LIVE: Ares 1-X launch update – Attempt #2

Youtube Video of launch posted by someone (unknown)

@1146

The launch was fantastic, but there was supposed contact between both stages on separation inducing tumble of the upper stage, and after a while, the LOS (loss of signal) on the splashdown, but it has been confirmed that its splashed down and its been spotted and being picked up! The data will tell all!

Congrats to the entire NASA and contractor teams!

@1130

LAUNCH! SUCCESSFUL!!

@1126

T-4 mins and counting!

@1124

Coming out of hold at 1126 EDT

@1122

Clear to launch

@1121

Weather appears to be clearing on top and around the pad…from T-38’s

@1117

Expecting to come out of hold @ 1126

@1114

Think we’ll be ok, but even an airliner contrail could cause some issues!

@1110

New T-0 for 1130 hrs

@1102

T-0 for 1120 hrs, window closes @ 1200

@1100

Still Red for weather, expecting new T-0 time…

@1053

New T-0 set for 1108 EDT

@1049 EDT

Expected T-0 @ 1100 hrs EDT
Currently Red on Weather due to violation of triboelectricfication rule (rule that electrical interference on ascent will interfere with comms to/from rocket, including manual destruct in case of emerge

Ares 1-X launch update – Attempt #1

@ 1120

Scrubbed for tomorrow – abort sequence initated to reset software. Launch Window same for tomorrow (0800-1200 EDT) dependent on weather

@1119

Waiting Go/NoGo for final attempt today….
NoGo at this point for Weather, potential for RED at T-0.
Not going to Resume today. Launch set for tomorrow.

@1112

Pushing resume count to 1120 EDT, based on weather

@1110

Picking up count @ 1115

@1105

Polling…waiting on range weather….NoGo on weather

@1059

1119 EDT new T-0 launch time due to weather

@1053

1104 Hrs EDT new T-0 launch time

@1048 hrs EDT

Polling commencing – weather being watched

@1008

T-0 @ 1054 Hrs

@1000 hrs

Deputy Launch Director confident for one more chance within the hour.

@0955

Launch No-Go on account of weather, holding @ T-Minus 4 minutes

@0945

T-0 0949 hrs!

GREEN FOR LAUNCH

@0936

At final Go/No Go, RSO – Range Safety Officer has identified a Cargo Ship violating the range safety rules for debris, expected to clear at least 90 minutes…

@0926

0944 hrs launch expected

@0917 hrs EDT

Weather is Go for next 20 mins, probe cover being pulled off

@0914 hrs EDT

Probe cover a GO for being pulled, and watching showers to south

@0912hrs EDT

Might be a slight delay after the probe cover is pulled (top cover) polling being conducted.

Weather is holding…

@0819hrs EDT

0920 hrs EDT new launch time.

@0816 hrs EDT

0829 hrs launch is most likely not going to hold. Issues being remedied with telemetry comm & winds being watched.

@0757 hrs EDT

Launch updated time to 0829 hrs EDT

@ 0740 hrs EDT

Seems to be some last checks commencing during the final, 4-min hold for 20 mins. However, due to weather expected to have at least 30 minute delay on the 0800 hrs launch time.

NASA set to launch Ares 1-X Tues. Oct 27 09 @ 0800 EDT

The newest rocket development from NASA since the Space Shuttle’s first launch in 1981 – this is the rocket that will take NASA’s to the ISS, the Moon and Mars as part of their Constellation program.

With 40% chance of favourable weather, launch is scheduled for 0800 EDT with a window stretching to 1200 EDT.

Canadian Space Agency IAC 2009 – Photos

The CSA took some snaps during the IAC 2009. Have a look see here – might see someone familiar!

http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/images/recherche/photo.aspx?id=1794&format=1&search=iac%202009&g=event

Enjoy!

