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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 8, 2010 22:27:27 GMT
The launch of SDO is successful. This thread has been initiated to accomodate those who watched the launch and want to exchange comments. This thread will remain open until 12 AM EST Friday Feb 12th (Midnight Thursday). After that it will be locked and deleted shortly there after..
The boost sequence will leave SDO in an ellipitical orbit with a perigee just under 1500 miles and an apogee of 21,000 miles. Over the next 3 weeks the orbit will be circularized and final positioning will be made. SDO will fly a figure 8 pattern over the Las Cruces New Mexico Ground Station constructed for the express purpose of downloading SDO Data. The Figure 8 pattern was chosen to minimize interference from eclipses of the sun.
After launch SDO will need to deploy it's Solar Panels quickly. In Tuesday's news conference when asked about the available battery power SDO Manager Beth Citrin said in a worst case scenario the batteries had 90 minutes power. That would be one orbit.
Observatory "First Light" can be expected to come 60 Days after launch. Full calibration won't be completed until mid July.
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 9, 2010 21:13:28 GMT
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 9, 2010 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by bluesky on Feb 10, 2010 0:54:04 GMT
It's so sexy.
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Post by dogfish on Feb 10, 2010 12:39:07 GMT
According to the weather briefing the winds will likely be a bit too extreme for launch today. Here's to hoping it will be a bit calmer than anticipated.
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 10, 2010 12:51:31 GMT
According to the weather briefing the winds will likely be a bit too extreme for launch today. Here's to hoping it will be a bit calmer than anticipated. NASA has a one hour launch window to work with today. The wind gusts may subside to permit a launch just before the window closes.
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 10, 2010 13:30:03 GMT
Uhhh oh
They started tanking LO2 into the second stage Centaur Rocket and one of the ULA Operators is reporting a reading of 4 PSI where he is supposed to be getting 180 PSI.
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Post by Kevin VE3EN on Feb 10, 2010 13:33:44 GMT
Does look pretty windy. I do hear some chatter about a possible issue as well.
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 10, 2010 13:52:53 GMT
Well it sounds like they have either resolved the issue or determined the low reading wasn' t significant and have proceeded with tanking.
The Antigua Tracking Station is now reporting it's computer is back online and the facility is back up.
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Post by Kevin VE3EN on Feb 10, 2010 14:26:46 GMT
Good to see they are now back on track
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 10, 2010 14:34:47 GMT
It's a beautiful day. If NASA can get it in the air we should be able to see a good deal of its flight.
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shm6666
Level 2 Rank
The Sun :-)
Posts: 98
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Post by shm6666 on Feb 10, 2010 14:42:10 GMT
It looks quite windy today. Hopefully they get a break and can launch.
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Post by Kevin VE3EN on Feb 10, 2010 15:07:45 GMT
They are still discussing the wind gusts
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Post by Bob k6tr on Feb 10, 2010 15:10:51 GMT
Another weather briefing was just issued and it doesn't sound like the wind will diminish sufficiently to permit a launch.
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Post by Kevin VE3EN on Feb 10, 2010 15:21:30 GMT
Hoping they can get it up within the 1 hour window
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