USC: GTS-1

[diogom]

Last night, GTS-1 ended with the safe landing of the Delta Glider Monitor.
It was the first beyond-atmosphere flight of the Delta Glider. It orbited the Earth 40 times, covering a distance of 1,008,450 miles. The following are the reports on the Ascent and De-Orbit/Re-entry portions of the mission.

Ascent

The first orbital mission of the GTS Program, GTS-1, took of at 8:30 A.M. The flight took off horizontally. 2 seconds after liftoff the gear was raised. 5 Seconds after liftoff, the Delta Glider Monitor made a 30 degree bank the the east to a 90 degree heading. 2 minutes after liftoff, intake valves were closed.10 minutes after liftoff, the DG reached orbit for the first time.45 minutes into orbit, Monitor circularized it's orbit to an 250 x 250 km circular orbit.

-Ky

De-orbit/Re-Entry:

Radiators were closed at 9:00 P.M. Deorbit took place at 9:15 P.M. above the Indian Ocean. Landing occured at 10:05 P.M. EST. DG Monitor traveled 1,012,500 miles, and was in orbit for 60 hours. A computer hiccup occured while over South America on orbit 15 during the mission. The issue was determined to be caused by the South Atlantic Anomaly, the closest approach of the Van Allen Belt. It was fixed quickly on the same orbit. The mission was successful,and I am proud to say that we are go for GTS-2.

-Ky

GTS-2 will be the next launch for the Delta Glider and will occur on August 5th. It will have similar mission parameters to GTS-1, but will have a Orbital Inclination of about 51 degrees. Also, it will have a longer duration of 80 orbits instead of 40. It will launch and land at KSC.

Thank you to Ky for flying this mission for the VSA.

This was done in real time, and spent approximately 60 hours in orbit.

For pictures of the Ascent stage go to http://unionspacecommand.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11981268

For pictures of the De-Orbit/Re-entry stage go to http://unionspacecommand.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11993584

Also, be sure to check in on our ongoing expedition at the ISS, Expedition 56, which you can follow at this blog: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/blog.php?b=808

 

[garyw]

It's actually called the [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Atlantic_Anomaly"]South ATLANTIC Anomaly[/ame].

 

[diogom]

It's actually called the South ATLANTIC Anomaly.

Thanks :thumbup:. Was a pilot error, fixed now.

 

[Mojave]

Nice job guys :thumbup:

 

[diogom]

Nice job guys :thumbup:

Thanks!

 

[Eli13]

Nice job guys :thumbup:

Thanks!

 

[ky]

Nice job guys :thumbup:

Thanks!

 

[kevin580]

Really nice!
How many GTS missions are planned?

 

[Eli13]

There isn't a set number currently, but we are looking at a projected life span of about 150 launches and re-entries per DG. Currently, the only other definite mission with a set launch date is GTS-2.

 

[diogom]

BTW, EVA #2 for the Expedition 56 has been completed, see pics here: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/blog.php?b=808 (on the bottom)