*LIVE* Day 5 – IAC 2009 – Korean Astronaut Lecture

Dr. Soyeon Yi – Korea’s first Astronaut, is currently presenting her experiences.
BS in Mechanical Engineering, M.Sc & PHD in Bioengineering @ KAIST

Sung “Fly me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra on the ISS (video)
Leave the cradle
Speaking about her experiences on the ISS. Selected out of 36,206 applicants for 2 selections (1 prime, 1 backup) – any one older than 19 years.
Speaking about the astronaut selection process and what experiment she could conduct in space
She was not nervous, not scared about her candidature, not expecting to make it past her goal of the top 300. A very unique experience of training if not successful. Including her time at Starcity, Russia.
Tried to to a Tae-Kwan do “high-kick” with her russian spacesuit!

Taking about preparations for flight @ Baikanour Launch Facility and showing the roll-out operations. Taking to family just before flight. 6 hours before launch, traditional departures, with prayers from priest and boarding the bus to go to Energia to wear spacesuit, and then report to head of agency and head to bus to launch pad. The tradition of peeing on tire when you get out, she could not participate (for men only) and then head up on the stairs to the Soyuz. Launch. Animation about launch, rendezvous & docking with ISS.

Entrance on to ISS and speaking about experiments and the dedication astronauts provide to the researchers and scientists to make use of personal time to gather that data. Also space inspires about the children, and the importance of education in spaceflight.

Soyeon Yi and Tahir

Snaps from IAC 2009 Days 0-3

Some of the ISU MSM'09 @ IAC 2009

The Heads of the World's Space Agencies (NASA, CSA, ESA, ISRO, JAXA, ROSCOSMOS, KARI)

International Youth Panel

7 Astronauts - Canada, Germany, Japan, France, Russia, USA, China

*Live* IAC 2009 Day 3 – human lunar exploration

CSA JAXA ISRO NASA KARI ROSCOSMOS directors of exporations are presentiing their agencies views.

I missed a few and will report on what I have here:

JAXA – believes that efforts shoould be multilateral and government led. Plan for human lander demo by 2025.

KARI – planning robotic plans to moon incl lunar sample retrun by 2025 with a heavylift KSLV-II with 550kg to translunar orbit. Proposing to Government this year.

NASA – talked about LRO, ILN, Ares-IX test flight, high altitude rocket test stand, lunar electric rover, Altair lander,ISS and future participation with future partners

ROSCOMOS – Russia and ISRO to colloborate on Chandryaan2 orbiter. Expects cost of a lunar misson will be $15.15 billion or $1.7B USD a year.

IAC2009 – Day 2 Evening & Day 3

There is much to report from last nights activities but today was a big day as well. At the Young Professionals Social, a very rare event occurred whereby 7 astronauts from 7 different nations were present – Canada, Germany, Japan, France, USA, Russian and China!

A casual buffet & informal Q&A session was particularly neat, focused on personal experiences.

This morning there was a fantastic panel on the utilization of the ISS post 2015. A special report was issued only to attendees of the panel and the media so I will try to flip through this give you a summary. The panel incl ISS pgm managers from partner agencies and prime contracters.

Afterwards it was off to prepare for my 2 presentations – first on the Iris-image reversal in space ISU International Space Station Experiment. I will place this presentation here via slideshare later today. It was a fantastic chance to spread awareness about the experiment – although I was under tight pressure to finish and dash off to my official congress presentation! The 2nd was my work on space marketing particularly the use of space in television commercial advertising. The crowd was interested! Thank you to all those who came out to attend either presentations, it is most definitely appreciated.

Tahir presenting ISU Iris Experiment @ IAC2009

Tahir presenting space marketing study on television advertisement

Presentation can be found here!

Iris – Image Reversal In Space – ISU International Space Station Experiment

View more presentations from kulfispace.

*LIVE* – IAC Day 2 – Civilian access to space

Plenary #4

Will Whitehorn:
The first commercial spaceline – Virgin Galactic
Economics of space remain eulsive for ordinary individuals to go into space, for less than $200,000 p.p. (300 customers now)
Mass reduced rocket system, carrying people twice a day into suborbital space
Unmanned rocket to launch 200 kg (upto 4 launches a day) to reduce the cost
Space sciences and microgravity experiment opportunities – very exciting prospect

Mark:
Sierra Nevada Space Systems
2000 person company involved in many activities: larger builders of small satellites, and significant subsystems developers for Primes, specialized propulsion systems, & global orbital spacecraft (Dreamchaser)
There is an inspiration!

