Essential eavesdropping satellite launching Thursday [6:06 PM EST]

SpaceFlightNow.com ^ | Nov 17,. 2010 | Justin Ray

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One cannot overstate the importance of Thursday night's Delta 4-Heavy launch from Cape Canaveral to national security, a mission by the massive rocket that will deploy "the largest satellite in the world" to hear the whispers of evil.

Countdown clocks are targeting a liftoff time of 6:10 p.m. EST (2310 GMT) from the Florida spaceport's Complex 37. The evening's available launch opportunity likely extends upwards of four hours.

United Launch Alliance's Delta 4-Heavy is America's biggest unmanned rocket currently in service, capable of lofting the largest and heftiest cargos. The mammoth vehicle is created by taking three Common Booster Cores -- the liquid hydrogen-fueled motor that forms a Delta 4-Medium's first stage -- and strapping them together to form a triple-barrel rocket, and then adding an upper stage.

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"The nighttime blastoff should be visually spectacular, lighting up the Space Coast with three distinct pillars of fire from the main engines trailing more than 200 feet long. Ideal viewing spots include off SR401 at Port Canaveral, along the 528 causeway or on the riverbanks in Titusville."

There will be no doubt this is a rocket launch!!! Biiiiiig Rocket

Track the mission status here: Mission Status Center

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LAUNCH ALERT

Brevard County, Florida ping.

Let me know if you want on or off this ping list.
(not associated with the county government)

[Former Proud Canadian]

mark

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How it should look.

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rocket ping

[KoRn]

On a multi-booster rocket like that, what happens if one of the rockets craps out just after liftoff? Would the entire thing not dramatically turn in the direction of the side the rocket died on, or fly in circles until it crashed?

Just curious....

[stockpirate]

Just wondering but, isn’t a motor electric and an engine runs on some sort of fuel?

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On a multi-booster rocket like that, what happens if one of the rockets craps out just after liftoff? Would the entire thing not dramatically turn in the direction of the side the rocket died on, or fly in circles until it crashed?

It would start to go off in the wrong direction but there would be a spectacular explosion as the range safety officer pushes the destruct button.

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Just wondering but, isn’t a motor electric and an engine runs on some sort of fuel?

See the ubiquitous Wikipedia:

An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion.[1][2]

Motors converting heat energy into motion are usually referred to as engines,[3] which come in many types. A common type is a heat engine such as an internal combustion engine which typically burns a fuel with air and uses the hot gases for generating power. External combustion engines such as steam engines use heat to generate motion via a separate working fluid.

Another common type of motor is the electric motor. This takes electrical energy and generates mechanical motion via varying electromagnetic fields.

So "motor" is the generic term and I have seen rocket motor and rocket engine used interchangeably. I just pray that whatever it is, it works.

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A link that works: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor

[r9etb]

Just wondering but, isn’t a motor electric and an engine runs on some sort of fuel?

In rocket-ese, "motor" generally refers to solid fuel rockets, and "engine" refers to liquid propellant. And "hybrid" refers to a mix of the two.

[Hunton Peck]

...to hear the whispers of evil

I'm not sure I want to know . . . .

[Jack Hydrazine]

Biodiesel!

[SeeSac]

In rocket-ese, "motor" generally refers to solid fuel rockets, and "engine" refers to liquid propellant. And "hybrid" refers to a mix of the two.

You are correct but in the article:

"the liquid hydrogen-fueled motor "

[r9etb]

"the liquid hydrogen-fueled motor "

I saw that and muttered, "... reporters!"

[seekthetruth]

Hey Friends, Please keep me posted on the “go” or “no go” of Discovery on the 30th. Hubby and I want so much to get over to the Titusville area to see a launch, and now aiming for the 30th to see the last launch of Discovery. Any info and updates would be greatly appreciated! Jean in St.Pete

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LOL geosync orbit over DC to hear the whispers of evil. Jason used quite the phrase there and your pic is a great pickup.

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will do

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Justin, not Jason.

[stockpirate]

thanks, everyone.