Minotaur - COSMIC

[kumbarov]

T-2:22

 

[kumbarov]

It will be broadcasted at http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/video/vafb.ram

 

[baktothemoon]

What is being launched?

 

[kumbarov]

"On April 14 2006, an Orbital Minotaur rocket is scheduled to boost the Orbital-built FORMOSAT-3/Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) into orbit for the National Space Organization (NSPO) of Taiwan. The launch will take place from California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base.<br /><br />The NSPO of Taiwan selected Orbital to build and launch FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC in early 2001. The program is an international collaboration between Taiwan and the United States that will use a constellation of six remote sensing micro-satellites to collect atmospheric data for weather prediction and for ionosphere, climate and gravity research. Data from the satellites will be made available to the international scientific community in near real-time. The launch will mark the 5th mission of Orbital’s Minotaur I space launch vehicle.<br /><br />Orbital’s responsibilities for the program included constellation design and analysis, development of the spacecraft bus utilizing Orbital’s MicroStar platform, payload instrument development, oversight of components made by Taiwan local vendors, and launch operations. Orbital is also providing assistance with system integration, satellite integration and testing in Taiwan, early in-orbit checkout, satellite positioning and mission operations."<br /><br />http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/MissionUpdates/Minotaur_SLV_5.html

 

[baktothemoon]

The rocket looks the same size as a Falcon I. Interesting.

 

[kumbarov]

Yes, their payload capacities are similar. Minotaur has 4 succesful launches:<br /><br />JAWSAT (P98-1) FalconSat1 / ASUSat1 / OCSE / OPAL<br />Mightysat 2.1 (Sindri, P99-1) / MEMS 2A / MEMS 2B<br />XSS 11<br />Streak (STP-R1)

 

[kumbarov]

T-minus 2 hours and counting.

 

[kumbarov]

We have live video: http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/video/vafb.ram

 

[kumbarov]

Delay is possible with this bad weather.