|
Author
|
Topic: [Discuss] NASA's Orion Exploration Flight Test
|
Tykeanaut
Member Posts: 2235
From: Worcestershire, England, UK.
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 12-03-2014 02:16 PM
   
Watching the animation took me back a few years when I saw the 'chutes open!Will there be a images of the ISS taken I wonder? |
p51
Member Posts: 1769
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 12-03-2014 02:32 PM
quote:
Originally posted by alanh_7:
Usually if I cannot watch on NASA TV I stream online.
I live way out in the sticks and can't count on a good signal at any given moment and our cable internet goes out every now and then.I was badly hoping to know if any mainstream TV network was going to show this. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-03-2014 02:54 PM
I know this doesn't help, but on the East Coast the launch will aired live as part of ABC's Good Morning America. (NBC's Today Show and CBS's This Morning may be doing so as well, but I only spoke to ABC's producer.) quote:
Originally posted by Tykeanaut:
Will there be a images of the ISS taken I wonder?
Orion's two cameras will be focused on the Earth below, and the space station won't be within line of sight of either launch or reentry, so the Expedition 42 crew won't be able to photograph either. |
Chariot412
Member Posts: 164
From: Lockport, NY, 14094
Registered: Jun 2011
|
posted 12-03-2014 05:19 PM
I'll be at the Saturn V Center, should we meet somewhere at around 6 a.m.? Maybe near the Snoopy astronaut? |
GACspaceguy
Member Posts: 2954
From: Guyton, GA
Registered: Jan 2006
|
posted 12-03-2014 07:46 PM
We can be there at 6AM as well. |
bunnkwio
Member Posts: 114
From: Naperville, IL USA
Registered: Jul 2008
|
posted 12-04-2014 01:44 AM
I can be there! Right now I'm clueless as to when to head over to KSC, but better to be (super) early, right? |
SpaceyInMN
Member Posts: 367
From: Andover, MN
Registered: Dec 2013
|
posted 12-04-2014 05:36 AM
I'm excitedly watching live coverage from Minnesota and can't wait to read the first-hand reports of you lucky cSers fortunate enough to be at this historic launch in person! |
Robonaut
Member Posts: 259
From: Solihull, West Mids, England
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 12-04-2014 08:39 AM
Launch is scrubbed for today. They will try again tomorrow. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3604
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 12-04-2014 08:39 AM
It's a scrub. No candle-lighting today... |
alanh_7
Member Posts: 1267
From: Ajax, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Apr 2008
|
posted 12-04-2014 08:41 AM
Any word on the window for tomorrow? |
Robonaut
Member Posts: 259
From: Solihull, West Mids, England
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 12-04-2014 08:44 AM
Window opens 07:05 EST Friday (1205 GMT). |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2486
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 12-04-2014 08:50 AM
And how many launch scrubs were there in Apollo for encroaching boats, gusting winds and sticking valves?Technology marches on.  |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1815
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 12-04-2014 09:11 AM
quote:
Originally posted by moorouge:
And how many launch scrubs were there in Apollo for encroaching boats, gusting winds and sticking valves?
There was a scrub due to a blind flange installed. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1221
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
|
posted 12-04-2014 10:28 AM
The hydrogen fill and drain valves in the Delta 4's left and center common core boosters did not close when commanded. Haven't these valves given ULA problems on previous Delta 4 Heavy launches? |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 2125
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 12-04-2014 10:56 AM
Anyone have an image of these valves? About what size (diameter) are they? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-04-2014 11:14 AM
No photo, but as described during the post-scrub press briefing, they are relatively large ball valves, somewhere in the 8 to 10 inch range. |
David C
Member Posts: 1397
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 12-04-2014 11:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Headshot:
Haven't these valves given ULA problems on previous Delta 4 Heavy launches?
