Launch News Orbital's Antares Maiden Flight & ORB-D "G. David Low" Cygnus Demo updates.

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Launch of the Cygnus demo flight have slightly pushed back to September 17 @ 11:16 am EDT (15:16 UTC). The launch window is 15 minutes long.

 

[Kyle]

Thread renamed to reflect OSC naming ORB-D "G. David Low."

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Just found out my dad is going to be working on the flight engines for the first stage of the next Antares launch!

 

[Sunhillow]

He works on the NK33 engines? Great!

IMO they are a masterpiece of soviet rocketry. And still performing very well

 

[MaverickSawyer]

No, AJ26s. Not much of a difference, though.

 

[Urwumpe]

No, AJ26s. Not much of a difference, though.

Quite a few differences actually. While the fire and smoke department is largely unchanged, aside of the pyrotechnic ordnance, the electronic and electromechanic parts had been pretty much replaced.

Component | Modification | Modification Rationale
Thrust and MR valve actuators|Use U.S. -produced 28 volt EMAs|Increase actuation range, make compatible with U.S. power, Russian EMA availability
Pyrotechnic valves (3)|Replace LO2 chilldown, shutdown purge, and preburner shutdown pyrotechnic actuation with solenoid valves|Improve reusability
N2 storage bottles|Remove bottles (2)|Supply gasses from vehicle/facility
Start purge valve|Add new piloted solenoid valve|Generic start/shutdown purge line
Shutdown purge valve|Add new piloted solenoid valve|Generic start/shutdown purge line
Start and shutdown check valves|Add valves in generic start/shutdown purge lines|Eliminate potential backflow
Sensors|Replace with U.S. sensors|U.S. compatibility
Wiring harness|Replace with U.S. compatible harness|U.S. compatibility
Thrust mount|Replaced with new mount|Vehicle interface, gimbal requirements
Gimbal bearing|Add bearing|Vehicle gimbal requirements
Fluid interface panel|Add panel|Improve gimbal capability by grouping lines that cross gimbal plane; isolate pilot valves
Start cartridge and MCC igniter solid propellant|Replace with U.S. ordnance|Russian availability

 

[Sunhillow]

Yeah, of course the Aerojet upgrade with state-of-the-art engine controller, gimballing etc are prerequisites to use them in a modern rocket

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

While all eyes are on the Falcon 9, make sure that you don't miss out on the beer-keg-swan!

http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Orb-D1/

http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/cargo/orbitalsciences-index.html

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Wouldn't have it any other way. Time for our little duckling to fly!

 

[Kyle]

Antares is out on the pad.

Launch is officially set for 11:16am September 17th.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

11:16 AM where? GMT, Eastern, what?

 

[Shifty]

11:16 AM where? GMT, Eastern, what?

Local at Wallops, so EDT.

 

[Kyle]

Standing loud and proud!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The launch of Cygnus has been delayed for 24 hours due to an electric cable problem on the Antares rocket. Launch window on Wednesday is 10:50-11:05 am EDT (14:50-15:05 UTC). So there will be two East Coast launches on Wednesday - yeeeeeeehhhhhaaaaa!

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Weather for tomorrow shows a 75% chance of being OK for launch!

 

[IronRain]

 

[Kyle]

I really hope I can manage to get to watch this launch, one of my classes ends at 10:45, the launch is at 10:50.

 

[IronRain]

The clocks have started ticking! T-8 hours and counting.

 

[IronRain]

The launch team is looking at an issue with the RP-1 fuel system on the Antares rocket's first stage, which is manufactured by Yuzhnoye in Ukraine.