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Author
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Topic: Last Atlas Centaur launch from LC 36
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Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-22-2005 10:37 AM
   
For those of us on the east coast of the United States, this Thursdays final launch from CCAFS Complex-36 may be visible.Atlas-Centaur 206 with an NRO payload is scheduled for a night launch (time TBD)and will be headed into a high inclination (I believe 62 degrees)orbit. Previous night launches of the shuttle that fly to the ISS have given us a great view of MECO from Long Island, New York. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-22-2005 01:55 PM
A rare 63 degrees to be exact. The last Atlas 2 in August also went that way (57 deg). You're going to have to get up really early in the morning though  I'll be at the Cape for it. It will be a historic night! |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-22-2005 02:33 PM
Ben: Has a launch window been set for Thursdays launch? Thanks.Tom |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-22-2005 02:47 PM
Early morning hours. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-22-2005 02:52 PM
Hope it's clear...I'll be watching! Looking forward to seeing your photos of the launch, Ben.Tom |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-24-2005 09:24 PM
Just read that the launch was postponed until Feb. 3.I'll be watching with binoculars, and will send in a report if skies are clear. Tom |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-24-2005 11:38 PM
No earlier than the 3rd. Right now the range is scheduled for downtime next week so we'll see.I'd prefer a weekend night! |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 01-28-2005 09:55 PM
The range has confirmed Thursday February 3rd for liftoff of the final Atlas off pad 36 and sixth and final Atlas 3.Launch time and other info will be released Monday but it is expected to be in the early morning hours.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/ac206/status.html |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 01-29-2005 09:12 AM
Thanks for the update, Ben. Looking forward to seeing it up here. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-01-2005 05:27 PM
Liftoff of the Atlas 3 rocket carrying a national security payload is on track for Thursday, Feb 3 at 2:41am EST.A webcast of the launch is available at:
www.ilslaunch.com ...on the righthand side. And as always you can follow the play-by-play at: www.spaceflightnow.com There is an 80% chance of unacceptable weather for the first try, but since the only concern is cloud cover they will likely make the attempt. Weather improves for Thurs night at 60% no-go, and is much better for Friday night (Sat. morning). |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-01-2005 07:03 PM
Thanks, Ben. Weather up here calls for partly cloudy skies... so hopefully we'll get a view Thursday a.m. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42986
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-03-2005 02:50 AM
From Spaceflight Now...Last Atlas 3 rocket launches 0741 GMT (2:41 a.m. EST)
T-minus 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ignition and LIFTOFF! The final Atlas rocket flies away from Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station after four decades of flights. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-03-2005 04:31 AM
It was a most disappointing end to Atlas rockets off of pad 36. Could not even see the pad, much less the bright flame of the rocket until it was high in the air, maybe 30 seconds into flight.I could not believe they launched in dense fog. From 95 no-go on the weather to an on time launch. Kind of amazing. Oh well, long live 36 and the heritage Atlas rocket! |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-03-2005 03:14 PM
I would have done tower rollback, but I figured it would be scrubbed so I didn't leave.As it turned out, they rolled it only to the 'tangent' position and were planning to fuel in the tower (they wound up rolling it back before fueling); so, no one got to see roll and I didn't miss anything but going later. They gave the call to proceed at the 11:15 briefing, and I was out the door a little after midnight. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-03-2005 05:43 PM
A poor launch for photos unless you had remote cameras at the pad. The press couldn't even see it from two miles away, much less five for me.
http://www.launchphotography.com/Atlas3final.html |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-03-2005 07:10 PM
Well, we had clear skys here on Long Island, but I guess the single engine thrust of the Centaur wasn't bright enough to be seen on it's way to orbit. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-03-2005 07:20 PM
Sorry to hear Tom, it's pretty neat when the shuttle passes by up there.The satellite watchers in Canada spotted it and proved the obvious speculation they were a pair of Naval Ocean Surveillance Sats to spy on ships. |
Tom
Member Posts: 1597
From: New York
Registered: Nov 2000
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posted 02-04-2005 04:22 PM
Great time-lapse photo of the launch, Ben.One thing you can't control are conditions like the weather. But this launch goes down in history as being launched in the fog. I remember back in 1997, I was at KSC for the STS-85 launch, and it was kind of hazy that morning at the press site. Not the best conditions for viewing and photographing a launch, but still great being there. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-04-2005 06:08 PM
I've seen video of STS-85 from the causeway. Not just hazy but lots of clouds it seemed. Can't have it all. |
AscentFive
New Member Posts:
From:
Registered:
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posted 02-06-2005 12:06 AM
The trajectory in your time exposure photo seems unusual. Not a direct curve, but rather a "curly-Q," that doesn't seem right. Perhaps the rocket made a swing in its direction (or could the camera have moved slightly)? The photo is nice, like some of the time exposures & star trail photos we saw at your website. A narrow streak of fire. |
Ben
Member Posts: 1896
From: Cape Canaveral, FL
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-06-2005 01:00 AM
That's the way it went. I think it did that Aug 31 too. If the camera moved the trees and lights would be blurry. |
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