George Neild
Associate Administrator for Commercial Space Transportation of US FAA
Very exciting time for CST in terms of how we conduct operations
Believes that private space will support LEO & suborbital spaceflight
NASA issued 3.5Billion to SpaceX and OSC to pay for first few years of COTS program (commercial launches therefore require licenses from the FAA)
A New Era in space transportation with suborbital space transportation

Q1 to Will Whitehorn:
Paint the picture for what VG in next 2 years:

Will be putting people into space
World’s first 100% carbon composite high-altitude aircraft to carry 17 tons to suborbital space.
Dec 7th – Unveiling of Space Ship Two
No date for 1st year for of operation, because depends on FAA licensing , but hope to move towards commerciality
Expect 700 customers by end of 2 years
Hope also to do space sciences missions and Small sats within a year of that.
Potentially to even build/design a dedicated launcher for small sats, working with Dr. Adam Baker @ SSTL and will begin bid development in next 6-8 months

Q2 – Mark
Your orbital spacecraft and its potentials and timeline:

Intend to bring cargo to orbit and ISS
Satellite servicing and satellite deployment
Opened up first Sat manufacturing facility on assembly line to take advantage of economies of scale
VT and HL, landing at low G forces (1.5-2G’s)
Abilities to return experiments and payloads to Earth are very limited, and potential for DreamChaser to fill that gap.
How we operate under contractual basis – per person/per pound mode is quite different (in commercial sector) from the tradition gov method
Large batch method approach, not one-offs – potential to drop costs of sats by 50 – 100% perhaps! in any case, similar to internet global broadband and its entry into markets.

Q3 – WIll
Talk more about your system and suborbital experiment (microgravity experiments)
people want to experience weightlessness first hand and not be constricted
SS2 – no moving parts, therefore there is absolute silence and reduced vibrations, radiation or electronics
Consulted with many on interior.
For the private sector to be succesful is that US offers the chance for the creation/work with the government agencies to make sure our opportunity can exist, a unique regulatory framework no where else in the world.

Q4 – George
Talk more about the transparent CST and licencing process

What is the role of Government in space? Congress said mandate is: ensure public safety and support & promote the industry.
We wish to be very transparent, and want government to act in a good government way without bureaucratic departments for safe and successful industry

Q5 – Mark
In terms of regulatory environment – have you experienced that this has enabled you to determine your paths/predict your business future in collaboration

Require a real partnership (government next to entrepreneurial side need to grow together) for a successful relationship

*LIVE* Day 1 – IAC 2009 – Heads of Agencies Plenary Session

After a fantastic opening ceremony, MC’d by So-yeon Yi, Korea’s first astronaut. A mix of culture, music and video, along with addresses from President of Republic of Korea – Lee Myung-bak, the International Astronautical Federation President, and the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of IAC 2009.

Right now, I am sitting awaiting for the plenary to start, where the heads of NASA, CSA, ESA, ISRO, JAXA, ROSCOSMOS, & KARI.

For update, please see below!
—————————
Each President will make a short statement on the progress of their Agency over the past year.

KARI introduction & welcome:
Grateful to host the IAF and IAC. Started their space program in 1990’s and 16 years later placed their first satellite in space. Educating the younger generation is important. Making space for the world by way of this congress.

NASA:
US has new President – Barak Obama, New Admin – himself, new Depty Admin -
Launched STS-125 – final hubble telescope servicing mission – 5 EVA’s in 5 days.
STS-127 – mini-united nations – 13 astronauts with each member of ISS consortium
STS-128 – US/Canada/Japanese efforts for HTV
Lunar LCROSS – Very successful but weeks before data out.
Construction on ISS – completed KIBO, final sets of solar arrays delivered, demoed ATV & HTV ops
Augustine Report – final meeting last thursday, expect findings any day now.
Robust partnerships – excited for NASA’s future, with projects upcoming

ESA:
Representing 18 nations. ESA Budget meeting – increasing science funding. Climate change, and new applications for citizens, 3rd gen of Meteorological satellites, GMES 1st satellites in progress, ExoMars Mission discussions and on Lunar landing. First Earth Explorer missions (Earth Science). Hershel & Planck launched and operating successfully. Astronauts on ISS participation significant – Frank DeWinne. Launch next year Soyuz from French Guiana, Vega (Oct 2010) potential launch November 2010 to ISS.

