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Posts tagged US Navy

Third time lucky as MUOS-1 launches on top of an Atlas V rocket

Feb26
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike
Exhaust shooting out of the flame trench as Atlas V rocket ignites

Exhaust shooting out of the flame trench as Atlas V rocket ignites

It was third time lucky for the Atlas V rocket that launched from Cape Canaveral at 5:15pm EST on Friday 24th February 2012. After being scrubbed for high-level winds on the first attempt and disturbed weather on it second try it finally took to the skies after a layover of a few days.

Two days before the launch the weather was predicted to be only 20% for a favourable launch. This improved to 60% the day before, 80% on launch day and ended up at 90% heading into the terminal countdown. Obviously the 90% converted into 100% as the Atlas V carrying the US Navy MUOS-1 communications satellite streaked into the sky on its way to a orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth.

Our video catches the launch sequence starting at T-5 seconds with the sun sinking in the west silhouetting the rocket against the blue sky.

Continue reading for our launch report and two galleries of launch pad photos…

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Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Atlas V MUOS-1 ready for a launch attempt tonight

Feb24
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike
Atlas-V MUOS-1 rollout for a second time yesterday

Atlas-V MUOS-1 rollout for a second time yesterday

Yesterday the Atlas V carrying the US Navy’s MUOS-1 communications satellite made the 650 yard trip from the Vertical Integration Facility back out to the launch pad again.  The rocket is now safely installed on Launch Pad 41 waiting for the countdown clock to start in about 5 hours time.

Assuming things go to plan lift-off will take place at 5:15pm EST (10:15 GMT) with a 44 minute window should the opening not prove favourable for any reason.

The weather forecast has improved and the weather officer is now predicting a 60% chance of favourable conditions during the launch window.

If you are thinking of heading out to Cape Canaveral to watch the launch check out our Atlas V launch viewing guide.

Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , , ,

Atlas V – MUOS-1 launch set for Friday 24th

Feb22
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike
The Atlas V MUOS-1mission poster

The Atlas V MUOS-1mission poster

United Launch Alliance have set the next launch attempt for the Atlas V carrying the US Navy MUOS-1 communications satellite for Friday evening.  The launch window will extend from 5:15pm EST to 5:59pm EST (22:15 to 22:59 GMT).

The rocket and spacecraft are currently sheltering in the safety of the Vertical Integration Facility on Launch Complex 41.  They will be rolled out to the launch pad on Thursday late morning to prepare for the following days launch attempt.

The weather forecast for a Friday launch is not favourable with a 60% chance of another scrub.  Once again the concerns are clouds and wind speeds.  The chances improve to an 80% probability of launch on Saturday.

The official ULA press release follows:
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Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , , ,

GoPro Time lapse video of the Atlas V MUOS-1 launch scrubs

Feb20
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike

Last week there were two attempts to launch the Atlas 5 rocket carrying MUOS-1 US Navy communications satellite from LC-41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Both launches were scrubbed due to adverse weather.

Our video is a time lapse of both launch day windows showing the beautiful sunset on the first day and the appalling conditions on the second. If it had not been for the upper level winds the first launch day would have been perfect with the launch occurring just as the sun was setting. The second day really shows how bad the conditions were on the launch pad and why the rocket could not be launched.

The video was taken using a GoPro Hero (original) set to 720p60 recording the two 45 minute launch windows. The footage was then compressed in post processing resulting in this one minute video.

Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , , , ,

Atlas V MUOS-1 Scrubbed again next attempt is Wednesday

Feb18
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike
Atlas V MUOS-1 scrubbed on launch attempt day 2

Atlas V MUOS-1 scrubbed on launch attempt day 2

Although it was not a big surprise to anyone around the Cape Canaveral area yesterday the second attempt to launch was scrubbed last night.  Once again the rocket was in great condition it was just the weather that proved to be a problem.

Entering the window there was a 60% chance that the weather would force the cancellation of last night’s launch and with heavy clouds, rain and disturbed weather the rocket was doomed to stay on the ground from the start.

