Atlas 3 countdown [launch scrubbed]

Space.com ^ | 12/15/2003 | Jim Banke, Space.com

[NonValueAdded]

ILS Atlas 3B
Dec. 15, 2003
9:38 to 11:38 p.m. EST
(0238 to 0438 GMT Dec. 16)

An International Launch Services Atlas 3B rocket, built by Lockheed Martin, is to carry the Ultra-High Frequency Follow-On (UFO) F11 communications satellite into Earth orbit on a commercial mission launched from Cape Canaveral.

Satellite Broadcast Information
Galaxy 3, transponder 5, C-band

[NonValueAdded]

MISSION UPDATE

Atlas 3 countdown going well
For 3:30 p.m. EST Monday Dec. 15:

Efforts to prepare a Lockheed Martin-built Atlas 3 rocket for launch from Cape Canaveral tonight are going well, officials report.

The weather is nearly perfect and there are no technical problems reported on the rocket or the spacecraft, which is a military communications satellite being launched on a commercially-procured mission from International Launch Services.

The satellite delivery mission will take about 33 minutes to complete after the blast off from pad 36B.

Stay tuned to this page for countdown updates tonight and confirmation of launch and spacecraft separation.

Jim Banke, Senior Producer in the Cape Canaveral Bureau of SPACE.com.

[Robert A Cook PE]

let's see....

Based on designs in the mid-fifties, first launched in the early 60's ....

Not bad for an old bird.

(Course, that would imply the Wright brother's FIRST plane was still state-of-the-art and could be competitive with new planes in the early-50's....

[NonValueAdded]

See also Florida Today newspaper here

Atlas 3B/Navy UHF F11 launch journal

Welcome to our journal chronicling the launch of an Atlas 3B rocket from Pad 36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Dec. 15, 2003. It is carry the Navy's ultra high-frequency follow-on or UFO satellite (F11), the last of the UFO constellation of secure communications satellites. The launch window extends from 9:38 p.m. to 11:38 p.m. EST.

7:25 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 15, 2003

The launch team is at the point in the countdown where the launch pad must be cleared to make the area safe for fueling. Our updates will pick up about an hour before launch, from our viewing site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

6:50 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 15, 2003

Rollback of the launch tower is nearly complete as the countdown continues toward a 9:38 p.m. lift-off.

[earlier comments omitted]

Journal updated by Chris Kridler

[ovrtaxt]

What's the launch time?

[ovrtaxt]

Nevermind-- you beat me to it!

[Normal4me]

Thanks for the post. Might have to go out to Port Canaveral and watch it live.

[G Larry]

9:38 p.m. EST
Per the LMT news today.

[Normal4me]

Ping

[RightWingAtheist]

Ping :-)

[NonValueAdded]

8 PM space.com update: rocket being fueled, weather cooperating, no technical problems, on-time launch anticipated.

[NonValueAdded]

UPDATE: Countdown activities have been put on hold during the past 20 minutes thanks to several technical problems at launch pad 36B. The trouble appears to involve several valves related to the Atlas rocket's pneumatic system, which is not holding proper pressure.

Fueling operations have stopped while a team of workers is preparing to enter the launch pad area to troubleshoot the problem.

With a two-hour launch window there appears to be plenty of time to work through this issue and resume countdown operations toward launch, but we'll know more shortly.

[NonValueAdded]

8:38 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 15, 2003

There's a problem with ground helium bottle - the tank at the pad that supplies helium to the rocket. It is having trouble maintaining pressure. A team is investigating.

[NonValueAdded]

8:47 p.m. EST, Monday, Dec. 15, 2003

The countdown has picked up again, but there's a new target launch time of 10:08 p.m. EST.

[RightWhale]

UFO) F11 communications satellite into Earth orbit on a commercial mission

This is soooo confusing. It's a Navy satellite. Why did they name it the UFO?

[NonValueAdded]

For the same reason that they named the MOAB the Mother Of All Bombs, or a dog licks his, er, lockbox - because they could! What else would call someting you shoot up into space to fly around the world? I guess the name wasn't taken. :)

[Stars N Stripes]

Launch ground track SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: December 11, 2003 The ground track that the Atlas 3B rocket will follow during launch of UHF F11. Credit: Lockheed Martin

[Stars N Stripes]

UHF Follow-On (UFO)The Boeing-built UHF Follow-On (UFO) constellation is the primary U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) system for tactical mobile communications. The constellation, consisting of eight active spacecraft plus an in-orbit spare, supports the Navy's global communications network, serving ships at sea and a variety of other U.S. military fixed and mobile terminals.

[NonValueAdded]

OK, wise answer out of my system.

"It's the last of the Navy's "UFO" or Ultra high-frequency Follow-On satellites, which allow people in all branches of the military to talk securely between the ground, ships and airplanes, often with small, portable terminals. " according to Florida Today (who's web coverage seems to have surpassed space.com - Lou Dobbs, take note!). The Navy probably took the lead for budgetary and mission requirement reasons and it is deemed "commercial" since they probably haave an arms-length outsourcing agreement with International Launch Service. That is a guess and I'm sure another FReeper will correct or augment the info.

ILS partners are Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. They launch the Atlas and Proton rockets. Interesting.

[Stars N Stripes]

0223 GMT (9:23 p.m. EST)

SCRUB! Tonight's launch attempt is being scrubbed.

0222 GMT (9:22 p.m. EST)

Anomaly Resolution Team says its sees a warming of the Atlas stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve bolt-cutter temperature. So the approval has been given to start topping the oyxgen tank to flight level.

Meanwhile, an inhibited self test of the rocket's Flight Termination System is starting. The FTS would be used to destroy the vehicle in the event of a malfunction during launch.

0219 GMT (9:19 p.m. EST)

BUMMER!!!

[Stars N Stripes]

SCRUB! Tonight's launch attempt is being scrubbed after the Anomaly Resolution Team's research found that the Atlas stage liquid oxygen fill and drain valve bolt-cutter temperature dipped below the unit's qualifed value. As a result, liftoff will not occur tonight. Launch director Adrian Laffitte has instructed the team to get a spare bolt-cutter ready.

0223 GMT (9:23 p.m. EST)