Yes, but my understanding is that the actions that worked last time didn't do it this morning. |
Headshot
Member Posts: 1221
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
|
posted 12-04-2014 11:56 AM
So this type of problem occurred on some previous Delta 4 Heavy rockets, ULA developed this cycling procedure to make things work and this time the procedure failed. That means the ULA engineers really did not understand the nature of the problem in the first place. Similar scenarios occurred during the shuttle program and I thought we had learned valuable lessons, yet they keep on happening, albeit on an unmanned booster this time. Am I the only one who finds this disturbing? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-04-2014 12:17 PM
Dan Collins, ULA's chief operating officer, had this to say today about the past and current issues with the valves: This is something we've seen on one previous heavy launch where we have a long window and gone quite a ways into the window. We're off today, going to execute the same procedures that we did after that last attempt. We're very confident that we're going to be able to exonerate the hardware and then make an attempt. In other words, ULA believes the issue to be related to how long the valves remain open and are subjected to cryogenic propellant, such that they get stuck open. |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1815
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 12-04-2014 02:09 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Headshot:
Similar scenarios occurred during the shuttle program and I thought we had learned valuable lessons, yet they keep on happening, albeit on an unmanned booster this time. Am I the only one who finds this disturbing?
No, because they are completely unrelated and completely different designs.This is a "reoccurring" issue that has affected many vehicles over the years. It happened on one of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) launches. |
p51
Member Posts: 1769
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 12-04-2014 02:30 PM
I went to Kennedy Space Center five times in the 90s to try to catch a space shuttle going up from the general TICO area, all of them were scrubbed and I never saw one go up from less than 100 miles away. So, from that I can feel for all those who went down there. I just hope most booked for an extra day and get to see it in person. There's nothing worse than going all that way and having to leave after a scrub.Oddly, I woke up on my own at 4:01 a.m. Pacific time this morning. Of course I went to the living room and caught mention on CNN. When the delays started rolling in, I recognized what was likely going to happen and decided to risk going back to bed. Glad I did, now. Not sure if I'm going to repeat this tomorrow morning... |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3604
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 12-04-2014 04:34 PM
quote:
Originally posted by p51:
Oddly, I woke up on my own at 4:01 a.m. Pacific time this morning. Of course I went to the living room and caught mention on CNN...
You contribute to collectSPACE but you hadn't arranged to see this launch live on TV?? |
p51
Member Posts: 1769
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 12-04-2014 05:02 PM
For me, it was the idea that any alarm I set would wake up my wife as well as she's a very light sleeper. Trust me, folks, NOTHING is worth that. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2486
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 12-05-2014 04:44 AM
It would seem that valves and weather aren't the only constraints on the launch of Orion as indicated by this extract from a BBC report - Lockheed Martin, the company developing Orion and running this test flight for Nasa, has another two days to get the mission off the ground before negotiations must take place for an extension.Other space missions have bookings on the launch complex and they would have to agree to step back, potentially delaying their operations as well. And ULA has a lift-off to manage on the West Coast of the US next week, and this could be impacted if the company's staff are detained in Florida. Unfortunately, the weather in some respects looks to be less favourable for a Friday attempt. If it deteriorates further, a decision could be made simply to jump to Saturday. This would save on supplies of liquid hydrogen, some of which is lost every time the rocket is tanked up, while also giving launch crews a bit of rest. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2486
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 12-05-2014 06:14 AM
Up, up and away. Wonderful launch coverage on NASA TV.But why four years before the next Orion launch? |
Lunar rock nut
Member Posts: 916
From: Oklahoma city, Oklahoma U.S.A.
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 12-05-2014 06:30 AM
Yes, why four years? |
bunnkwio
Member Posts: 114
From: Naperville, IL USA
Registered: Jul 2008
|
posted 12-05-2014 06:30 AM
Day two, we decided just to stick in the KSC visitor complex, but damn if it still wasn't impressive!! So happy I can take "view a launch" off of my bucket list!! The next ones I decide to see will be gravy!  |
Bob M
Member Posts: 1853
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000
|
posted 12-05-2014 06:52 AM
Those of us "home-bound" for the Delta IV Heavy/Orion launch are envious of those that were there, but happy for you. It looked good on TV, though.How far were the viewing sites from the pad, especially the Apollo-Saturn V Center? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:07 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Lunar rock nut:
Yes, why four years?
