Launch News Atlas V launch with GPS IIF-7, August 1/2, 2014

[Cosmic Penguin]

It's rock n' roll time at the Cape! For the third time in less than 3 weeks (with a 4th in 3 days), some kind of thing is heading up to space from the Floridian coast. And today's passenger is no stranger to the Space Coast, for another replenishment satellite for our beloved Global Positioning System (GPS) is heading to space tonight to continue to process of retiring 15+ years old satellites in the system. For the second time since GPS IIF-4 in May last year, GPS satellites are hitching ride on the Atlas V rocket to orbit on a 3.5 hour ride to space.

The new GPS satellite, numbered SVN68 (SVN = Space Vehicle Number), will head for plane F, slot 3 to replace GPS IIR-2 (SVN43, launched July 1997), which in turn will move to slot 5 to replace GPS IIA-5 (SVN26, launched July 1992 - 2nd oldest GPS satellite still in service).

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Launch date:​

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August 1/2, 2014​

Window open:​

| 03:23 UTC / 11:23 p.m. EDT

Window close:​

| 03:41 UTC / 11:41 p.m. EDT

Launch site:​

| SLC-41, CCAFS, Florida

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[highlight]L[eventtimer]2014-8-2 03:23:00;%c%%ddd%/%hh%:%mm%:%ss%[/eventtimer][/highlight]​

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Mission Insignia​

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Launch coverage: (starts 11:03 pm EDT / 03:03 UTC)

• ULA webcast: http://www.ulalaunch.com/webcast.aspx
• ULA webcast 2: http://cmc-i.akamaihd.net/hls/live/201845/launch/index-launch.m3u8
• Spaceflight Now: http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av048/status.html

Payload:

GPS-2F (Global Positioning System) or Navstar-2F (Navigation System using Timing And Ranging) satellites are the fourth evolution stage of the second generation of the GPS satellites. Improvements included an extended design life of 12 years, faster processors with more memory, and a new civil signal on a third frequency.

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Specifications​

Type / Application:​

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• Navigation

Operator:|

• USAF

Contractors:|

• Boeing

Equipment:|

• 2 Rubidium clocks
• 1 Cesium clock

Configuration:|

• ?

Dimensions:|

• 8.17 ft x 6.67 ft x 7.33 ft (stowed)

Propulsion:|

• ?

Power:|

• 2 deployable solar arrays
• batteries
• 1900 watts (end of life)

Launch Weight:|

• 1630 kg (3590 lb) - max wet weight at launch

On-orbit Weight:|

• 1466 kg (3230 lb) - initial on-orbit estimated wet weight

Orbit:|

• 20200 * 20200 km, 55° inc.)

Launch Vehicle:

The Atlas 5 was developed by Lockheed Martin Commercial Launch Services as part of the US Air Force Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) program. Each Atlas 5 rocket uses a Russian-built RD-180 engine burning kerosene and liquid oxygen to power its first stage and an American-built RL10 engine burning liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to power its Centaur upper stage.

The Atlas 5 launcher will fly in the so-called 401 configuration, denoting a 4-meter payload fairing, no strap-on solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage.

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Specifications​

Gross mass:​

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• 338640 kg (746570 lb)

Payload:​

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• 7095 kg (15641 lb) SSO
• 4950 kg (10910 lb) GTO

Height:​

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• 58.30 m (191.20 ft)

Diameter:​

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• 3.81 m (12.49 ft)

Span:​

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• 3.81 m (12.49 ft)

Thrust:​

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• 3827.00 kN (860343 lbf)

Launch Timeline & Ground Track:

Weather forecast for Titusville, Florida on August 1, 2014 (11 p.m.)

Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Partly cloudy skies after midnight. Low 24C. Winds SE at 10 to 15 km/h. Chance of rain 40%.

Time|Temps|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Cloud cover|Pressure|Wind|Weather
11 PM|27°C|25°C|91%|34%|0%|73%|1015 hPa|10 km/h SE|

Chance of a Thunderstorm

Links:

• GPS block IIF
• GPS IIF (Global Positioning System)
• Spaceflight Now: Atlas 5 rocket and the GPS 2F-7 satellite (p.1/p.2
• Atlas 5 rocket to fly Friday night with GPS satellite

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

So what does it mean for no post to appear on this thread after the OP?

1. I was on holiday for the past week. :lol:
2. This is not a SpaceX launch. :rofl:
3. Atlas V delivered another perfect launch, no delays, flying on time, on target!

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-MHhwXqBo4"][Atlas V] Launch of GPS IIF-7 on Atlas V 401 Rocket from the Cape[/ame]

Next launch of the Atlas V is only 11 days from this one from SoCal! But before that, we have something called the Falcon 9......