ROSCOSMOS:
23 launches
Government increased financing for satellite programs, both science and telecommunications.
____ delayed for more convienet window in 2011
Enhancement of GLONASS – 6 new satellites by end of this year to ensure global coverage of GLONASS signal.
International cooperation – ISS is being completed on good scale
Crew of ISS – increased to 6 place to have small scientific module
Hopes Soyuz work will be completed on time.
Also congratulations and participating with Korea’s first rocket launch.

ISRO:
Thank you for opportunity
PSLV, GSLV, satellite constellations
budget fully supported by government with 20% increase this past year.
Chandryann – 11 instruments, 5 from US, EU – placing into orbit was succesful
Traces of water on surface of Moon – US/ISRO shared
Updates on various projects…
Italian Space Agency – GPS us for temperature of athmosphere
Societal Applications
Health – 0.6M participants (telemedicine) to rural areas
Education – >50000 classrooms rural & urban
Empowerment – Village SATCOM
Food Security
National Resource Management
Planning for 1st manned mission by 2015
Lowering cost of launch vehicles – 2 stage to orbit by 2020
Chandryaan-2 incooperation with NASA.
Annual budget of $1 Billion at present moment

JAXA:
Launched Greenhouse Gas satellite (January 2009) – importance to monitor carbon dioxide levels as set by Kyoto Protocol.
CO2 & Methane data all comes from space (liberte, iberte?)
KIBO has been used by 3 shuttle flights now. Microgravity experiment, used by international partners, with lots ot engineering and science.
In Sept, Japan launched HTV launch by H-IIB providing materials, equipments and captured by Canadarm 2

CSA:
Canada loves to participate internaitonally
First time in Korea, seen it from space – its beautiful
20th year of CSA, 25th year of Human Spaceflight – 15 Canadian flights. 2 of those this year.
First time we’ve had 2 canadians in space at the same. STS-127 – Julie Payette & Robert Thirsk coming back December 1st.
Guy Liberte just arrived last night. His 2
Canada-US Space Treaty Space Agreement
Breaks level of mission organization down to
Cooperation with ESA to be renewed this December
Cross-roads with ISS complete – larger statellites in play.
National Space Program – finish consulations – 14 gov departments involved. 23 University that CSA works with. Leverage 1-4 dollar investment
Long-term spaceplan – serve public priority, be a valued partner in space exploration, build capacity for larger projects in future. Align work in a coordinated effort. enchance ability to react to international opportunities. $110 Million increase in Budgets. Companies in Canada excited.
Plan to put more ground stations in the Arctic.
Working on a data policy, Canada domestically believes that data should be more free.
RADARSAT Constellations
PolarSAT – 2 sat constellation weather, comm, pollution @ Phase 0/A level.
Hopes that long term space plan will be pass and accepted by Canadian Government, and that more development on international space programs will be fruitful.

KARI:
Current plan
2009 KSLV-1 (successful launch, failed orbit)
2 more satellites to be launch in coming 2010
4/5 more satellites 2010-2016
2016 GEOSAT
2018 KSLV-II (Heavy lifter)
2020 Lunar Orbiter
2025 Lunar Lander
-
COMS – Meteo Sat
KOMPSAT-2 – Multispectral camera (2011)
KOMPSAT-4 – SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar)
Korean Astronaut Program
KSLV-I/II
Several Ground stations for TT&C
Plan 2 join Lunar Network – Korea was one of 9 countries that signed the International Lunar Network in July 2008

Now specific topics will be discussed (climate change)