to Launch Complex 17 on Feb. 19 and currently is in a staging
facility. Due to inclement weather consisting of high winds,
spacecraft integration to the Delta II vehicle was postponed. Mating
of the spacecraft to the Delta II rocket is scheduled to occur over
the weekend.



Mission: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter/Lunar Crater Observation and
Sensing Satellite (LRO/LCROSS)
Launch Vehicle: Atlas V
Launch Pad: Launch Complex 41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.
Launch Date: Under Review
Launch Time: TBD

NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, or LCROSS, left
Northrop Grumman's facility in Redondo Beach, Calif., on Feb. 17 via
truck and arrived at the Astrotech Facility in Titusville, Fla., near
Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 19.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO, arrived at the facility
on Feb. 13. The spacecraft was uncrated and transferred to a
hazardous processing facility the same day where covers were removed
and technicians performed a black-light inspection. The spacecraft's
solar arrays were attached and deployed, and a spacecraft activation
test was conducted on Feb. 15.

The Centaur stage is scheduled to arrive at Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station Friday. Offloading and transport to the Astrotech facility is
scheduled for Saturday.

Observation du carbone,et,de la Lune,deux directions fort intéressantes,en cette période de changement climatique,si complexe,et,de perspective de retour vers l'astre Sélène...

Echec du tir d'OCO suite à la non-séparation du satellite de la fusée porteuse...

Départ:

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annonce de l'échec:

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Euronews:

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Pour Magnus:

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AFP

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un problème de séparation de la coiffe je crois avoir compris .... une commission d'enquète à été nommée

Source REUTER:

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la fusée Taurus XL:

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source Orbital.Com

Uniquement sept missions depuis 1994 ! !!!
Pourquoi seulement 7 missions en 15 ans ???

SpaceNut a écrit:

Uniquement sept missions depuis 1994 ! !!!
Pourquoi seulement 7 missions en 15 ans ???

C'est surprenant. mais ce que la "publicité" ne mentionne pas, c'est : Combien d'échecs y a-t-il eu durant cette même période ?

SpaceNut a écrit:

Uniquement sept missions depuis 1994 ! !!!
Pourquoi seulement 7 missions en 15 ans ???

Snoopy a écrit:

C'est surprenant. mais ce que la "publicité" ne mentionne pas, c'est : Combien d'échecs y a-t-il eu durant cette même période ?

ne perdez pas de vue qu'ils ont aussi la famille aéroportées PEGASUS ... et puis, la plupart de leur vol ont une 'consonance' militaire (avec Taurus ?) ces derniers auraient-ils un 'monopole' sur certain créneau de lancement ? ? ? ?

Sur ce lien :

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on peut lire que c'est le 2ème échec de la fusée Taurus sur 58 tirs en 10 ans !!!

La vérité est ailleurs, comme disait l'autre ... Oui, mais où ?

Sur ce lien :

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l'échec de la fusée Taurus en 2001

Snoopy a écrit:

on peut lire que c'est le 2ème échec de la fusée Taurus sur 58 tirs en 10 ans !!!

Les tirs ont d'ailleurs lieu tous les 4èmes jeudi des mois impairs



Orbital opère les Taurus et les Pegasus:

Les Taurus, capacité de moins de 1400 kg en orbite à 185 km (incl. 28.5°) et seulement 431 en GTO. Env. 20 millions de dollars (de 1999) le lancement.
8 tirs, 2 échecs.

Les Pegasus (lancées depuis un avion), capacité de 375 kg en orbite à 200 km, pour un coût de 11 millions de dollars (de 1994).
41 tirs, 4 échecs.

Ce sont des lanceurs de faible capacité, sur un crénau peu demandé (LEO à faible inclinaison). Je pense que la Pegasus suffit pour la plupart des petits sats (US) devant atteindre une telle orbite, et que la Taurus n'est sortie qu'en cas de léger dépassement de cette capacité.


Ne nous moquons pas: un échec de la prochaine Ariane serait vraiment une très grosse perte (Herschel et Planck).

Mic8 a écrit:

Les tirs ont d'ailleurs lieu tous les 4èmes jeudi des mois impairs

Tant que ce n'est pas la semaine des 4 jeudis ....

Mic8 a écrit:

Ne nous moquons pas: un échec de la prochaine Ariane serait vraiment une très grosse perte (Herschel et Planck).

Mon intention n'était pas de me moquer. Ce genre d'incident montre que la complexité de ce genre d'opérations est loin de mériter la banalisation dont la presse l'habille.

Et je suis bien d'accord avec toi, même la fusée Ariane peut ne pas être épargnée par un tel événement, malgré le nombre de succès consécutifs dont elle s'honore.