NASA and private space company Orbital Sciences Corporation are going to the Moon tonight.
78 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Telepethi;42103435]Why aren't they launching it from Florida :(
We have the Space Coast goddamnit[/QUOTE]
Apparently there are no facilities for this specific rocket at Canaveral. The only sites prepared to launch it are Wallops (Virginia), Vandenberg (military site in California), and Kodiak (Alaska).
The rocket used (a Minotaur) is a weird low-cost solid-fuel rocket, based on the Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs. So it's understandable that Canaveral doesn't have a setup that can launch it.
I do find it a bit weird that they're launching from this latitude on a lunar mission. But perhaps they don't want an equatorial orbit, for mission reasons.
I guess I might be able to somewhat see it in Rhode Island. Pretty cool though!
[QUOTE=gman003-main;42103521]
The rocket used (a Minotaur) is a weird low-cost solid-fuel rocket, based on the Minuteman and Peacekeeper ICBMs. So it's understandable that Canaveral doesn't have a setup that can launch it.[/QUOTE]
They're more than just based on Peacekeepers. [I]They are peacekeepers.[/I] Air Force sold them to Orbital. (Minus the nuclear warheads, obviously)
[img]http://i.imgur.com/zLH7Kdt.jpg[/img]
We're basically going to watch an old nuclear delivery device launch tonight. Better aimed at the moon than the Russians.
[editline]6th September 2013[/editline]
Orbital just modified them a bit.
[editline]6th September 2013[/editline]
Orbital likes to take old nuke missile parts and turn them into satellite launchers.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur_%28rocket_family%29[/url]
Sucks I won't be able to see it from Georgia. I hate this state. Nothing exciting ever happens here.
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42104414]fuck yeah just in time[/QUOTE]
There's still ~90 minutes before it launches.
[QUOTE=JeanLuc761;42104437]There's still ~90 minutes before it launches.[/QUOTE]
I just heard that too. It's 3 am.
But fuck their schedule, I'm going to watch it.
[editline]7th September 2013[/editline]
they better not scrub it or I'll be seriously mad
(thumbnail for huge)
[img_thumb]http://i.imgur.com/0mBxUAm.jpg[/img_thumb]
[editline]6th September 2013[/editline]
[QUOTE=DrDevil;42104463]I just heard that too. It's 3 am.
But fuck their schedule, I'm going to watch it.
[editline]7th September 2013[/editline]
they better not scrub it or I'll be seriously mad[/QUOTE]
Weather is perfect, everything else is go for launch.
good thing i live in VA, i used to watch wallops island launches from my deck..
Well, there goes my plans to try to spot the actual rocket. I just scouted from the best spot I'd be able to get - even there, there's an industrial chimney, a water tower, an abandoned radio tower and several trees obscuring the view. Plus the whole hill in the way.
I would probably have seen, at most, a couple glimpses. I figure I'll get a better view on the stream.
I've seen rockets launch from Wallops before though - from the actual island, it's a pretty impressive sight, even with the smallest ones.
What an awesome name for a company, Orbital Sciences Corporation.
[QUOTE=ionuttzu;42105007]What an awesome name for a company, Orbital Sciences Corporation.[/QUOTE]
[I]Orbital Sciences Corporation.
Space Exploration Technologies.
Virgin Galactic.
Stratolaunch Systems.
Blue Origin.
Copenhagen Suborbitals.
[/I]
All awesome.
[editline]6th September 2013[/editline]
0% chance for weather violation of launch. This bottle rocket is flying tonight.
It's so pretty
25 more minutes!
Orbital Sciences Corporation has been in business since the 80's and have launched over 500 vehicles. They also build satellites for other companies. With the Antares launch vehicle and Cygnus cargo ship, they're moving into larger payload territory.
They're also teaming up with Stratolaunch Systems to build this monster:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/Xhv2Rfv.png[/img]
[img]http://i.imgur.com/0T4Ncch.jpg[/img]
Not really related to today's launch and it won't be around till 2015 but I just felt like saying that because it's awesome.
I have a feeling in the next 25 years these launches will be almost weekly.
Unless they are already like that, then awesome!
Getting pretty close to launch.
[editline]7th September 2013[/editline]
About 17 minutes until launch.
[editline]7th September 2013[/editline]
The control center camera feels like a 90s camera.
[editline]7th September 2013[/editline]
10 minutes.
Get your cameras ready people!
Loving this radio chatter
6 minutes!
Im going outside 40 seconds after this launches to see if i can see it.
5 minutes.
[QUOTE=Vilusia;42105128]I have a feeling in the next 25 years these launches will be almost weekly.
Unless they are already like that, then awesome![/QUOTE]
Orbital will be launching again this month. SpaceX wants to be doing launches every month starting this month.
2 minutes.
I'm just far enough in Ontario that I'll miss seeing it without the aid of the internet.
90 seconds, get in here everyone!
We have lift off !
Boooom! Holy shit my ears though
And now it sounds like the mission control is operated by Daleks.