The weather prospects for a launch today are much better, but for unknown reasons the range is not available, nor will it be for a few days.  This makes Wednesday 22nd February the earliest opportunity to launch the Atlas V.  ULA have taken the decision to safe the rocket and roll it back to the Vertical integration Facility to protect it in the coming days.

If my calculations are correct the launch window will be 5:22 to 6:06 on the 22nd February.  Despite the disappointment of the scrubs this does mean that the new attempt will be in the light as the sun sets at around 6:20 on Wednesday.  The long range weather forecast  is favourable for an attempt on Wednesday with the cold front having moved off and scattered clouds with no chance of rain.

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Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , ,

Atlas V with MUOS-1 launch scrubbed

Feb17
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike
The Atlas V / MUOS-1 rocket launch was scrubbed last night

The Atlas V / MUOS-1 rocket launch was scrubbed last night

The launch of an Atlas V carrying the US Navy MUOS-1 spacecraft was plagued with weather issues last night. This eventually resulted in the launch being cancelled, or scrubbed.

Although it looked like a beautiful evening with perfect weather conditions it was a different story in the upper atmosphere. Upper level winds were breaking the launch commit criteria, and although the rocket can be reprogrammed to steer through these winds there was enough concern to cancel the launch.

Throughout the launch window weather balloons were being launched to assess these upper level winds. The results of the balloons were constantly being programmed into the rocket’s navigation system, but to no avail.

Indeed it went right down to the wire. Coming out of the T-4 minute hold the countdown continued, with the caveat of an upper level wind violation,  all the way down to T-1:14 before a hold was called. At first the cause was unknown, but this was later confirmed by ULA to be due to the upper level winds.
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Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , ,

Atlas V rocket to launch MUOS-1 today from Cape Canaveral AFS

Feb16
2012 Leave a Comment Written by Mike
The Atlas V MUOS-1mission poster

The Atlas V MUOS-1mission poster

An Atlas V rocket is scheduled to launch from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station carrying the MUOS-1 satellite today. The launch is to take place between 5:46pm and 6:30pm EST or 22:46 to 23:30 GMT.

This is a landmark launch for the United Launch Alliance team as it is the 200th launch featuring the Centaur second stage rocket. The Centaur upper stage has been in use since it’s inaugural flight ontop of an Atlas booster in May 1962 from Launch Complex 36A.

The MUOS-1 spacecraft is the first of a constellation of 5 communication satellites for the US Navy. The MUOS acronym stands for Mobile User Objective System and is designed to be the next generation narrowband tactical communications system. Its main objective is to improve the ground communications to mobile US forces around the world.

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Posted in Atlas, Atlas V, Cape Canaveral AFS, MUOS-1 - Tagged , , , , ,

SLC-25 Launch Complex 25 at Cape Canaveral AFS

Oct25
2010 1 Comment Written by Mike
LC-25C First Trident launch January 18th 1977 (picture credit USAF)

LC-25C First Trident launch January 18th 1977 (picture credit USAF)

Launch complex 25 is a four launch pad site which was built in two stages.  Launch Pads 25A and 25B were constructed in the late 1950s with launch pads 25C and 25D being added in 1967.

All four launch pads share the same blockhouse. The cabling channels for each pad can be clearly seen on the Google image.

LC-25 was built for the US Navy to test and develop Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles AKA Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles or SLBMs.

Initially the pads 25A and 25B launched a combined total of  68 missiles with the majority from pad 25A.  All of these were variants  of the Polaris launch vehicle.  On launch pad 25B there are 2 pits separated by a distance of about 100 feet.  One of the pits is obviously a subterranean launch facility, the other seems to house equipment rooms.  It is possible that these were designed to simulate a submarine.

Launch Pads 25C and 25D were constructed in 1967.  Connecting to the same blockhouse they were built with more infrastructure.  Pads 25C and 25D were connected by a rail system enabling the use of a retractable service structure.  Indeed this service structure is still in place on pad 25C today.  The pads were built to support the Poseidon and Trident programs.  34 missiles were launched from 25C and just one from 25D.

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Posted in Cape Canaveral AFS, Polaris, Poseidon, Trident - Tagged , ,

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