Posted on 12/02/2018 10:42:32 AM PST by Loud Mime
Launch Schedule from the website. Note that a heavy is scheduled for Dec 7.
DEC 3 10:31:47 -11:01 Falcon 9 SLC-4E Vehicle will launch several satellites as part of the SSO-A mission. The Falcon will probably fly a north-to-south trajectory. If the sky is clear, the bright orange flame from the rocket's first stage may be visible to the unaided eye as far away as King City, Delano, Simi Valley, and coastal Los Angeles County.
DEC 7 Unknown Delta IV Heavy SLC-6 Vehicle will launch the NROL-71 payload for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office
DEC 30 08:38 Falcon 9 SLC-4E Vehicle will launch Iridium NEXT satellites 66-75
NET FEB 18 Unknown Falcon 9 SLC-4E Vehicle will launch three RADARSAT earth imaging satellites for Canada
I think the title has the name spelled incorrectly.
Btw, Vandenberg puts on some fabulous sky shows.
bttt
Yes. My mistake.
Capacity
Payload to LEO 28,790 kg (63,470 lb)
Payload to GTO 14,220 kg (31,350 lb)
I remember the Titan rockets had a clear flame as well. Anybody know about the fuel differences?
I believe that the Titans had mmhydrazine...or something like that.
Before launch Coast Guard needs to clear all illegal migrants in panga boats out of Range Safety area. Don’t want a booster part falling on them.
The 12/03 SpaceX launch will set a United States record for most satellites deployed, 64.
The Titan II (ICBM and Gemini booster) used Aerozine 50. That was 50% Hydrazine and 50% Unsymetrical DiMethyl Hydrazine, UDMH.
The Titan III and IV systems used the same fuel
Mono Methyl Hydrazine, MMH, was used in the Post Boost Control System for the Minuteman III ICBM.
Polar orbits are generally spy satellites.
I remember the Titan rockets had a clear flame as well. Anybody know about the fuel differences?
Aerozine 50 (50 % mix of Hydazine and 50% Unsymetrical di metmetyl hydrazine) with nitrogen tetraoxide
Very little carbon in fuel unlike RP 1 (kerosene) used by Falcon 9
I’ll ask my nephew. He was at Canaveral but now works on these launches at Vandenburg.
Thanks - everybody for answering this.
I remember back in the 60’s one drag racer’s engine blew the block apart - they were experimenting with doses of MMH.
Every Titan launch that I saw at Vandenberg had orange plumes. I think that nitrogen tetroxide was another component to the MMH. Hypergolic when mixed together. Also, as mentioned, a propellant on board the post boost vehicle for Minuteman III.
Di Nitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4), other wise known as Nitrogen Tetroxide, was the oxidizer and, yes, it was hypergolic. A mixture of Aerozine 50 and N2O4 had a very high Specific Impulse so it was the reason for use in missiles. Also, since it was hypergolic, it was reliable and did not need any igniter to start the burn. That is why the combination is used in satellites and other spacecraft to this day.
bttt
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