A couple of reasons: - The next launch will be atop the Space Launch System, which based on NASA's budget, will be ready to fly by no later than November 2018, and...
- The next Orion will be outfitted with more of its crew support systems and an active launch abort motor, the latter of which requires a launch abort test first (the test will use the same capsule flying on EFT-1)
|
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 2125
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:33 AM
During this morning's flight, I thought the NASA announcer said the abort motor fired and carried the LES away from the capsule. Or did I hear it wrong? |
dabolton
Member Posts: 419
From: Seneca, IL, US
Registered: Jan 2009
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:36 AM
How many Orion capsules are currently in production? |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1815
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:39 AM
quote:
Originally posted by garymilgrom:
I thought the NASA announcer said the abort motor fired and carried the LES away from the capsule.
There are three motors on the Orion LAS (not to be cocky, but notice the "A" and not an "E"). There is an abort motor, a jettison motor and a divert motor. The abort and divert motor are inert for this mission. quote:
Originally posted by dabolton:
How many Orion capsules are currently in production?
One. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:41 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Bob M:
How far were the viewing sites from the pad, especially the Apollo-Saturn V Center?
The Apollo-Saturn V Center is 8 miles from Complex 37. Port Canaveral is 8.6 miles. The NASA Causeway is about 3 miles.(I was at a camera tracking station next to the astronaut beach house, which is about the same distance as the Causeway.) |
Paul78zephyr
Member Posts: 797
From: Hudson, MA
Registered: Jul 2005
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:44 AM
What is the bright flash at approximately 0:30? (Is that RP falling asleep at approximately 15:33 here?) |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3604
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:47 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
The next launch will be atop the Space Launch System, which based on NASA's budget, will be ready to fly by no later than November 2018...
Did Congress not mandate NASA to launch SLS not later than 2017? If the delay of a year is for purely financial reasons, is Congress not breaking its own law by failing to give NASA enough money to launch in 2017? Have the police been informed?I remember hearing John Young arguing that the 1958 NASA Act required NASA - by law - to explore space, with the result that NASA leaders should now be locked up for breaking the law. (It sounded better coming from him...) |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:56 AM
It is not a yearlong delay; SLS had been targeted for a December 2017 launch. The latest SLS will fly is November 2018, but it could be before then. quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
What is the bright flash at approximately 0:30?
I believe I know what that is, but I've asked ULA to confirm. I will share what they reply. (And yes, at the time of yesterday's post-scrub press conference, I had been awake for more than 36 hours without sleep.) |
Jim Behling
Member Posts: 1815
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 12-05-2014 07:59 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Paul78zephyr:
What is the bright flash at approximately 0:30?
Camera or weather artifact. Nothing related to the vehicle's operation. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-05-2014 08:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
I believe I know what that is, but I've asked ULA to confirm.
I haven't heard back from ULA yet, but according to a colleague familiar with the Delta 4, the flashes and variations in the exhaust is the result of the RS-68 engines' ablative-lined nozzles. The material falls into the exhaust and burns (by design). |
Mike_The_First
Member Posts: 436
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2014
|
posted 12-05-2014 08:53 AM
Anyone know what cameras NASA TV will be carrying for reentry/splashdown?I'd assume that, as they said earlier in the broadcast, they won't have live views from the capsule itself at that time. Is that UAV they showed yesterday out again? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 50516
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-05-2014 09:06 AM
Yes, as shown on NASA TV today, the Ikhana drone is now in the air and will be attempting to share the descent and splashdown of Orion. While Ikhana loiters at 27,000 feet altitude, the infrared camera will detect the capsule. Once the camera has located and acquired the Orion module, the camera operator will switch to an optical camera that will observe Orion's descent through parachute deployment and splashdown. |
advertisement