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  Last Atlas Centaur launch from LC 36

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Author Topic:   Last Atlas Centaur launch from LC 36
Tom
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posted 01-22-2005 10:37 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For those of us on the east coast of the United States, this Thursdays final launch from CCAFS Complex-36 may be visible.

Atlas-Centaur 206 with an NRO payload is scheduled for a night launch (time TBD)and will be headed into a high inclination (I believe 62 degrees)orbit.

Previous night launches of the shuttle that fly to the ISS have given us a great view of MECO from Long Island, New York.

Ben
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From: Cape Canaveral, FL
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posted 01-22-2005 01:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A rare 63 degrees to be exact. The last Atlas 2 in August also went that way (57 deg).

You're going to have to get up really early in the morning though

I'll be at the Cape for it. It will be a historic night!

Tom
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posted 01-22-2005 02:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Ben: Has a launch window been set for Thursdays launch? Thanks.

Tom

Ben
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posted 01-22-2005 02:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Early morning hours.

Tom
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posted 01-22-2005 02:52 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hope it's clear...I'll be watching! Looking forward to seeing your photos of the launch, Ben.

Tom

Tom
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posted 01-24-2005 09:24 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Just read that the launch was postponed until Feb. 3.

I'll be watching with binoculars, and will send in a report if skies are clear.

Tom

Ben
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posted 01-24-2005 11:38 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
No earlier than the 3rd. Right now the range is scheduled for downtime next week so we'll see.

I'd prefer a weekend night!

Ben
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posted 01-28-2005 09:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The range has confirmed Thursday February 3rd for liftoff of the final Atlas off pad 36 and sixth and final Atlas 3.

Launch time and other info will be released Monday but it is expected to be in the early morning hours.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac206/status.html

Tom
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posted 01-29-2005 09:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for the update, Ben. Looking forward to seeing it up here.

Ben
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posted 02-01-2005 05:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Liftoff of the Atlas 3 rocket carrying a national security payload is on track for Thursday, Feb 3 at 2:41am EST.

A webcast of the launch is available at:
www.ilslaunch.com

...on the righthand side. And as always you can follow the play-by-play at: www.spaceflightnow.com

There is an 80% chance of unacceptable weather for the first try, but since the only concern is cloud cover they will likely make the attempt. Weather improves for Thurs night at 60% no-go, and is much better for Friday night (Sat. morning).

Tom
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posted 02-01-2005 07:03 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks, Ben. Weather up here calls for partly cloudy skies... so hopefully we'll get a view Thursday a.m.

Robert Pearlman
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posted 02-03-2005 02:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
From Spaceflight Now...

Last Atlas 3 rocket launches

0741 GMT (2:41 a.m. EST)
T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ignition and LIFTOFF! The final Atlas rocket flies away from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after four decades of flights.

Ben
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posted 02-03-2005 04:31 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It was a most disappointing end to Atlas rockets off of pad 36. Could not even see the pad, much less the bright flame of the rocket until it was high in the air, maybe 30 seconds into flight.

I could not believe they launched in dense fog. From 95 no-go on the weather to an on time launch. Kind of amazing.

Oh well, long live 36 and the heritage Atlas rocket!

Ben
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posted 02-03-2005 03:14 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I would have done tower rollback, but I figured it would be scrubbed so I didn't leave.

As it turned out, they rolled it only to the 'tangent' position and were planning to fuel in the tower (they wound up rolling it back before fueling); so, no one got to see roll and I didn't miss anything but going later.

They gave the call to proceed at the 11:15 briefing, and I was out the door a little after midnight.

Ben
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posted 02-03-2005 05:43 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A poor launch for photos unless you had remote cameras at the pad. The press couldn't even see it from two miles away, much less five for me.

http://www.launchphotography.com/Atlas3final.html

Tom
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posted 02-03-2005 07:10 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well, we had clear skys here on Long Island, but I guess the single engine thrust of the Centaur wasn't bright enough to be seen on it's way to orbit.

Ben
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posted 02-03-2005 07:20 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Sorry to hear Tom, it's pretty neat when the shuttle passes by up there.

The satellite watchers in Canada spotted it and proved the obvious speculation they were a pair of Naval Ocean Surveillance Sats to spy on ships.

Tom
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posted 02-04-2005 04:22 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Tom   Click Here to Email Tom     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Great time-lapse photo of the launch, Ben.

One thing you can't control are conditions like the weather. But this launch goes down in history as being launched in the fog.

I remember back in 1997, I was at KSC for the STS-85 launch, and it was kind of hazy that morning at the press site.

Not the best conditions for viewing and photographing a launch, but still great being there.

Ben
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posted 02-04-2005 06:08 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I've seen video of STS-85 from the causeway. Not just hazy but lots of clouds it seemed.

Can't have it all.

AscentFive
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posted 02-06-2005 12:06 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for AscentFive   Click Here to Email AscentFive     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The trajectory in your time exposure photo seems unusual. Not a direct curve, but rather a "curly-Q," that doesn't seem right. Perhaps the rocket made a swing in its direction (or could the camera have moved slightly)? The photo is nice, like some of the time exposures & star trail photos we saw at your website. A narrow streak of fire.

Ben
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posted 02-06-2005 01:00 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Ben   Click Here to Email Ben     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
That's the way it went. I think it did that Aug 31 too. If the camera moved the trees and lights would be blurry.

All times are CT (US)

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